Society Affairs Division

CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

I thank Mr. Cutts for stepping in for me at the last Chapter Presidents Forum and Luncheon.  They had some great discussions, including having committee chairs to step in and discuss some of their topics and duties throughout the year instead of just at the Chapter Presidents Orientation.  It was also discussed to look at changing the time of the forum so that the Chapter Presidents in other committees will have an opportunity to attend.
 

One goal that we would like to implement is to try to do a better job of informing incoming Chapter Presidents that it is important to get us their current email address so that we can keep in contact with them throughout the year.
 

It is great to see the new surveying program out at Odessa College.  I know those folks are very proud of this accomplishment and will begin to see the results in a few years as new surveyors begin to graduate from the program.
 

Please feel free to contact myself or any of the Area Representatives with questions or comments.
 

Respectfully Submitted,

Curtis Strong

ETHICS (PDF)

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

The Governmental Affairs Committee continues to represent TSPS at the Texas Legislature and maintains ongoing dialogue with other state agencies and professional associations, as necessary, to promote and protect the interests of the surveying profession in Texas.

A sub-committee continues to work on the clarification of sales tax issue.
 

The Affairs committee met, concurrent with this Board Meeting, to discuss the "excavator" issue with TRRC.
 

Respectfully Submitted

Patrick A. Smith, RPLS

PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Committee reports the following activities:
 

• Joe Breaux participated in a career event in Beaumont, hosted by Lamar University.  Geared for high school students, Joe was able to show the survey video and talk with students about career opportunities in surveying.  Joe reported that the feedback about the video was very positive 

• Continued collection of information to produce a FAQ sheet for the TSPS website, as well as for use by individual members and their firms to better deal with public inquiries

• Dan Hampton has organized a great PR opportunity in conjunction with the annual meeting of The Texas Map Society to be held October 2 in Arlington.  Dan and his “band of survey brothers” (which also will include Texas General Land Office Director of Surveys Bill O’Hara and some of his staff) will perform demonstration field exercises, and mix and mingle with attendees of The Map Society.  Great effort by Dan.

• The 2009 Teachers Retreat held in June was a resounding success, and builds on previous successful Retreats.  This event is truly one of the best opportunities the Society has to integrate itself with the educational system, and combined with the success of the SkillsUSA program offers TSPS many opportunities.

• The SkillsUSA Committee, under James Redmon, has been working hard to position the Society for another successful year with the Skills program.

• The Committee is always looking for any opportunity, great or small, to assist any member or Chapter in exposing the survey profession to the public.

Committee Members: Chris Freeman, Richard Worthey, Robert Young, Tresmon Smith, Terry Rowe, Dempsey Hannah
 

STANDARDS (doc)
 

SURPAC

Contributions have been made to the campaigns of the following legislators since the June 13, 2009, report:
 

Jerry Patterson - $500
 

SurPac has received $2,096.00 in contributions this calendar year.  Current SurPac bank balance is $6,992.13 (as of July 22, 2009).
 

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Seipel

Other Reports:

LEGAL COUNSEL'S REPORT

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