|
|
Posted By Administration,
Friday, December 7, 2018
Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
|
Over 1,200 members have yet to renew their TSPS membership. What's the wait? With only a few weeks left in the year and the busy holiday season almost here, please take a moment to renew your membership dues online now. Renew today and avoid losing access to your benefits in January 2019. This includes benefits to our publications like Metes & Bounds and The Texas Surveyor, discounts on career advancement classes, networking and outreach programs and more. If you are not yet a member and are wondering “What’s In It For Me?” take a look at some of the benefits of TSPS membership. Please feel free to contact communications@tsps.org or call 512.327.7871 with any questions.
MEMBERS - RENEW TODAY!
Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to renew your TSPS membership:
1. Sign in on the TSPS website. If you do not know your username, please call TSPS at (512)327-7871. A notification at the top of the social link web page should appear "Your membership will expire on 12/31/18. Renew now!" Click on "Renew now!".
2. If the notification does not appear, click on the "Welcome" button on the top and "Account + Settings". Click on the "Payments & History" tab on the left.
3. Click on “Membership” which is located at the top of the Payment & History page. Here you have the option to pay by credit card or print an invoice to mail in with a check.
NON-MEMBERS JOIN TODAY!
Take a look at some of the benefits of TSPS membership:
- Master the surveying profession through TSPS's education programs
- Attend the TSPS Annual Convention & Tech Expo to network and earn CEUs
- Stay informed of TSPS and industry happenings with Texas Surveyor magazine as well as the Metes & Bounds e-newsletter
- Establish professional contacts
- Receive significant discounts on CEU and paraprofessional training with your TSPS membership
- Have representation before the state legislature
- Get involved in TSPS activities to advance your career
- Earn recognition from your peers through our volunteer opportunities and awards programs
- Enhance your career, capabilities and value by obtaining the Certified Survey Technician Certifications
- Receive personalized, professional attention from TSPS staff
- Take advantage of insurance benefits for you and your company
- Wear your pride on your sleeve - shop the TSPS Logo Store
- View additional member benefits here
JOIN TSPS
Online: Click here to join TSPS
Mail: Download the member application, fill out and mail to:
TSPS, Attn: Membership, 2525 Wallingwood Drive Ste 300, Austin TX 78746
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Administration,
Friday, December 7, 2018
Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
|
Recently, a few members of TSPS Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 were given the opportunity to represent the surveying profession at the Boy Scouts of America - Circle Ten Xperience 2 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. With over 8,000 people in attendance; including scouts, scoutmasters, adult leaders, parents our TSPS representatives were given the opportunity to discuss the profession, teach others about different equipment used and educate some scouts about how they can earn one of the original merit badges, the Surveying Merit Badge!
Requirements for earning a Surveying Merit Badge include:
1. Scouts must know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while surveying.
2. Find and mark the corners of a five-sided lot that has been laid out by their counselor to fit the land available and must do so by using surveying instruments.
3. From the field notes gathered for requirement two, draw to scale a map of their survey.
4. Write a metes and bounds description for the five-sided lot in requirement two.
5. Use one of the corner markers from requirement two as a benchmark with an assumed elevation of 100 feet.
6. Get a copy of the deed to their property, or a piece of property assigned by their counselor, from the local courthouse or title agency.
7. Tell what GPS is; discuss with their counselor the importance of GPS and how it is changing the surveying field.
8. Discuss the importance of surveying with a licensed surveyor.
To view the requirements in their entirety, click here.
Members of Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 also held a drawing for the scouts and scoutmasters/adult leaders for a new drone. Over all the event was successful and hundreds of connections were made to allow our chapter representatives to teach the scouts about Surveying as a profession and help them earn their merit badge, which many didn't even know existed. On behalf of Shaun Piepkorn, RPLS, "Thank you to everyone who helped organize and attended this event!".
  
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Administration,
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
|
 TSPS: How/why did you get into surveying?
Steven: I first got into surveying through family members. My great grandfather, Perry Thompson, Sr., RPLS, LSLS and past TBPLS Board Member, grandfather, Perry Thompson, Jr., PE, RPLS and uncle, Perry Thompson, III, Architect, Interior Designer, RPLS were all respected professionals in great state of Texas. While the surveying profession wasn't my original career path, being surrounded by the profession since I was old enough to go out with my grandfather and hold a prism pole or level rod, eventually helped me turn what I knew best and make surveying my now career of choice.
TSPS: Why did you join TSPS?
Steven: I joined originally because my family had been long time members, supporters and held roles of leadership with TSPS. However, I personally joined to connect with friends and colleagues. Throughout the years, I have made many more friends with my involvement in TSPS.
TSPS: What is your most memorable surveying moment?
Steven: There have been many memorable moments made throughout my career, but one memory brought up recently by an old colleague, Michael R. Hannah, RPLS really stuck out. One late spring we were performing an oil and gas unit survey in northern Rusk County which was situated within a large flat partially flooded creek bottom. While traversing through the bottoms, we came to a very large slough which appeared to have no way around it. We knew we had several corners to look for on the other side to set up some of the boundaries for the unit and there appeared to be no end to the water from our view. After analyzing our next move we decided to press forward and cross the slough. I was leading our crossing where we faced chest deep water and stirred up water moccasins, I think I chopped about five or six heads off of the snakes. We finally made it across, we still stood in knee-deep water and ended up finding the old original corners and some witness trees in which we were hoping to locate. At the end we were tired, muddy and dirt but it was a very rewarding day.
Steven's Favorites:
Color: Green
Food: Mexican & BBQ
Animal: Ducks
Singer: George Straight
Hobbies: Hunting
Steven is currently the TSPS Secretary/Treasurer and Chapter 4 Representative.
 
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Administration,
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Updated: Tuesday, October 9, 2018
|
 The Rising Cost of Healthcare for a Family of Four
Written by Don Canada, Silicon Benefits
Regardless of party affiliation, the high cost of healthcare is a great concern for many Americans who have watched their health insurance premiums double since 2013. A recent study found the cost of healthcare for a typical American family of four, covered by an average employer-sponsored preferred provider organization (PPO) plan, is $28,166 annually.
U.S. healthcare is close to 18% of GDP! In Fort Worth, small to mid-size businesses have hit a “ceiling of complexity” with the astronomical cost of providing health insurance to employees and/or their families. A short-term strategy leveraged by many employers has been to “shift” the increase in financial responsibility to the employees in the form of higher premiums and/or out- of-pocket exposure to the employee and/or their dependents. For most employers, Employee Benefits typically make up a 1/3 of the bottom line. Employers, employees and families are in a difficult position to find the word “affordable” in the Affordable Care Act.
On October 12, 2017 President Trump issued Executive Order 13813 - Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States. On June 22, 2018 the DOL issued a final ruling aimed at lowering health insurance cost. The order focuses on expanding the availability of three types of health coverage arrangements:
1. Association Health Plans (AHP)
2. Short-Term and Limited Duration (STLDI)
3. Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)
Association Health Plans (AHP)
The ruling by the Department of Labor (DOL) will make it easier for small businesses to band together to buy health insurance across state lines without the regulatory requirements of the ACA. An association can be formed for the sole purpose of offering an association health plan to its members. The Congressional Budget Office predicts 4 million people will enroll in AHPs impacting individuals, sole proprietors, small employers, employees and their families.
Short Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI)
Short Term Medical plans have been around for decades, but were deemed non-compliant by the ACA since the product did not meet the ACA definition of essential benefits, had limitations, and did not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. With the recent changes, Short Term Medical insurance can be purchased for up to 360 days and is a consideration for many healthy individuals who are no longer willing to bear the cost of a permanent coverage either for them and/or their dependents.
Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA)
HRAs traditionally were utilized to reimburse employees for “unreimbursed medical, dental and vision benefits.” The restrictions have been relaxed on HRAs allowing employers to “reimburse premiums” on a tax-advantaged basis. Small employers may consider offering an HRA, in lieu of offering a group health plan, to protect the company from volatile increase and uncertainty in the future. However, in this scenario, the employees bear the risk of rising premiums and a volatile individual health insurance marketplace.
Is the final ruling final? The opposition contends the arrangements are a way to work around the ACA requirement requiring plans cover essential benefits. A coalition of 12 States have filed a lawsuit challenging the DOL ruling that allows healthcare plans to sidestep protections set up by the ACA. The IRS has issued a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with open comment, on whether the employer mandate (ACA mandated that employers with 51+ employees must provide health insurance or pay a significant penalty) applies to small employers who offer coverage through an AHP, if that employer has fewer than 50 full-time employees. There is still a lot to learn and the target is constantly moving. Now, more than ever, employers need to work with a professional who is experienced, up-to-speed on the changing legislation, and who makes your needs the #1 priority.
Don Canada, Jr. is a successful entrepreneur, accomplished triathlete, and Employee Benefit Advisor who proudly helps Texas Surveyors with transparency. Canada has followed employee benefit legislation for over twenty-five years, from Hillary Care in 1993, to Obamacare in 2010, now Trumpcare in 2018. Canada writes, speaks, and consults with small to mid-size business owners who want to learn the truth about their Employee Benefits.
Contact info:
don.canada@siliconbenefits.com
512.426.3225
Tags:
#affordable care act
#association health plans
#employeebenefits
#health insurance
#trump executive order
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Angela Navarro,
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Updated: Tuesday, October 9, 2018
|
.jpg) TSPS: How/why did you get into surveying?
James: I went to work as a Rodman right out of high school for the City of Waco Engineering Services where we primarily did civil engineering related surveying. Clip on EDM’s were phasing out, affordable electronic total stations hadn’t been out long and the data collector – was not man’s best friend. Fortunately, my Party Chief Lynn Ewing had a skill set of a walking abacus, with a side of slide ruler and sine table, in which, he passed down the art of hand calculations. As technology and my curiosities evolved, I began classes and attending the annual TSPS Convention at TSTC Waco while earning an Associate Degree in Geomatics under the direction of Charles Styron (#1338) and Michael Evans (#4715).
TSPS: Why did you join TSPS?
James: Initially I joined due to Styron and Evans strongly advocating the education and networking benefits that TSPS had to offer. Moving forward a decade later, my time at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi being involved directly and behind the scenes of the Convention helped motivate my desire to join TSPS. Moreover, being a part of an elite Professional Society that works closely with its general membership along with the members of the Texas Legislature on issues that affect our livelihood; maintaining a strong presence on the legislative platform, as well as, professes awareness and promotes the surveying profession to the public, is imperative not only to my future, but the future of upcoming Surveyors. Lastly, the future of our profession through community outreach and scholarships is an avenue for me to give back and help pave the way of the future surveyor.
TSPS: What is your most memorable surveying moment?
James: I have been fortunate to have experienced several stellar surveying moments throughout my career thus far. I’ve found original corners, expert witness investigative duties, all types of water boundaries, surveyed the ranches of George W. Bush and Ted Nugent, built towns, subdivisions and airports, inshore/nearshore hydrographic surveying, refinery/midstream industrial surveying, staked high rise buildings, fought off a floating den of water moccasins in a river, chased by donkeys and javelinas, pinned down by a peacock, all while, sloshing around in mother nature’s sporadic Texas weather. The most memorable surveying moment was receiving my Certificate of Registration to practice as a Professional Land Surveyor in the great State of Texas. My sincerest gratitude goes out to everyone who has helped me on this journey (not typical-of course), inspirational mentors, contributing employers, friends, family and most of all my wife, Jennifer Anne.
James' Favorites:
Color: Red, White and Blue
Food: Texas Barbeque
Animal: My French Bulldog, Coco Chanel Carr
Singer/Band/Group: Classic Rock/Country, Silence is good, occasional Marshmello with my son, Grayson
Hobbies: Spending time with my family
James is currently the TSPS Chapter 12 - Coastal Bend President and works for Urban Engineering in Corpus Christi, TX.
 .jpg)
Tags:
Metes & Bounds
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
Blog Home
All Blogs
RSS
Chapter 20
Chapter 2