President's Message

Members,

We just had our latest Board Meeting in Tallahassee on May 16, and it went well. Unfortunately, I have a temporary health issue and could not physically be there but because of technology I was there by Zoom. I am thankful to Allen Nobles and Rebecca Porter for their joint effort in running the meeting in my place as Zoom is not that really a good platform to run a meeting from, but is fine for participating with.

FSMS Business: 

Based on our latest financial report for the first quarter of 2025, FSMS is in great financial shape with current assets around 1.25 million. Our investments are on solid ground, and everything is above board and transparent thanks to our financial committee’s hard work.

• Our Legislative Committee and our Lobbyist have had another successful year keeping our profession intact even though several attempts at deregulation were being fought. It’s an ongoing problem that’s not going away and we need to continue to fight it through our FSMPAC fund and our members' help.

• We are looking to finally replace our building sign in Tallahassee with something much more substantial and permanent to show pride in our profession. We are getting quotes now on a new monument sign.

• The 2025 Conference planning is ongoing with 41 Booths reserved leaving only 14 Exhibitor Booths Available! In addition, we have 23 Sponsors so far, and we've already reached our contracted room allotment. The Conference dates are July 30 through August 2, so get your rooms as soon as possible, because our discounted group rate availability will be limited as we move closer to conference.

• Elections for new Board members and Officers will open on May 28th, please watch out for this and vote.

Rick's Musings: Seems to me lately, like we are in a world that technology is taking over. The leaps in human knowledge and understanding are growing exponentially every year and with the initialization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ultra-ultra-high-speed computers we are now heading into the unknown boundaries of what we humans are capable of. It’s both exciting and a little scary if you ask me and hopefully cool heads will prevail in the long term and lead us into enlightenment and not in the other direction.

I was an early adopter to technology in surveying, starting with HP Calculators (21-25) and HP programs back in 1975-80. Since then, I have made it a point to try to learn something new every day, including multiple surveying programs, ESRI GIS, then remote sensing programs like ERDAS Imagine, and finally multiple laser scanning and Lidar programs. Since I got into surveying in 1972, I found technology has helped me to satisfy my natural curiosity about the world and find new ways to solve problems. It’s the challenges we put onto ourselves that help to drive our path forward and to keep us engaged and ready for anything new.

I often think about what got me into Surveying in the first place, and ask why did I choose this profession and why do I love what I do? It all goes back to my love of the outdoors. Ever since I was able to walk, I was on the move, curiosity got the best of me and I was a constant wanderer. Be it fishing, hiking, canoeing, swimming, diving, and just wandering the beaches, woods and swamps around Florida. I would be looking at the different plants and animals trying to understand the interconnection between them. I would watch the different weather patterns, cloud formations, and sit on my back porch and watch lightning storms and just wonder how it all worked and what I could learn from it. While on these little excursions, I would try to look at the overall picture I was seeing, the types of trees and plants I encountered, the type of soil I was walking on, and always searching and bringing back small treasures I would find, an animal skull, an odd shaped rock, or even the occasional fossil from a fill pile near a construction site. My mind was always looking at the adventure and the mysteries of the world around me.

Surveying has just been a natural extension to all my questions, adventures, as well as the curiosities that drive me everyday, and continues to keep me interested and involved in everything we do.

One great profession that we need to protect and continue to pass on that knowledge, experience, and commitment to those coming after each one of us.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard D. Pryce, RLS/PSM   

Previous 2025 Messages

January 2025
February 2025
March 2025
April 2025