May 2021

hal peters headshot

Good times are here again! COVID vaccines are available for all who want them, and life is returning to a “new normal." I am enjoying venturing back out for social activities, and judging by how crowded everything is, I’m not the only one.

FSMS chapters are starting to meet again in person! Some are virtual, and some a mix of both. As your chapters start meeting again, please participate and be part of OUR profession.

This month, May 27, the Tampa Chapter is hosting the annual Tri-Chapter meeting with Ridge Chapter, and the Central Florida, in Lakeland. If you are in the Central Florida area, please join what is always a GREAT FSMS event.

Don’t forget our 66th Annual FSMS Conference is ON SCHEDULE forJuly 28 – 31, at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Conference packets have been sent out to all our members, and Exhibitor packets have been sent to potential vendors for our exhibit hall.

Please plan on attending, and we have plenty of SPONSORSHIP opportunities to show off your business to your fellow Surveyors. We have a great list of CEU classes, and programs available for all levels ofour profession. Some new classes being offered, include test prep for the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS), and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) tests, as well as CST testing. Please encourage your Surveyors in Training to consider the test prep, and survey technicians to consider CST testing.

On the legislative front the 2021 session came to a close last Friday, April 30. It looks like Surveying fared well. We had another run at rolling back our education and experience requirements for PSM licensure, but the proposed bill was defeated. This was a victory for FSMS, that happened because we have a great lobbyist, and a great legal committee that is always looking out for legislative attacks on our profession. This, and other issues are not going away, and we will be working hard before the next session to be prepared. Hope to see YOU in July at YOUR conference!