NEWS: Illinois Licensure
We are pleased to report that SB 1925 has been signed off by the green industry associations, the architects, and two engineering groups. The negotiations required some give and take in order to remove opposition to our Act. However, the resulting bill will still help us reach our goals. We want to thank everyone who has assisted in this effort to get the Act to this point in the process.

This final proposal provides important improvements and enhancements to the existing Title Act. Most significantly, the bill will establish a seal for landscape architects, whereby every licensed landscape architect shall have the ability to stamp his or her plans, specifications, and reports prepared under their supervision. (Until SB 1925 becomes law, Illinois is the only state that regulates landscape architecture without a seal.) Two other improvements have also been added to the existing law: (1) a requirement that licensed landscape architects must carry a qualifying policy of professional liability insurance to insure an individual or entity against any liability imposed upon it by law; and (2) a provision that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation can establish continuing education for licensed landscape architects. (Thirty other states currently require continuing education for licensees.)

If you wish to read the entire Senate Bill 1925, visit www.ilga.gov and follow the instructions. The bill passed Senate and House Committee approval
56-0 and gained final approval Saturday (5/30/09). The Governor can now sign the Act into law in the coming weeks.

EVENT: Burnham Celebration, 100x100 LA Charrette
July 16, 2009 at the Chicago Cultural Center, sign up now to join local Landscape Architects and Designers in a full-day design charrette, celebrating the spirit of the Burnham Plan.  Give shape to Landscape Architecture visions for Green Chicago based on up to ten themes such as region, water, transit, nature, city form, growing food and quality of life.  Work individually or in groups to sketch what the Chicago and Midwest Region’s next 100 years of landscape, planning, and environmental design may become.  Images will be used in Illinois ASLA Marketing efforts and for possible future exhibits.  Participation fees are $25 per participant, $15 for students, $200 for firm sponsors (admittance for up to 4). Fee includes a continental breakfast and box lunch, followed by a social hour.

For participant sign-up and sponsor information, please contact Ken Horinko,
312-337-9145.

EVENT: Burnham Plan Centennial
Bold Plans. Big Dreams. ILASLA is one of over 250 Burnham Plan Centennial Partner institutions offering hundreds of ways for the people of Chicago’s three-state metropolitan region to dream big and plan boldly. This 100th anniversary of the Plan of Chicago is once again stirring a diverse community to action on a grand scale –building the best possible quality of life for all. Visit the link above to see what you can do. And aim high!

Exhibit, "Big, Bold, Visionary: Chicago Considers the Next Century" - September 4, 2009 through October 4, 2009, 72 E. Randolph Street

EVENT: Summer Mixer - Networking Event
Join ILASLA, landscape architects, landscape contractors, landscape designers and other Green Industry peers at Wilson Nurseries (Hampshire facility) on Wednesday, July 22nd for an evening of fun and great networking. The evening is a casual mixer with hors d’ oeuvres, a Tex-Mex Fajita Bar, dessert, beer, wine, soda and bottled water. A few interesting additions to this year’s event are a live band, a bonfire, nursery tours, a cigar lounge, space for sponsor displays and giveaways to all that attend - RSVP by Friday, July 17th!

For sponsorship opportunities, please complete the sponsorship form or contact Bev Nykiel at 630-963-5897 - RSVP by Wednesday, July 15th!

NEWS: ILASLA Call for Award Entries
Each year the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recognizes outstanding projects completed by individuals or organizations located in the State of Illinois. These awards are given in an effort to raise standards of excellence, heighten public appreciation of quality landscape architecture, and expand public awareness of the profession and ASLA. The award winners will be recognized in an annual banquet, be published in the highly distributed folio awards book, as well as, have the projects spotlighted on the ILASLA website.

Projects submitted may be located anywhere but must have had project involvement by a landscape architect who is or was located in the State of Illinois at the time the project was designed. An individual or organization must have completed the project within the past five years. Projects previously submitted which have not received an ILASLA award are eligible for re-submission. Projects which have already received an ILASLA award are ineligible for re-submission in the category in which the award was received.

Eight new, award categories have been added this year!

Entry fees are $300 for a Non-ASLA Member – Public or Private Practice, $50 for an ASLA Member – Public Practice, and $150 for one submittal, $125 each for two submittals, & $100 each for three or more submittals for an ASLA Member – Private Practice.

Complete the Awards Entry Form and Awards Template (PowerPoint Presentation). Send all entries to the ILASLA Awards Committee c/o Susan Sevcik, P.O. Box 4566, Oak Brook, IL 60522. All Entries must be received by 3:00 p.m. Friday, July 24th, 2009 (winners will be notified by Monday, August 17th)! For inquiries, contact Susan Sevcik or telephone at (319) 721-7280.

EVENT: ILCA and ILASLA Joint Golf Outing
ILCA and ILASLA have merged their two golf outings into one cosponsored event, to be held at St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago on Thursday, September 10, 2009 . The joint venture will offer a larger and more diverse audience and will be a greater benefit to participants and sponsors. The cosponsored golf outing will allow members from each association to network on the course and afterwards at the lunch reception and awards presentation.

The event is limited to only 288 golfers. It is imperative that members of each association sign up early. The golf outing will kick off a busy fall season for ILCA and ILASLA members as the ASLA National Conference comes to Chicago on September 18-21, 2009. Sponsorship Information.

NEWS: National Landscape Architecture Month Re-Cap
Landscape Architecture Month 2009 was a huge success! During the month of April, many of our members were active in promoting the field of landscape architecture. Considering how diverse our careers are, of course the activities which promote it are equally as different. Most events focused on high school and grade school students and ranged from letter writing campaigns to teaching students to plant and care for trees. The following is feedback from a few of our many members that participated in promoting Landscape Architecture....read on

EVENT: The Chicago Trees Initiative (CTI) is an exciting new opportunity for the City of Chicago to help improve quality of life by increasing public awareness about the value and importance of trees. By preserving and planting trees, we increase our urban forest - one of the most valuable environmental assets on the planet. In order to be successful, we need the support and enthusiasm of everyone, in both public and private sectors. The CTI web site (see link above) contains the information and resources that are keys to our success. Take a few minutes to learn about the impact that trees have on our City, and how you can help. It's easier than you think.

NEWS: 2008 Membership Survey Results
In October of 2008, ILASLA members were sent, via email, an online survey by the acting Executive Committee of ILASLA. This survey was conducted to determine the perception of members in several key areas that reflected upon the value they place on belonging to their local Illinois Chapter. It was designed to assist the leadership in four areas: program evaluation, strategic planning, chapter
communication, and program development.

EVENT: 2009 ASLA Annual Meeting
Friday-Monday, September 18-21, 2009 - McCormick Place, Chicago
Volunteers needed! In celebration of the centennial of the Plan of Chicago by Burnham & Bennett, ILASLA will host the ASLA Annual Meeting. There is MUCH work to be done in preparation for this exciting event and we need you now! Please contact asla2009@il-asla.org to volunteer - Ann Viger at 815.459.0680 &/or Keven Graham at 630.668.3788.

NEWS: ILASLA Book Club!
The ILASLA Education Committee will choose a topic and related book based on the broad field we know as landscape architecture. Topics will range from case studies to current trends and will include both fiction and non-fiction works. Although reading the current selection is highly recommended, it is certainly not required. One goal of the book club is to provide a forum for discussion and analysis among peers that otherwise would not have an opportunity to do so. Discussion points will be made available in advance and members are encouraged to submit their own to the Education Committee or at the gathering. There is no cost to attend unless you decide to purchase the current reading material (available at many book stores and online). Please join us!

We look forward to meeting you! If you are interested please contact the Education Committee Chairperson, Jennifer Delgros.

EVENT: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Initiative - A way for designers to both participate in this year’s celebration of the Plan of Chicago and build upon its legacy.

CMAP has launched GO TO 2040, our region's first truly comprehensive plan, which will guide the region’s growth for years to come. Scheduled for completion in 2010 by CMAP, the plan will shape our region’s transportation system and land-use patterns, while addressing the natural environment, economic housing, education, human services, and other quality-of-life issues.

Taking place over the next several months, CMAP has announced the GO TO 2040 Community Design Workshops. The aim of the workshops is to visualize four different regional scenarios being considered for the GO TO 2040 plan. In a variety of communities — large and small, urban, suburban, and rural — they seek to visually answer the following: If we choose this path over the coming decades, what might this community look like in 2040?

CMAP is currently recruiting urban design-oriented designers to serve on the design teams that will make these scenarios real to the people of the region. They are especially interested in designers with strong rendering and visualization skills who also have training and experience with urban design and planning. CMAP encourage you to share their invitation, for more information or to participate, contact Stephen Ostrander.

Click here to submit an event to the calendar

Click here to see the ILASLA video