An Electronic Publication of the Virginia Association of Surveyors, Inc.
Register Today for the VAS Winter Seminar!
Register today for the VAS Winter Seminar, providing continuing education on Fundamentals of GIS to be held Friday, January 25 in Fredericksburg. Early registration ends January 4 and the deadline for hotel rooms at the VAS discount rate is January 14. Click below for information, hotel reservations, and registration.

Editor's View


Merry Christmas from the VAS. I thought that I would step outside of the normal lines of surveying and discuss the season through one of my yearly obsessions, Christmas tree sales.


Answer to Last Month's, "Are you Prepared for the National Datum Changes Planned for 2022?"
Every surveyor in the state who relies on the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data in the course of their work should be able to answer these questions right off the top of their head.  

2019 VAS Annual Convention Plat Contest
Are you proud of the work you or your firm does? Well here's your chance to show the world (or at least everyone who attends the 2019 VAS Convention) your best survey plats! Click below to find the rules and details on how to submit your plat for the plat competition.

County Boundary Adjustments Get Attention in News, General Assembly
Revisions to county boundaries are earning attention in the news, as well as in the Virginia General Assembly.  The Free Lance Star in Fredericksburg recently  reported  on an adjustment needed between Essex and Caroline counties.  Meanwhile,  HB 1649  has been pre-filed in the Virginia General Assembly for the 2019 session that convenes in Richmond in January.  Both the county matter and the legislation seek to utilize county GIS maps for the boundary change.  The VAS Legislative Affairs Committee has been studying the bill and will soon make recommendations for amendments. The VAS committee is concerned that a county Geographic Information System (GIS) is not an authoritative source of boundary data. It usually includes information from a tax map, which is often more a schematic than an actual map.  In fact, when one considers Fairfax County, which is recognized nationally and considered one of the best county GIS in Virginia, it is built 99 percent from scanned tax maps and only 1 percent on surveyed points on the ground. Establishing boundaries based on GIS puts public health, welfare and safety in jeopardy.  Such arbitrary boundary adjustments affect individual citizens' taxes, healthcare, voting rights, and other government programs, services and rights.  The committee's preliminary findings is that the General Assembly should study the implications of dependence on unauthoritative and unreliable county GIS boundaries before enacting legislation that could create more problems than it solves.
Recruit a Member
Did you know that when you recruit a new member to VAS you will receive a 25% discount on your own membership dues? Spread the word about the great work VAS is doing for the surveying profession and be sure to tell the new member to include your name on the " recommended" by  portion of their application. 

Membership
The current VAS membership year expires on December 31. Renewal notices have been emailed to all VAS members. Please make sure your profile information on the VAS website is up to date as that is the main communication tool used to contact members. As always, if you have any questions, please feel to  contact the VAS staff at 844-414-1466
Reserve Today!! Convention Exhibit Hall Selling Out
The VAS convention exhibit hall is selling out quickly. Register today to make sure you have a booth at the 2019 Convention to be held on April 24-27 at the Hyatt Dullas in Herndon, VA.

VAS Convention Sponsorship Opportunities
Why should I be a VAS convention sponsor?  Being a sponsor at the VAS convention not only demonstrates support for your state professional society, but it raises your firm's profile in the market, enhances your firm's reputation in the community to strengthen recruitment of new employees, builds your status as a valued partner and team member among other firms for prime and subcontractor relationships, and positions your firm as a high profile entity for future growth through mergers and acquisitions.

How do I purchase a sponsorship? Click here
Order Your VAS Apparel
VAS is pleased to work with Land's End to provide an opportunity to purchase quality clothing with the VAS logo embroidered on it. Go on, showcase your membership in VAS. To start shopping and place your order,

Calendar of Events

Hosted by the Rappahannock Chapter
Fredericksburg, VA

April 24-27, 2019
Hyatt Regency Dullas, Herndon, VA

New Job Announcements
Would you like to post a job on the VAS career board? Members can advertise  job openings. Job postings cost $25 per ad posted for 30 days. To view positions waiting to be filled, click below.
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