e-NEWS JANUARY 2021
IN THIS ISSUE...
  • A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
  • GOVERNOR APPOINTS COBY KING TO BPELSG
  • ACEC CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES 2021 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
  • CLSA LOSES FRIEND, CLSA PAST PRESIDENT JOSEPH J. SCHERF, PLS 3089
  • NSRS MODERNIZATION NEWS
  • INTERNATIONAL RIGHT OF WAY ASSOCIATION MAPPING COMPETITION
  • BPELSG - AB 2113 REFUGEE EXPEDITE
  • US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WAGE & HOUR DIVISION
  • NSPS ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2020 MAP/PLAT CONTEST
  • CLSA STORE - 2021 PUBLICATION PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE
  • BPELSG - FEE CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021
  • NSPS - STOLEN EQUIPMENT REGISTRY
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
And just like that, the year is over and we begin anew. We are still living in a virtual world, but the return to normality is in sight. We are hoping to return to live meetings and face to face conversations later this year.

However the Fresno Geomatics Conference later this month (Fri, Jan 29, 2021, 8:00 AM –Sat, Jan 30, 2021, 1:00 PM PST) will be virtual. Speakers for the conference include Karen Susman, Gary Kent, Rick Ellis, Mitch Duryea, Cara Giovannoni, Landon Blake, Humberto Gallegos, Dallas Sweeney and more. REGISTER HERE. VIEW PROGRAM.

Our seven state conference (Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington) will also be virtual. Register for this event to be held March 27-30, 2021. Full program details will be available later this month HERE.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President for the last year. I want to thank each and every one of you who have worked with me over my terms as an officer for your assistance and your support. You are in great hands, your upcoming officers are hard-working and dedicated to improving our association.

Please be safe and take care of yourselves and your families.

Keith Spencer | CLSA President
GOVERNOR APPOINTS COBY KING TO BPELSG
Coby King, 60, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, where he has served since 2013. King has been President and CEO at High Point Strategies since 2013. He was a Public Affairs Executive at Ek and Ek from 2012 to 2013, Senior Vice President for California Corporate and Public Affairs at MWW Group from 2008 to 2012 and President and CEO of Coby King Enterprises from 1999 to 2008. King was Vice President of Public Affairs at Rogers and Associates from 1997 to 1999 and an Attorney at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips from 1995 to 1997 and at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom from 1991 to 1993. He was Legal Counsel at the State Board of Equalization from 1993 to 1994. He is a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board and the Sierra Club and is a vice chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association. King earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. King is a Democrat.
ACEC CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES 2021 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
On January 11, 2021, the American Council of Engineering Companies, California (ACEC California) announced the 2021 recipients of its annual Engineering Excellence Awards. Projects were recognized for demonstrating an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement, and value. Fourteen projects earned the prestigious Honor Award distinction, twenty-five were recognized with Merit Awards, and twelve Commendation Awards were granted.
CLSA LOSES FRIEND, CLSA PAST PRESIDENT JOSEPH J. SCHERF, PLS 3089
Joe Scherf passed away January 11, 2021 in Ukiah, CA, due to Covid-19 complications. While he lived in Ukiah for most of his life, Joe was born September 22, 1923 in New York City. During the Great Depression his mother couldn't work and take care of her boys, so she put Joe and his older brother, Rip, into the Gould Foundation Orphanage. With a positive outlook on life, Joe would say that his time at the orphanage wasn't bad because they went to the circus during winter and the Catskills every summer. Fortunately, after a few years his mother was able to reunite their family. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 13 and eventually became an Eagle Scout. He held the record for camping out more than any other scout in NY City for two years in a row.
INTERNATIONAL RIGHT OF WAY ASSOCIATION MAPPING COMPETITION
Surveyors, drafters and GIS specialist are invited to enter the International Right of Way Association's mapping competition. They have 7 categories and cash prizes for the top entries. They have received some fantastic entries in the past and look forward to some great ones again this year.
BPELSG - AB 2113 REFUGEE EXPEDITE
Expedited Licensure for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas

Starting January 1, 2021, individuals in the following categories who apply for licensure by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists may seek an expedited licensure process.

1. Refugees pursuant to section 1157 of title 8 of the United States Code;
2. Those granted asylum by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to section 1158 of title 8 of the United States Code; or,
3. Individuals with a special immigrant visa that have been granted a status pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, Public Law 109-163, or section 602(b) of title VI of division F of Public Law 111-8.

In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide documentation of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package. Please note that this does not mean a license or certification must be issued, but simply that the process will be expedited.
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WAGE & HOUR DIVISION
The US Department of Labor has updated policies on construction wage standards. Please follow these links for more information:
NSPS ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2020 MAP/PLAT CONTEST
NSPS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020/Map/Plat Design Competition and expresses its appreciation for all who participated. NSPS also wishes to thank the judges for their dedicated efforts.
CLSA STORE - 2021 PUBLICATION PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE
We are now accepting pre-orders for the 2021 publications. 2021 publications include:
  • 2021 Subdivision Map Act & Index
  • 2021 PE Act and PLS Act with Board Rules
  • 2021 Complete Package with DVD
BPELSG - FEE CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021
Due to a regulatory action approved by the Office of Administrative Law on November 18, 2020, the fees that applicants and licensees pay to the Board will change, effective January 1, 2021. Please click on the following link for further information.
NSPS - STOLEN EQUIPMENT REGISTRY
Reminder - NSPS provides a registry of stolen equipment. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
Offers a $.07 per page discount and will automatically donate $.10 per page to CLSA when members download courthouse documents through this website. These instruments include Deeds, Easements, Rights-of-Way, Releases, Liens, etc.
Save up to 60% on your office supplies. Click on the Office Depot Logo to begin utilizing the CLSA-Office Depot Discount Program. If you do not know your username and password, or for more information, contact the CLSA Central Office.
The CLSA Education Foundation was established in 1993 and is committed to supporting land surveying students and programs. Last year over $50,000 in scholarship aid was provided to land surveying students. 
 
Donating to the Education Foundation is easy! Click HERE to donate via PayPal.

Thank you to everyone who clicks through to Amazon through the CLSA's Education Foundation Amazon Smile account! If you're not doing so already, please shop on Amazon with this link.

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The CLSA Education Foundation is pleased to announce that $44,000 in scholarships will be awarded this year. The recipients of the scholarships will be announced on February 11, 2021 at 5:30pm via a Zoom celebration! Everyone is encouraged to wear their college theme/logo attire and add college logos to their Zoom backgrounds. This year’s scholarship recipients include students from the following colleges: Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fresno, Oregon Tech University, Santiago Canyon College, Great Basin College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Ana College, University of Maine and College of the Canyons. Please register for this Zoom meeting in advance so we can make sure our Zoom account has the required capacity. REGISTER HERE.