John Palatiello, VAS Executive Director

Coming off VAS elections and a successful 2019 convention, there is considerable discussion among leaders of the association of the need for an improved presence before the General Assembly. 

 

Our experience with the enactment of HB1649, the county GIS boundary bill, has been a wake-up call for the need for VAS to be represented by a lobbyist. VAS had long had such representation, but financial pressures brought on by the economic downturn in 2008 forced the Board of Directors to make the difficult decision to cut the fee for our lobbyist at that time. With a stronger economy, the VAS membership picture being brighter, and revenue from the convention and seminars being improved, the VAS Long Range Planning Committee and Board of Directors are evaluating a number of programs and internal operational policies with an eye on ways to afford a lobbyist.

HB 1649 is not the only reason VAS needs representation before our state legislature. All across the nation there are threats to surveyors in the state capitals. Virginia is not the only state where the ubiquity of GIS is resulting in misunderstanding of the continued need for land surveys. In several states there has been recent legislation that would obviate land surveys in favor of simply pulling data out of a GIS. The difference between a professional land survey conducted by a licensed and qualified surveyor and general data from a GIS must be explained to elected legislators. There have been dozens of bills in state legislature across the United States seeking to protect individual citizen privacy that restrict the collection, storage, and use of "precise geolocation data" that could affect the ability of surveyors to carry out their practice. And, there is a national campaign against occupational licensing that has resulted in legislation in many states to terminate or alter licensing systems without regard for a distinction between those that are seemingly unnecessary from the start, such as hair braiding or flower arranging, and those that unequivocally affect public health, safety, and welfare, such as surveying.

All of these affect the public in general and the livelihood of surveyors in particular. It is imperative that VAS have a stronger voice and presence in our General Assembly, not only to defend against such threats, but to advance any legislative proposals VAS may wish to initiate.

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson. More directly, it was Plato who said, "The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men".

A more contemporary version I heard from Alan Simpson, who was a U.S. Senator from Wyoming from 1979 to 1997 is "take part, or get taken apart".

I look forward to working with the leadership of VAS, and indeed the entire membership, to assure that the voice of the surveyor is heard and the important role of the surveyor in everyday life is recognized in the General Assembly.

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.