Reimagining our CLSA

[CBarrett]

How is that for a catchy title? (Ok, maybe don't answer that... I tried)

Let's have a discussion about what CLSA is, what we think it should be etc.

Times and conditions we live in change, we need to have foresight and flexibility to change and stay relevant. I know right now this sounds like a $100 corporate phrase.

I would like everyone and anyone who reads this to chime in (all 6 people frequenting this forum) and brainstorm on what this means to you. There are no wrong thoughts and answers at this stage.

[Warren Smith]

Our Declaration of Independence was this country's first strategic plan. The Articles of Confederation were reimagined as our Constitution - as amended, in order to achieve ratification. This organic law is continually updated by amendments, enabled by statutes, executed by career staff, and interpreted by the courts.
Associations for specific professions combine these elements through bylaws. The governing body ought to tailor its goals and objectives from time to time in order to continue and to elevate its purpose.
How's that for a high level view?

[bryanmundia]

It is an interesting concept to reflect on what has been done but yet still needs to be done within an association.

My personal belief is that a strong push for education and mentorship needs to be put in place within our profession. Right now, is an incredibly difficult time for anyone who is defined as an "entry level" surveyor. I have heard it from a number of companies that they are in desperate need of technicians and surveyors, but they don't have the time or the capability to train someone who is green. On the flip side to this I don't blame them as I have seen first-hand an employee or two that I have poured my heart and soul into and taken under my wing only to see them leave after they have enough knowledge to find a company closer to home or that will pay them more (even though I have offered to match). It isn't a personal or cultural thing as I still remain connected to these folks, and they still call to ask for guidance or mentorship (which I am happy to provide) but simply what I think is a different generational belief with less loyalty to a job and more of a focus on personal well-being and what is best for them outside of work.

I think that an outreach to more students (4-year and 2-year college students) within the state to join and participate with CLSA would be huge. You see this with other organizations like ASCE where student chapters are prevalent at pretty much every college and there are a couple of events a year that each student chapter participates in for either a monetary prize or some award (concrete canoe comes to mind). I remember my first year as a Civil Engineering Major, I had a rep from ASCE come into our classroom and speak on what the organization provided and how they helped the profession.

I also think that some sort of internship portal for surveying would be great for students. There are next to zero internships posted in our "employment" discussion on this forum. Maybe it is time for us as an organization to take steps to help bridge the gap between employers and students.

I think that at this point, there is very little that CLSA provides in tangible resources that could be perceived as valuable to someone who is just beginning their professional march to licensure. Giving these people resources and a personal touch to our profession I think would be something that could show how valuable the organization could be.

Looking back at what I have written, I would say that my ideas are to focus more on technology and using that technology for outreach and support.

[mpallamary]

Stand up and make some noise. There are hundreds of things we can do to elevate the profession.

Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds.

[Warren Smith]

CLSA_Strategic_Plan_Approved_Feb_2020 (1).pdf

Here is the current Strategic Plan as a starting point.

[bryanmundia]

Thanks Warren,

I guess my question is how is this strategic plan being implemented? Are there metrics that CLSA is using to determine how successful our organization is at implementing the objectives? Are there particular sub-groups at the State level who have been assigned an objective of this strategic plan?

[Warren Smith]

Bryan,

As a matter of fact, yes. Some of the goals have been successfully implemented. As an example, at the Board meeting Saturday, we inserted a line item in the budget to hire a firm to produce a series of targeted, professionally produced outreach videos for use in social media and at marketing events such as job fairs and the like. In conjunction with NSPS, there are numerous opportunities and, as has been pointed out, surveyors in general are not always the best at this function.
Committee charges include appropriate goals on an annual basis. Our annual survey is intended to identify areas which merit further effort.

[mpallamary]

One of the things I have been advocating for more than 40 years is to have a real, honest to goodness, conference. What that means is as many people as can meet, do so and have a wide open discussion on topics of important, sort of like the forum. This was how things were done in the past.

It would be beneficial for everyone to openly express their views and ideas.

That is how things get done.

[bryanmundia]

Bryan,

As a matter of fact, yes. Some of the goals have been successfully implemented. As an example, at the Board meeting Saturday, we inserted a line item in the budget to hire a firm to produce a series of targeted, professionally produced outreach videos for use in social media and at marketing events such as job fairs and the like. In conjunction with NSPS, there are numerous opportunities and, as has been pointed out, surveyors in general are not always the best at this function.
Committee charges include appropriate goals on an annual basis. Our annual survey is intended to identify areas which merit further effort.

Thanks Warren,

Sorry I missed this Saturday's meeting but I was teaching at Santiago Canyon College (Survey 118/Plumb Bob 101) so I wasn't able to attend. It is good to see that the organization is making strides to provide more outreach. For a profession with such a pedigree in regard to time span, I still get asked every day to explain to someone what it is I do as a Land Surveyor. It will be nice to have some additional resources to use to explain and hopefully get the word out about land surveying.

[CBarrett]

CLSA_Strategic_Plan_Approved_Feb_2020 (1).pdfHere is the current Strategic Plan as a starting point.

I am familiar with our strategic plan, it is a good start. We need more, more in depth and at a higher professional level.

What was the process we went through coming up with the strategic plan?
What did the SWOT or similar analysis look like (strengths, weaknesses, threats, opportunities)?

We need to tackle the implementation process.

This is very similar to what I was facing when I was chairing marketing at another national level non-profit - a lot of confusion about who should be doing what, lot of confusion about business planning, marketing was confused with mere merchandising etc etc...

A common breakdown in implementation is between leadership and 'business plan' language to communicating to individual members what specific actions that means for them on daily basis.

I would like to invite whomever has interest in this to come along and learn a bit more about planning for nonprofits. Let's look at a number of other disciplines and articles about nonprofit planning and think through and parse out what is usable to us.

[CBarrett]

One of the things I have been advocating for more than 40 years is to have a real, honest to goodness, conference. What that means is as many people as can meet, do so and have a wide open discussion on topics of important, sort of like the forum. This was how things were done in the past.

It would be beneficial for everyone to openly express their views and ideas.

That is how things get done.

Many of us don't make enough money to attend conferences, especially the younger staff, whom we continually neglect to include. This is in part how we ended up where we are. Sure, everyone likes face to face contact and personal connection. This leaves 99% of the important people out of the picture, and promotes what is sometimes seen as the 'good ole boys club'.
We need to make ourselves available and heard where the people are and get out of being a closed hard to reach system.

[mpallamary]

Agreed!

[CBarrett]

It is an interesting concept to reflect on what has been done but yet still needs to be done within an association.

..... snipped for brevity.

Brian, those are great ideas for getting into the weeds of things later on!

Lets for now if possible for this thought experiment stick to the big picture.
We need to start with defining which questions we need to ask. Let's get into what SWOT analysis is first.
We need to retailor some of these generic questions into what is relevant to surveying. This can be a starting guide.
1. Refine and adjust the questions.
2. Collect and organizes answers (this takes some time and effort)
3. Don't fall into the pitfalls of self confirmation biases.

some of these questions could become a part of the annual survey.

Here is an example:

CLSA SWOT.JPG

[Warren Smith]

Connie,

Indeed, a process similar to SWOT was used to come up with the current Strategic Plan. You're right, implementing it requires understandable instructions to the appropriate groups tasked with fulfilling its goals. Successive presidents have tried to charge committee chairs with manageable responsibilities to this end.

In the interest of transparency - and more input and measureable progress - it may take an additional overseer. Someone with polished marketing skills. Thank you for your efforts in this regard!

[Warren Smith]

And personally, I have been extremely impressed with the energy and potential from our Young Surveyors Network. There is much more communication technology available today than when I was a young(er) surveyor!

[CBarrett]

Connie,

Indeed, a process similar to SWOT was used to come up with the current Strategic Plan. You're right, implementing it requires understandable instructions to the appropriate groups tasked with fulfilling its goals. Successive presidents have tried to charge committee chairs with manageable responsibilities to this end.

In the interest of transparency - and more input and measureable progress - it may take an additional overseer. Someone with polished marketing skills. Thank you for your efforts in this regard!

So one of our weaknesses the moment is lack of enthusiastic volunteers.
I don't mean that as a criticism, this is a very common problem with volunteer based nonprofits.
What is a plan, or ideas at least to overcome this?

[Warren Smith]

Likely a revisit to see what progress has been made, and what areas need attention. Then - as happened last Saturday - a groundswell of volunteers may well respond to the opportunity.

[CBarrett]

This is great!
So maybe one of the ways to turn that weakness into strength is to find ways to engage a larger audience and include them in volunteering opportunities and how they can benefit them.
Some of the low hanging fruit that I see is technicians, analysts, LSIT's, students and even wannabe surveyors. Help and rub shoulders with people who can give you career opportunities. Get yourself known, get to know your colleagues.
I'm sure there are others that I am not thinking of... anyone else have ideas?

We are nonprofits - do we have the ability to certify highschool and college volunteering/community service hours, that kids need to graduate? Do we know anyone who understands this dynamic? I only barely know it exists. (I'm getting sidetracked into detail, oops)

[Warren Smith]

That's going to be key - using rapid dissemination platforms like Instagram, TikTok and the like. We can make use of a media czar.

[Warren Smith]

I'm thinking of Trent Keenan from Nevada. He has adapted to changing media very successfully.

[CBarrett]

Taking advantage of the new media is not very hard.
We do need additional volunteers to produce and keep up on content. Brand ambassadors is the new term for it.
I do some of it to self promote, and have recently been recognized as 'that linkedin surveyor'.

We need a list of all that needs doing. Strategic plan is kind of the start of it.

By the way, speaking of Trent Keeman, I am one of tbe Co Hosts of the Wisdom Wednsdays, where I talk a fair amount about boundary surveying in California, as we read the current book. 'Evidence and procedures of boundary...' New media is how I connected with a number of people.

I also routinely post Dave Wooley's 10 minute surveyor videos in recent months, in places where I have developed a small follow, and hopefully because of it he is starting to get a bump in his viewership.

My side business had a sizable social media component, and more recently my 'art if surveying' paintings have gotten sizable exposure, including the NSPS interview about them.

Also, you probably already know I'm one of the leads in that 37,000 surveyors group on facebook, which is as far as I know the largest gathering of surveyors online.

Anyhow, getting sidetracked into detail here.

I want to add some organization to these efforts.

[mpallamary]

Great job! Onward and upward!

[CBarrett]

Great job! Onward and upward!

Mike, can you give me a few one-two sentence thoughts on some of the items out of that table?
I love all your articles, but it will take some time to read them all.

I'd like a few quick shots at the iron while it is hot here for orientation.

[mpallamary]

Will do when I have a few minutes. I am on a deadline.

[MPaulk]

"We are nonprofits - do we have the ability to certify highschool and college volunteering/community service hours, that kids need to graduate? Do we know anyone who understands this dynamic? I only barely know it exists. (I'm getting sidetracked into detail, oops)" -Cbarrett

All of you have alluded to something but haven't quite nailed it down. I am wrapping up a degree program at the University of California. There is a requirement for all undergrads in the social ecology field (urban planning, environmental science, earth systems, etc) to participate in what is called "field study." Students find a community partner that aligns with their career goals so they can get real-world professional experience before graduating. After several emails and phone calls, we were accepted as a community partner with the university. We could recruit undergrads to come work for us a quarter at a time with options to keep them on if it is mutually acceptable to the student and us, the employer.

I got several applicants the day we opened up the opportunity through the university's website. While the listing I created was not for land surveying specifically, when I interviewed candidates, they were all equally interested in that aspect of my work as they were in the GIS component. The students all had taken some GIS courses and were somewhat familiar with concepts like projections and sUAS data capture through the university GIS courses. I think there is a lot of untapped potential in university students who are not necessarily going into civil engineering but have a science background with classes on statistics under their belts.

I have been working with the director of UCI-Nature on some pro bono survey work at the San Joaquin Marsh. She is excited about presenting these types of land surveying opportunities to all of the programs she is involved with. We are working on creating a presentation and some field trips for the GIS classes from the Earth Systems and Environmental Science programs. Probably going to setting aerial control and drone capture for topography at the marsh.

When we produce content tailored to land surveyors, we are not attracting anyone new.

I looked at the coursework for a few related degree programs at UC Davis and UC San Diego, and here are a couple of courses I found that may help them segue into surveying: Concepts & Methods in Geographic Information Systems, Aerial Photo Interpretation & Remote Sensing, Environmental Remote Sensing, Introduction to GIS and GPS for Scientists, Satellite Remote Sensing.