California Surveyors Forums

I promise it will only take 2 minutes (6 questions), and it's FUN. Not a thorough vetting of your career, just some interest and gripes.

Select link here: https://goo.gl/forms/4j2HiG7weGMUhdXf2

The information from the survey is intended to figure common themes to help promote students and persons interested into the profession. Your answers are critical, and it is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Michael LaFontaine

I am truly grateful for all the responses I've received thus far. Really proud of how passionate our community is. Thank you.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm skeptical in general about clicking on links. But then I noticed that you only joined 3 weeks ago and that was only your 3rd post. The kicker was this: "The information from the survey is intended to figure common themes to help promote students and persons interested into the profession." What does that even mean?

I'm "passionate" about my profession, by the way. Maybe if you had done a better job of spelling out your post?

Lee, I can vouch for Mike. He's as straight up as you'll meet. He reminds me a bit of you, 30 years ago....and that's a compliment to both of you.

Ian

Thank you Lee for the interest in this post and Ian for the kind words.

After two weeks of responses and a few phone calls, there has been some interesting themes going on. The one that is most the most helpful to this community - lack of knowledge from other surveying practitioners or AEC professionals. What is glaringly obvious is the high competency level of individuals active in CLSA and other state associations, as compared to those who are not.

If you are not active in CLSA and reading this post, become more active in local/state meetings so you can stay current with new laws and practice based issues. Just reading the CLSA Enews or Cal Surveyor can help resolve issues you may be dealing with currently. I know of one meeting that helped me with an issue I am currently dealing with. I would like to build a block wall along the adjoining boundary line of my neighbor and I. After hearing a presentation on the "Good Neighbor Fence Act", I found out there is a good possibility my neighbor is legally obligated to pay for half of the wall. This is great! Saves me about $5k and having to worry about losing 1' of my property by placing the whole wall & footing on my property. It's type of knowledge which assist us in being greater assets to the public.

If you are active in CLSA or other state organizations, reach out to those who are not and encourage them to become active. Not just pay their dues, but actually go to a meeting or read the latest Cal Surveyor. I know we don't want to feel like we're pressuring individuals, but think of that next time you are retracing a crappy map or the next time you talk to someone and they use RTK to locate centerline ties. These individuals need exposure to alternative methods and hear what is going on in the profession. It may also help the whole "undercutting" cost dilemma as well. Make the extra effort and reach out to these individuals, it will benefit us all!