Page 6 - 2023 Spring

From the Editor

by: Ben Petersen, PLS

Happy New Year everyone!
So did you all rush to your dictionary to look up defenestration. Satisified?

adly, I have to start off the new year with a report of an incident Legislature is convening for a full session this year. We’re bound to
Sthat occurred at our most recent LSAW Board of Directors meet- see the usual assault on deregulating licensing, making professional
ing. It should have been a reasonable and civilized discussion about services subject to the sales tax, expanding prevailing wage into all
holding future board meetings in-person versus virtually. It unfortu- aspects of surveying, more specialty add-ons to recording fees and
nately degenerated into a melee. What started out simply enough who knows what else. It’s the same-old, same-old every session. As
with some points and counterpoints gradually escalated to raised I like to say “hang onto your wallet”. Yikes.
voices, tabletop fist pounding and F-bombs. As accusations and I also found an app that uses Artificial Intelligence (I think that’s
references to female dogs and the children of unmarried parents what I have) to generate business names. I input “Land Surveying”
were traded between board members the threats and rage grew in and it came up with Earthscope, Awemap, PlanetView, Landscan,
intensity. Emotions took over and I believe some of the board mem- MapPoint, Geologica, Groundline, SurveyFix, Terracore and dozens
bers took the opportunity of other cool names. I was actually impressed. Feel free to borrow.
Ever listen to someone to settle some long-fester-
As always thank you Crissy, Tony, Vic Banks and John Thatcher for
for a while and wonder ing personal grievances. I’m all your help. Much appreciated. And thank you readers. I finally got
“Who ties your shoelaces not sure when the first pen, a little feedback (See “From the Mailbox”) and that’s very much ap-
cup or cookie was thrown
for you?” but by then it had gotten preciated. The fact that it was all good feedback was a bonus. Keep
completely out of hand. I it coming. I’m a big boy. I can take it. n
myself tried to stay above the fray and eventually let go of one the
board members throats and asked for calm. By that time everyone
was tired so things did settle down. FROM THE MAILBOX
On the positive side no bones were broken and the extent of torn Just wanted to say great job on the
garments and blood splatters was really quite minimal. Yea, sure
there was some spitting, ruffled hair and spilt drinks but in the end latest issue of ESS. Lots of great articles.
it was practically a non-event. I particularly enjoyed the historical stuff
of course.
In fact it WAS a non-event. It never happened. I made it up. That’s
not how it goes. I was just trying to catch your interest. Did it work? PS: Sorry Ben, can’t resist the follow-
ing: Think you may have “defenestrated”
We did have a discussion and guess what? We’re adults. And we’re
professionals. And we act that way. Yea, we’re boring. We talked it John Thatcher about crediting him for
out, we listened to each other and compromised on having one vir- his “help in editing and speling...”
tual board meeting this coming year. That’s the way it goes and the Denny
way it should go.
OK, diversion aside, welcome to the New Year’s issue of your Ev- Editors Note: The misspelled was deliberate. I was just
ergreen State Surveyor magazine. First off I want to congratulate having fun. I knew someone would catch it.
Michael Kulish for winning the NSPS Excellence in Journalism award
for the Best Featured Article. His article “Trouble Afoot for Surveyor” Hi Ben,
hit the mark.
Thanks for what you are doing with the Evergreen Surveyor.
I’d also like to share with you that I am still trying to figure out the Some of us old folks just can’t get used to digital magazines.
“metaverse”. I’m not spending too much time on it but I’m open to
an explanation. As long as it isn’t too long or boring. Two, I did buy Keep in touch and keep up the good job.
a ticket for the Mega-Millions Lottery, and didn’t win – again. Had Jerry
I, you’d be looking for a new Editor. Finally, your Washington State

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