Text Box: NCASPRS Mourns the Loss of Mike Snyder On April 1 we lost a top notch photogrammetrist in the death of Mike Snyder in Charlotte. Mike came to Charlotte in 1993 and managed Photogrammetric Data Services before starting his own firm, The Mapping Company, in 1999. Mike was articulate, outspoken and skillful in presenting his ideas to the Association. He leaves behind his mother Maxine, his wife Gayle, his children Chris and Chad, and two grandchildren Haylee and Stone. Mike was only 44 and we will miss him. New NCASPRS Officers Installed at Winter Meeting 2003 The newly elected NCASPRS officers for 2003 were officially installed in January’s winter meeting in Raleigh. President Tim Merrill, NCDOT 919-250-4116 president@ncasprs.com Vice-President Bob Carl, IMC, Inc. 704-540-0087 vicepresident@ncasprs.com Secretary/Treasurer Pat Boren, 3Di Corp. 910-392-1496 sectreasurer@ncasprs.com Programs Director Scott Williams, CRM, Inc. 910-799-8100 vicepresprogrms@ncasprs.com Call for Exam Questions The call still stands for the submittal of exam questions for future applicants of North Carolina PLS-Photogrammetry licenses. Please take a few minutes one day soon and derive a practical situation based on experience, and put it down on paper with a list of multiple choice answers. They can be emailed to our secretary, Pat Boren, who will log them in and prepare them for submittal. South Carolina Photogrammetric “PPS” Licensing Program As many of us know, the state of South Carolina is initiating its own licensure program for Professional Photogrammetric Surveyors. Applications will be accepted until July, 2004 from currently licensed photogrammetrists to be grandfathered into the program. Mr. Sid Miller, who is a member of the SC Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, is overseeing this process and gives the following progress report. As of April 1, 2003, the Board has received about 32 application packages. Most of them are still incomplete with references still outstanding, but Mr. Miller did collect the first 12 complete packages and evaluated them. They purposely waited until a batch of 10 or 12 became complete so that they could view them in a more expansive context. All 12 were approved and another batch of 10 or 12 will be evaluated when all their references are received. Applications have been received so far from North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. New President’s Remarks With all the responsibilities that come with being the President, the only way I could come to grips with this year’s activities was to find a general theme. After several discussions with members and even those with myself, I chose the following: “Are you a photogrammetrist or a surveyor?” Though on the surface the question may appear confrontational, it was truly not my intent. I am concerned as we go into the upcoming years, that it is many people’s belief that the issues of licensing here in North Carolina were completed when the legislation passed five years ago. This process is not completed! Several issues have already arisen, though very quietly. First, sadly after five years of licensing there is still no test of photogrammetrists. To the best of my knowledge only two individuals have approached the Board requesting information about attaining a photogrammetric license. This needs to be done now and done well. With South Carolina’s licensing about to hit its kick off point, it is understood that reciprocity issues are just around the corner. I had hoped that Mr. Ritter or Mr. Tuttle from the Licensing Board would be at our Spring meeting this year, but their schedules would not allow it. The good news is that they are going to make every effort to come this fall. We need to be prepared to help guide the profession of photogrammetry and remote sensing for the years to come. Mr. Plasker informed the group last spring that no issue with photogrammetry and remote sensing here in North Carolina are cast in concrete. The legislators will be revisiting the statutes in the future, and through our involvement in the Model Law wording we can still influence changes we as a group would like to see. Lastly, I want to follow the lead of our past Presidents and start building a NCASPRS that functions well as leader in all arenas of photogrammetry and remote sensing. We have created a new web page. Visit it and let us know what you think of it. We have set up generic email addresses on this page which I hope will remove me and our current officers as personal contact points for the group, but set up a simple system of contact that will past from one group of officers to another without any loss. I hope this will help in our communications with the Region and National Boards. I hope to see us work more closely with the schools in our State to promote interest in our profession and to position ourselves as a professional viewed group within the science of photogrammetry and remote sensing. Yes, the challenges are still with us. We have been up to them in the past and I have no reservations that we will continue to do so in the future. See you all in Wilmington this spring. Thank you.

Hotel Info:

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

160 Van Campen Blvd.

Wilmington, NC 28403

T (910) 392-3227    F (910) 395-9907

 

It is located near the intersection of College Rd. (Hwy 132) and Market St. (Hwy. 17).

 

The group name is NCASPRS and we have 15 rooms reserved for the group for May 9 and 10.  The rates are:  Double $79, King $79, Suite $99, WP Suite $129, Rollaway $13 and Room Tax 9.5%. Room reservations must be made by 4-25-03.
Text Box: Spring Meeting Text Box: The Spring Meeting will be held in Wilmington on May 10. Our speakers include Johan Wilson from RC&A (Aerial Photography), Frank Hahnel from Duncan Parnel (CYRAX), and our President, Tim Merrill, who will speak on the fundamentals of GPS. We will also have more discussion concerning licensing. Most importantly, there will be fun and good times for all in the beautiful historic city of Wilmington!

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