President's Letter: February 2024

Dear MD ASLA Community,

By the time that you read this we will all know how many more days of winter to expect. If you are like me, even if the groundhog did not see its shadow spring can’t arrive soon enough.

However, regardless of rodent premonitions, we do still have February to get through; and it is a busy month for the chapter.

First and foremost, I want to remind you that the ASLA 2024 Conference next October will be held in Washington, DC. Because of our proximity to DC, we are encouraging Maryland membership to contribute to the ongoing narrative of innovation and design excellence by participating in the ASLA 2024 Conference education program. You can do this by submitting a visionary presentation or field session by Thursday, February 22, at 12:00 noon, PT. You can do so by clicking on the following link: https://www.asla.org/land/LandArticle.aspx?id=64714

Secondly, for all our students, we are thrilled to announce the first MD ASLA Climate Action Plan Challenge for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. You have probably been alerted of this by your program directors and professors; please consider submitting a Letter of Intent, individually or in a team, for a project that will employ climate adaptation strategies as outlined in the ASLA Climate Action Plan Field Guide. Project sites must be located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and ultimately improve the physical conditions of the watershed’s landscape. Registration closes Friday, March 1 at 11:59 PM EST.

Third, this year we are partnering with the North Carolina chapter to review awards submissions. The process of reviewing awards is inspiring, revealing and a huge help to the chapter. Please consider giving some time to help jury the NC awards. For more information, please email Michael Pullano (mpullano@designcollective.com).

Fourth, we are excited to celebrate our Circle of Support members in a special event to thank them for their continuing sponsorship of the chapter.  The event will take place Thursday, February 22, at The Center for Architecture and Design. For more information on how you, too, can become a member of the Circle of Support, please email Kevin Gaughan (kevin@formgardendesign.com).

Lastly, we have lots of great LACES opportunities happening in the next month or so. I am particularly pleased to highlight two lectures which are part of the Morgan State University SA+P 2024 Spring Lecture Series; each one will provide one LACES credit. Emma Gregory and Breck Sullivan, from the Alliance for the Bay, will present “Cities as Agents of Change: Tools and Strategies for a Thriving Chesapeake Bay” on Tuesday, February 27, at noon. And then we are thrilled to host Kona Gray, FASLA, and ASLA President-elect, on Tuesday, March 26, at 4:00 PM (via ZOOM). Kona Gray will present “Grounded Landscapes.” Please let me know if you would like more information about either lecture.

This is not my favorite time of the calendar cycle. The optimism of a new year has waned, the replenished hope brought by longer days and cherry blossoms is still far on the horizon. But we do have a lot to look forward to, and to do, in the next coming weeks, so please take part and enjoy what your chapter has to offer.

Many thanks,

Sarah Trautvetter, ASLA

2024 MDASLA President