2009 Conference

NMPS 2009 Conference

Letter from the 2009 NMPS President

Earl F. Burkholder, PS, PE

The New Mexico Professional Surveyors’ Annual Conference will be held March 13 & 14, 2009, at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North Hotel – same place as last year. A registration form for the convention is posted on the NMPS web site and a block of rooms has been reserved at the Marriott for NMPS members. Send your conference registration to Patty Floyd, NMPS Executive Director, and make your lodging reservations directly with the Marriott hotel.

The theme for the conference is “Surveying is Fun – Polishing our Professional Image.” Sometimes we take ourselves (and life) too seriously. Other times we may forget that our collective status in society needs careful attention. Hopefully, we New Mexico surveyors can come together, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow professionals, enhance our professional capability, challenge each other to participate in positive change, and return to our respective practices with a renewed sense that what we do can and does make a difference. Our profession is unique and we provide valuable fundamental (and sometimes esoteric) services to various sectors of society.

Please note that the Conference Registration Desk will open at 7:00 a.m. and that a continental breakfast will be available in the Exhibit Hall. Opening Ceremonies will in the same Exhibit Hall at 8:00 a.m. The first seminar sessions are scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m., breaks are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. and lunch is in the Exhibit Hall at 12 noon. Recognitions and Awards will be presented following lunch. The afternoon sessions begin at 1:15 p.m., 15 minute breaks are at 3:00 p.m. and afternoon sessions are over at 5:00 p.m. An optional Conference Banquet/Dinner (tickets purchased separately for $45 each as noted on Registration Form) is planned for 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday’s program will begin with a continental breakfast in the Exhibit Hall. One-half hour has been allocated for vendor statements/presentations in the Exhibit Hall at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning seminar sessions are scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. with 15 minute breaks at 10:15 a.m. Lunch will be at 12:15 p.m. with afternoon sessions starting at 1:15 p.m. and 15 minutes breaks at 3:00 p.m. The exhibitors are asked to keep their exhibits open until the second afternoon sessions start at 3:15 p.m. Those staying until the end of the last sessions are invited to relax and celebrate a successful conference with the NMPS President 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The program is diverse and intended to have something for everyone. The uniqueness of surveying will be high-lighted by two speakers with extensive BLM background and experience – Tim Kent from Oregon and Doug Haywood from the BLM Washington D.C. office. Contract and liability issues for surveyors will be discussed by a seasoned expert – Prof. Dave Wahlstrom, JD F.ASCE. Rigorous applications of GPS technology will be discussed from two perspectives – Cliff Wilkie will discuss worldwide development of GNSS Networks and discuss the Albuquerque real-time network while William Henning from Silver Spring, Maryland will discuss real-time positioning and guidelines being developed by the NGS. Our own Geodetic Advisor, Bill Stone, will provide an up-date of CORS, OPUS, and Height Modernization here in New Mexico. Details are being finalized for a representative from New Mexico Geographic Information Council to make a presentation on GIS. Additionally, Dr. Steve Frank from NMSU will give an ethics presentation, Glen Thurow (former NMPS lobbyist) will provide an overview of licensure, practice, and education issues while Tom Moore will enlighten us on riparian issues related to the Rio Grande River. Finally, representatives from the New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors will present and discuss licensure issues.

Tentatively, the ACSM/NMPS Student Chapter is planning a golf tournament on Thursday afternoon. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy a round of golf and to support this fund raising event for the Annual ACSM Student Team Competition. The Conference Registration Desk will be open on Thursday evening as a courtesy to the golfers and anyone else wishing to avoid the crowds on Friday morning.

Registration fees for two full days for NMPS members are $300 if postmarked by February 28, 2009. Prices for late registration, 1-day attendance, and prices for non-members are listed on the Registration Form. The fees for surveying technicians and for students have not been increased from last year.

The Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North Hotel is holding a group of rooms for NMPS conference attendees until February 10, 2009, - single rate $119 and double rate $129 per night plus state and local taxes (currently 12.875%). The reservations can be made on-line or by calling 1-800-266-9432.

Click on the "Registration Form" link above for the 2009 Annual Conference Registration Form and the link to the NMPS Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North Hotel room reservation page.

Everyone is encouraged to get your lodging reservation made in a timely manner and to pre-register for the conference. We need to provide a meal ticket count to the Marriott by March 10, 2009.

So, come to the conference, meet old friends, make new friends, enjoy yourself, learn new things, and be proud of being a New Mexico Surveyor – yes we are a special group of people with much to offer citizens of New Mexico and the world. I look forward to seeing you there.