President’s Message

Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA 2021 President

Out of the Cave: Post-Cicada and Pandemic Life

I hope everyone’s summer has been off to a fantastic start! I’m sure you have all been busy and are enjoying the warmer temperatures and longer days. The summer months are typically a great time for traveling and enjoying outdoor activities. This year looks and feels much different than last year without all the restrictions and concerns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the pandemic, our area had the pleasure of managing the Brood X cicadas (Cicada-Fest 2021, as my wife liked to call it), to be seen again in 2038. We are thankful to be past the cicadas, and we are fortunate to be approaching the finish line of the pandemic.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the regional conference of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA –Maryland, Virginia, & Potomac Chapters). This conference was held virtually and explored many different topics, ranging from landscape analysis to design constraints in the new normal. Not surprisingly, a recurring theme was how companies adjusted to the COVID-19 restrictions. It was interesting and informative to hear the various responses, with the overall theme among all presenters emphasizing health and family. Hopefully next year we will be able to discuss the changes to office life as we all return.

As we continue to explore and embrace the “return to normal,” which I am sure will look different for each and every one of us, I wanted to share some tips on how to stay safe and healthy while managing the stress and unknowns of returning to onsite work locations:

• The CDC continues to recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It is an important tool to bring us closer to enjoying the activities we have missed.

• Continue to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

• Clean items such as wallet and cellphone frequently.

• Keep work and personal spaces clean throughout the day.

• Continue to minimize physical contact and practice social distancing when possible.

• Continue to use virtual meeting spaces and tools. If in-person meetings are necessary, maintain distance and limit the number of participants. • Per CDC recommendations, if not vaccinated, continue to wear masks or face coverings to keep yourself and others protected.

• Communicate any concerns to those around you.

The return to in-person work will look different, but maintaining safety protocols, communicating concerns and goals, and using good judgment will help to ensure everyone stays healthy.

LCA continues to work through the safety concerns and guidelines as we look to bring back in-person events. Please keep an eye out for upcoming events as we finalize details! As always, I want to thank all of our members for your involvement and support of this organization. As we continue our recovery, we must rely on and trust each other. LCA is excited to be a resource for each of you, and we hope to see you all in person before the end of the year!

Be safe,

Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA LCA President 2021