From the President’s Pen‌. Jonathan Tabas, PLS, PE PSLS WAS THERE FOR YOU The Start of a New Era It's amazing how much has happened during the several months I've been serving as President of PSLS. My term started at the Conference in January. As I settled in, my goals were to get more, and younger, members involved in PSLS. I was extremely gratified by the positive response I received when I asked members to step up and take leadership positions on our committees. Everything was moving along nicely when the Coronavirus pandemic broke loose in Pennsylvania the week after our first Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings in March. PSLS leadership and staff responded to the crisis with guidance for our membership, a waiver request on behalf of Surveyors working in the field, and direct communication with the Governor's office. Our position, affirmed by legal counsel and maintained consistently throughout the crisis, was clear and concise: 1) Surveyors have a responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, 2) Read and follow the state's guidelines and mandates, 3) Follow CDC Guidelines and 4) Use good judgement when deciding when and how field personnel will work in the field. During the crisis, we found that some businesses reduced or closed their field operations, laying off or furloughing their employees. Larger firms were able to deploy field personal to work crews in adjoining states where Surveyors were permitted to continue working. Some firms filed for waivers, with and without success, and others continued to work. I personally responded to 50 Surveyors who had questions about what they were allowed or not allowed to do in the field. The clarity we were seeking was not evident from any of the state's directives that were issued throughout March and April. By mid-April, our focus shifted to making sure our profession was among the first to be allowed to return to work. We authored a new letter to the Governor and our "Top Ten List." Our lobbyists from Wanner Associates made sure these documents were transmitted to the Governor's Chief of Staff. Many of our members sent copies to their State Senators and Representatives. The Governor's order, allowing construction to resume in Pennsylvania, included all businesses in the construction industry as well as design-related field activities. We then authored suggested guidelines & safety protocols for Surveyors to follow as we went back to work on May 1, 2020. PSLS continues to serve our members and meet throughout the ongoing crisis. We had our first virtual Board of Directors Meeting in May, and plan to meet again in July. I am proud to say that at this meeting the Board decided to donate $6,300 raised from the conference live auction to the scholarship fund. The Southwest Chapter also hosted a virtual meeting and presentation in May and the Bucks Chapter has a meeting planned for June 25th. All chapters have access to our Go To Meeting license and are encouraged to use it to maintain a regular meeting schedule. The Geospatial Committee, led by Michael Kreiger, PLS, took the lead for the 2022 modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), coordinating stakeholders across the state and submitting the PA Request/Proposal for implementation of the NGS 2022 Datum. 2
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