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December 2024

Events

Visit the WASLA Event Calendar for more information on events.

 

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WASLA Board of Directors


President
Mike Faulkner, ASLA

 

Past President
Nicholas Zurlini, ASLA

 

Trustee
Tim Slazinik, ASLA

 

Treasurer
Su Wanqin, ASLA

 

Secretary
Zach Thomas, ASLA

 

Member at Large

Cresha Wee, ASLA

 

Member at Large, Eastern WA
Michael Sanchez, ASLA

 

Member at Large, Western WA
Rhiannon Neuville, ASLA

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President's Remarks

Hello all,

Winter has fully arrived, bringing rain, mist, and the familiar chill of the season to Tacoma. Mount Rainier is draped in a fresh coat of white, though hidden behind the clouds today. Despite the gray skies, holiday decorations, festive lights, music, and year-end celebrations are filling the season with warmth.

The holidays are a time to reflect on the year behind us and connect with what matters most. Personally, I’m looking forward to heading into the mountains to play in the snow and embrace the beauty of winter. Wherever the season takes you, I hope it offers moments of rest, joy, and inspiration. 

As we approach 2025, I’ve been reflecting on the positive momentum of 2024 and feeling optimistic about what’s to come. There’s been encouraging progress across our shared outdoor spaces—new projects along the Seattle Waterfront are reactivating the water’s edge, welcoming people back to this dynamic public space. Promising salmon return numbers highlight the payoff of years of dedication to habitat restoration across our state. And on the horizon, a significant cleanup of the Duwamish River will continue to restore one of our region’s most vital waterways. 

These stories remind me how persistence and widespread collaboration can lead to lasting change. Whether you’re designing innovative spaces, mentoring the next generation, or advocating for the public lands and ecosystems that sustain us, your work helps shape a more sustainable and connected future. 

Here’s to a bright 2025 and continued progress in shaping meaningful change for people and nature alike. 

Happy Holidays! 

Mike Faulkner 

   WASLA President

WASLA Annual Membership Meeting - January 24, 2025

Save the date! 

Join us for WASLA’s Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, January 24th, at 12 PM. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the successes of 2024 and look ahead to our goals for 2025. 

The agenda includes:

  • A Year in Review: Highlights of our events, committee accomplishments, and member engagement from 2024.
  • Updates on WASLA News: Membership milestones, national initiatives, and exciting achievements by our members.
  • A Financial Update: Presented by our Treasurer.
  • A look ahead to 2025 Goals, including advancing engagement across the state and aligning with ASLA's strategic initiatives.
  • Questions & Discussion: Your chance to share feedback and engage with WASLA leadership.

This online meeting is a great way to connect with fellow members and stay informed about our chapter’s initiatives. We hope to see you there! 

Meeting Link

 
Save the Date!

Scholarship Applications! 

WASLA scholarship applications will be open starting January 6th and due February 5th. 

The Academic Scholarships will be awarded to UW and WSU students that anticipate graduating within the 2025-2026 academic year. 

One $3,000 scholarship per university will be awarded! 

The application link and more details will be available January 6th.

 
ASLA 2025 Call for Nominations is Open

Do you know someone who exemplifies excellence? Nominate them for the ASLA 2025 Outstanding Service Award, Honors or Honorary Members awards! Selected by ASLA’s Board of Trustees, the honors represent the highest awards ASLA presents each year. The deadline for nominations is February 14, 2025. 

Now accepting nominations for the following:  

The ASLA Medal is bestowed upon a landscape architect whose lifetime achievements and contributions to the profession have had a unique and lasting impact on the welfare of the public and the environment. 

The ASLA Design Medal recognizes an individual landscape architect who has produced a body of exceptional design work at a sustained level for a period of at least ten years. 

The Community Service Award recognizes an individual landscape architect, group of landscape architects, landscape architecture firms, landscape architecture education programs, or ASLA Chapters who have provided sustained, pro bono service to the community demonstrating sound principles or values of landscape architecture. 

The Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal celebrates the outstanding life and career of Professor Jot D. Carpenter, FASLA, past president of the ASLA. Professor Carpenter's position as Professor of Landscape Architecture at Ohio State University was a formidable platform to showcase his honor, commitment, and energy as an educator, leaving an indelible mark on landscape architecture education. This medal honors his contribution to education and the profession. 

The LaGasse Medals are named for Alfred B. LaGasse, past executive director of the American Institute of Park Executives and executive vice president of the National Recreation and Parks Association. Recognizes notable contributions by individuals to the management and conservancy of natural resources and/or public landscapes.  

The Landscape Architecture Firm Award recognizes landscape architecture firms that have produced bodies of distinguished work influencing the professional practice of landscape architecture. 

The Landscape Architecture Medal of Excellence recognizes significant contributions to landscape architecture policy, research, education, project planning, and design, or a combination of these items. 

The Olmsted Medal was instituted in 1990 to recognize individuals, organizations, agencies, or programs outside the profession of landscape architecture for environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship. The Medal honors Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the founder of the American landscape architecture profession and steward of the environment. 

ASLA Emerging Professional Medal recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and considerable contribution to the profession of landscape architecture, the prospective recipient’s community, and/or a firm or design team; early in one’s career. The individual must be within the first 10 years of their career and have a degree from a landscape architecture program recognized by ASLA. 

Honorary ASLA Membership This award recognizes persons other than landscape architects whose achievements of national or international significance or influence have provided notable service to the profession of landscape architecture. Up to 8 awards are given. Honorary Members shall be individuals who are not landscape architects but whose achievements are of national or international significance or influence. 

ASLA Outstanding Service Award ASLA Outstanding Service Awards are given annually to recognize volunteers who make notable contributions to or on behalf of the Society at the national level.  

LEARN MORE

 
Fellows Call for Nominations

The Council of Fellows 2025 call for nominations is now open through February 1, 2025!

Check out the website for information on:

All nominations must be uploaded to the online submission system by the February 1 deadline.  Either the chapter or the nominee can create an account in the system while you are still working on the nomination. The system has a task list for completion that will help you organize for the final submission.

Lists of eligible members was sent to chapters this summer.  The list is also available in the Chapter Presidents Basecamp.

Contact Curt Millay, ASLA with any questions.

Free PDH of the Month

Members now have access to free monthly PDH live webinars and recordings via ASLA Online Learning. | Read More

 
Welcome Members!

A very warm welcome to our new and renewing WASLA Members: 

Dominique DeGracia | Yen-Chia Pan 

Interested in becoming a member? 
Learn more  about benefits of membership.
Join today!

Current Job Postings

Looking for the perfect job candidate? 

Did you know that you can create a new job listing online on the WASLA website? 

All job postings appear on the WASLA website AND are included in WASLA's monthly newsletter that goes out to over 2,000 subscribers! 

 

Upcoming Events

Click here to view all upcoming WASLA and affiliate events. 

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