BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2013 Fall Fieldbook | Page 53

To learn more about upcoming BSLA EP events visit www.bslaweb.org/calendar and contact Nina and David at [email protected] and [email protected] respectively. Emerging Professionals Nina Chase, Associate ASLA Committee Chair With 150 members and growing, Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ Emerging Professionals Committee (BSLA EPs) is establishing a strong community of newly minted landscape architects and students in Boston. Over the past year, the BSLA EPs have re-imagined what a young professional group is and have expanded the role of social events in a larger professional context. BSLA members Nina Chase, EP Chair, and David Borden, EP Event Producer, are leading the effort to re-energize the BSLA EPs with a fresh, event-based strategy. Since November 2012, the EPs have hosted two post-lecture socials, a portfolio review session, LARE study groups, a studio tour at Sasaki Associates, a Boston Harbor boat cruise social, and quarterly meetings with guest presenters such as Kimberly Garza of Atlas Labs. As part of the EP’s initiative to reach out to the allied design community, the group produced a designed-themed Nerd Nite at Middlesex Lounge featuring Lee Moreau, Principal at Continuum and Maxim Lobovsky, Founder of FormLabs. The EP events, designed to facilitate one-on-one interactions that produce meaningful shared experiences are at the core of EP’s growing community. “From the beginning, we envisioned less name tags, less bulleted PowerPoint slides, less clammy handshakes,” says David. “Our intent is to foreground the social component of the professional group, and to do it in a fresh, engaging fashion that is in line with the attitude of young designers. In essence, we strive to make the BSLA Emerging Professional group relevant.” The EP committee is co-hosting the ASLA College Alumni Tailgate, and EP members are hosting an Education Session (MONC01 Emerging Professionals Roundtable: A Dialogue Between Established and Emerging Professionals), and a Field Session (FS015 Biking for All: Eliminating Barriers to Bicycling in Boston and Beyond), all aimed at the ASLA EP community. “We are offering emerging l andscape architects a variety of engaging opportunities to connect and learn,” says Nina. 2013 Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook 51