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The Conference:
The annual conference continues to be a highlight, and this year
did not disappoint! Not only does the conference provide an
President’s opportunity to obtain professional development and continuing
education credits, but it also provides an amazing opportu-
Message nity to network. Each year during the conference we have the
chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The
stories and experiences shared outside of the classrooms often
provide as much value as the sessions. The 2024 Western Re-
gional Survey Conference is shaping up to be one of the best! It
will be held in Las Vegas, with Arizona, California, New Mexico,
Nevada, Wyoming, and WFSP participating. The conference will
By: Nancy J. Almanzan, PLS , NALS President be held March 23-26, 2024, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, and I
encourage each of you to attend! Visit www.PLSeducation.org
As we approach the end of another amazing year, I am pleased for more information.
to reflect on the numerous accomplishments and advancements
that NALS, as a collective group of dedicated volunteers, have As we celebrate these achievements, we also acknowledge that
achieved together. there is still work to be done. The coming year holds new oppor-
tunities and challenges, and I am confident that we will continue
This year, we celebrated our 50 Anniversary, and it has been fun to build on our successes with the same spirit of collaboration
th
to look back to those early years when a group of Land Surveyors and dedication.
with a passion for the profession came together and formed the
Nevada Association of Land Surveyors. The group that originally I want to take this opportunity to thank the NALS Board of
signed the Articles of Incorporation included Gilbert Buck, Walter Directors, Committee Chairs, Lahontan Chapter Board, Southern
Neitz, Frank Genty, Dan Asikainen, and Gene Lafferty. I hope that Nevada Chapter Board, and the Executive Office. Your support,
the advances we have made for our members and the profession hard work, and passion have made serving as this year’s NALS
have made them proud. President a pleasure. I look forward to supporting Todd Enke as
next year’s President and encourage the membership to do the
Here are a few achievements and programs I would like to highlight. same. Together, we are making a lasting impact, and I am excited
about the future possibilities that await us.
Membership Growth: I wish you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Over the last few years, NALS has experienced a notable increase
in membership. This increase includes not only licensed land
surveyors but also LSIs, survey technicians, and students. As part
tion provides a fresh new perspective and helps us to continue About the Cover...
of growing our membership, we are seeing new faces in leader-
ship roles. The participation of new members in our organiza-
advancing the profession.

Outreach:
Our outreach initiatives have expanded. We are reaching new
audiences, including Career Technical Education (CTE) profession-
als and school counselors. These outreach events have fostered
meaningful connections and are aiding in recruiting the next
generation of survey professionals.

Nevada Geographic Center:
As part of our 50 Anniversary Celebration, NALS reestablished
th
the geographic center of Nevada. This provided not only a fun
membership activity but also will help to generate awareness
of the land surveying profession. You will read more about this
unique project in the pages to follow.
Advocacy:
One of the greatest benefits of a professional association is ad-
vocacy and representation. NALS maintains active liaisons with
the Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Survey-
ors (BPELS), the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors
(WFPS), and the National Society of Professional Surveyors
(NSPS). In addition, our Legislative Committee monitored over
20 bills and drafted legislation to address the 2022 datum. This
year, our advocacy effectiveness was put to the test when there A composite image of Nevada Traverse Covers from over the years.
was a proposal to eliminate the state-specific exam for licen-
sure. NALS rallied a grassroots effort and was able to defeat the Do you have a cover shot you would like to submit?
proposal, thus ensuring the protection of the public. Email: nals@NvLandSurveyors.org
6 The Nevada Traverse Vol.50, No.4, 2023