President's Message

Members,

I want to thank the student chapter at the University of Florida for inviting me to speak. Going to Gainesville always feels like coming home. It was a great turnout, with the North Central Florida Chapter in attendance as well. A lot of good questions were asked, and with the help of some of my fellow board members, we were able to answer them. Local chapter meetings are the heart and soul of our society. Fellowship with local surveyors, gaining new insights, and working toward the strengthening of our profession are what these meetings are all about. If you haven’t been to one in a while, I encourage you to attend—and bring a friend who might make a great new member. I look forward to participating in more of these gatherings this year. This month, I plan to attend the Tampa Bay Chapter meeting.

Scholarships

While at the University of Florida, I was asked about scholarship opportunities the society offers for Geomatics students. Funny you should ask: the society maintains a scholarship fund for students pursuing a degree in Geomatics. The catch is that you have to apply. I can recall several board meetings where no one applied for this free money. In addition, many local chapters have scholarship funds as well. Requirements vary from chapter to chapter, but they’re available if you ask. My local chapter requires you to be a member, and the cost of membership is free. Click Here for Scholarship Opportunities: https://www.fsms.org/scholarship-opportunities

Certified Floodplain Surveyor

I was recently sent a survey to gauge interest in a Certified Floodplain Surveyor program. This program expands a surveyor’s knowledge of Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Letters of Map Change (LOMA, LOMR-F, LOMR), NoRise Certifications, and the Flood Elevation Certificate. I am a strong advocate of education, and specialized knowledge of anything we do in our day-to-day operations is an asset to our profession.

Legislative Matters

Committee assignments have been set, the conference is behind us, and the real work of the society begins. We already know there will be another challenge to our profession this session. The First Step Florida Surveyors and Mappers Credentialing and Licensure protocol as an alternative pathway to temporary licensure, is expected to be re-submitted. As it was last year, this remains a bad bill. It is extremely important to support our Legal and Legislative Committee in any way we can. The best way to do that is to make a donation to the PAC. Big donations are great, but small ones matter too. Please know that every contribution makes a difference. Click Here for donations and to find out more about FSMPAC: https://www.fsms.org/fsmpolitical-action-committee

Final Thoughts

I recently stumbled upon a book I’m finding very informative: The Swamp Peddlers by Jason Vuic. It explores the development of Florida shortly after World War II and the role of developers like Gulf America and the General Development Corporation (GDC). Developments Like Port Charlote and Deltona were discussed, and Living on the Treasure Coast, I see the results of their work in communities like Port St. Lucie and the Sebastian Highlands.

As I mentioned in last month’s message, this is your society. Your opinion matters, and I would like to hear from you regarding any comments or suggestions you may have. Please email me at [email protected].

Respectfully submitted,

Robert N. “Bob” Johnson, PSM, CFM

Previous 2025 Messages

January 2025
February 2025
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July/August 2025