FLASLA and FLBOLA?

Them and Us
Dana K. Worthington, ASLA
President Elect, Florida Chapter ASLA

Over the course of my involvement with FLASLA, I have noticed a lot of confusion from Landscape Architects around the State as to the difference between the Board of Landscape Architects and the American Society of Landscape Architects and the fact that they are two completely different entities.  Hopefully, this will clear things up for everyone.

Them (Florida Board of Landscape Architecture)
The Florida Board of Landscape Architecture (BOLA) is an agency of the State of Florida within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) that regulates the licensure of Landscape Architects and landscape architecture businesses in Florida.  The board is comprised of seven (7) Governor-appointed, volunteer members:  five (5) Landscape Architects and two (2) consumer members.  Juanita Chastain, a State employee, is their Executive Director. 

BOLA governs the licensure of more than 1,200 Registered Landscape Architects and nearly 300 landscape architecture businesses.  They also regulate continuing education credit (CEC) providers and courses.

Us (Florida Chapter ASLA)
The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FLASLA) is the local chapter of the national, professional association that represents Landscape Architects.  There are over 18,000 members world-wide with just over 1,000 members in Florida.  ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication and fellowship. 

The FLASLA is governed by an Executive Committee comprised of twenty-six (26) volunteers.  Six (6) of these volunteers are elected by the entire membership:  President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, Secretary and Trustee.  Four (4) of the volunteers are Members-at-Large and are appointed by the current President.  Ten (10) members are elected by and represent their section of the State:  Broward, Daytona, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Naples/Ft. Myers, Tallahassee, Tampa Bay.  The remaining six (6) volunteers are a faculty member and student from each of our three Landscape Architecture programs in Florida:  University of Florida, Florida A & M University and Florida International University.

Within this organization are several committees with additional volunteers.  The Government Affairs Committee constantly monitors the goings-on in our State capitol.  If it were not for this committee and the commitment of FLASLA, Landscape Architects would not be licensed in Florida.  The Annual Conference Committee organizes a yearly event to provide educational and networking opportunities.

Information gathered from:
www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/factshtpr.htm
www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/larch/index.html
www.flasla.org/about.htm