BSLA thrives thanks to the generosity, energy, and actions of dozens of volunteers: committee chairs and co-chairs, section leaders, student leaders, and all of you who participate as speakers, donors, members, authors, awards jurors, event attendees, and in many, many other ways, big and small. Thank you.

BSLA is governed by our "ExComm," or Executive Committee. These ExComm positions are defined by our bylaws and elected in an annual process, similar to every other ASLA chapter across the country.

As we enter this year's election cycle, BSLA is pleased to remind you that last year, our Executive Committee amended our chapter bylaws so that EVERY member of our chapter now has a vote in our annual elections.

That is, in our chapter -- Massachusetts and Maine -- student members and affiliate members are allowed to vote alongside associate and regular full members. "A member is a member is a member." (Historically, only full and associate members were allowed to vote.)

The election ballot will be released to all members in Maine and Massachusetts in early July-- after this open call for nominations. All new officers for all ASLA chapters across the country assume their roles at the conclusion of the annual ASLA Conference in October, 2023.

If you've let your membership slide, now is a terrific time to renew!

If you're not yet a member, now is a great time to join. To join BSLA, join ASLA National and indicate that "Boston" (all of Massachusetts and Maine) is your local chapter. Yes, Maine and Western Mass are part of the "Boston" chapter.

Students, ASLA membership is FREE for you -- all you need to do is sign up. If you're in school at the BAC, Harvard GSD, UMass LARP, Northeastern, Conway School of Landscape Design, or Smith College, please indicate that on the form in order to become part of the "Boston" chapter. If you're in a different program, email gretchen@bslanow.org and we'll discuss specifics. Welcome, students!

Questions? Email gretchen@bslanow.org. Thank you for supporting our landscape architecture community through membership in ASLA.

President-Elect, Member at Large, and Trustee.

Help guide our profession! Nominate a colleague or yourself today. Anyone may nominate a candidate for one of these open ExComm positions; you don't need to be a member to make a nomination. You DO need to be a member to serve in one of these elected positions. Nominees may come from anywhere in our chapter -- all of Massachusetts and Maine.

BSLA will accept Nominations for these positions until June 30, 2023 Candidate's names, phone number, and preferred email should be emailed to chapteroffice@bslanow.org by 5pm Friday, June 30, 2023.

In the nomination email, please include the position nominated for as well as the name and phone number of the nominee. Please also cc the nomination email to the person you are nominating. If you want to include a short paragraph about the nominee, you may, but it is not necessary. Self-nominations are welcome. If you're nominated, please expect that we will call you to discuss specifics, answer any questions, and request a brief bio/statement.

All Nominations will be reviewed by the Nominating and Elections Committee. A slate of up to two nominations per position will be presented to the BSLA Executive Committee for approval, after which the slate will be presented to all BSLA members for voting.

President-Elect/ President/ Immediate Past President

As President-Elect, s/he is a voting member of the Executive Committee and involved in most leadership/chapter management decisions. The President-Elect also acts in the place of the President when asked or appointed by the Executive Committee. S/he prepares a slate of committee chairs and members to take effect when s/he becomes President. Preference is given to the current chairs.  

As President, s/he presides over all chapter and Executive Committee meetings, represents the Chapter with other organizations, represents ASLA at the Chapter President Council meetings, sets the chapter agenda with the consent of the Executive Committee, and is the primary point of contact for the Chapter Executive Director on most issues.

As Immediate Past President, s/he supports the new President in his/her duties, provides counsel, advice, and direction as needed. S/he assumes the role of President when asked by the President or the Executive Committee and attends the ASLA Spring and Fall Meetings on behalf of the Chapter with other chapter leaders.  

For questions regarding the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the three positions up for election this year, please contact Luisa Oliveira, ASLA, President; Kaki Martin, FASLA, Past-President, or Gretchen Rabinkin, AIA; Affil. ASLA, Executive Director.