By: John Palatiello, Partner, Miller Wenhold Association Management
Have your ever told someone you’re a surveyor and had them say to you, “Oh, you’re one of those people who knocks on my door or calls on the phone and asks what kind of toothpaste I use!” Or, “You’re one of those guys standing on the side of the road looking through a camera mounted on a tripod”?
If you have ever confronted this kind of situation, you know the general public has neither a deep understanding no appreciation of surveying and the mapping sciences.
Based on the belief that greater public awareness of surveying is in the best interest of both the public and the profession, the Congress of the United States passed a law designating March 11-17, 1984, as “National Surveyors Week”.
Each year since, National Surveyors Week has been observed during the third week in March. In 2022, National Surveyors Week is March 20-26.
Below are a few suggested activities to promote “National Surveyors Week” in your firm, agency, organization, or community.
Ask the Governor of your state, the mayor of your city, or the chief executive of your county to issue a proclamation to make March 21-25, 2022 “Surveyors Week” in your state, county or city.
Have a special dinner meeting of your state affiliate surveyors society or your local chapter during National Surveyors Week. Invite a local elected official, such as the Governor, Mayor, Congressman, State Legislator or county and city councilman to speak. Invite the news media.
Hold an exhibition and demonstration of surveying equipment and procedures for the public at visible location, such as a shopping mall, public park, city hall or county courthouse.
Ask your local radio station if they would be interested in having you as a guest for a public affairs program or call-in show to discuss what a professional surveyor does and why an individual private citizen might need a survey. Similarly, offer yourself to local television stations.
Write a guest column (an “OpEd) for your local newspaper about the history of surveying in your state or community. Typically, and OpEd is no more than 750 words. Another idea for a newspaper article is one explaining why a homeowner needs a survey of his or her property.
Do you have any historic maps, plats, photographs, or surveying equipment? Contact your local library or museum and offer to work with them on a special display on surveying and mapping. Include modern examples of surveying as well.
Contact the principal or guidance counselor at your local schools and offer to give a presentation on surveying. High school students may be interested in a career in surveying. Grade school students would enjoy learning how to read a map. Be sure to bring maps, plats, and equipment, including a drone, that students can try out and observe. Do you belong to a civic organization (Rotary, Kawanis, Exchange, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) that meets every month? Why not be the speaker at your March meeting? Tell your colleagues about your practice and profession. Let them know your presentation is part of a National Surveyors Week celebration that was created by an Act of Congress. Issue a news release on National Surveyors Week. Click here for a sample drafted for the original 1984 observance.
Host an Open House at your office to display and discuss the profession of surveying.
Host a webinar for your clients to present the latest in technology, methodologies, and applications for your professional surveying services.
Use social media to promote Surveyors Week. Use the hashtag #SurveyorsWeek.
Below are the original National Surveyors Week documents from 1984:
Below is an article from Joe McGraw on National Surveyors Week 2022
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