APLD San Diego District news:
The San Diego District has remained busy over the Fall and Winter months with various activities to help members increase their professional skills and network with other designers. As well, our on-going efforts to attract new members or re-engage those who have let their membership lapse has been rewarded with a notable increase in District members. Great news as we begin a new year!
The Common Grounds occasional meetups were on a brief hiatus as the holidays approached and we look forward to beginning those again in January. The subject of that meetup will be fees and billing, and the related issues we all deal with in determining project costs and how to be paid. This informal gathering is at Communal Coffee in South Park on January 25th at 10:00am.
November was highlighted with an important Board Meeting to discuss all the changes in APLD. The new financial reporting requirements were evaluated and I am happy to report that San Diego is fully on track. There is going to be a learning curve to sort out the various ways and means we receive payments and pay our bills but we have determined to go one step at a time, and with our highly capable Board I am confident this will proceed smoothly. I would like to thank Francesca Corra, APLD (CA Chapter President) for attending this special Board meeting to help us understand the changes and how to proceed.
Our annual Holiday Party and Mixer on December 1st was a great success with a good turnout. Held at a local restaurant it was a time to reflect on the year, relax, and enjoy good food and company. Plans are already underway for next year’s event! The tax seminar on December 13th presented those members attending with good information on getting ready for the new tax rules in 2019.
This year is shaping up to be an informative and fun year for the San Diego District. January will kick-off with a Social Media seminar on the 17th. To be held at our local Silver sponsor Village Nursery, two of our very own Board members will help us understand the social mediascape and how we can leverage it for professional gain.
February brings our first major annual District event: Landscape Literacy: Get the Dirt for 2019! This all-day design symposium plus garden tour on February 2nd will engage attendees as described in the event announcement: “What is the goal of today’s ideal garden? To create beauty? Support native habitat? Be inviting to all? Help reverse climate change? These topics and MORE will be addressed by our fabulous speakers when we “Get the Dirt for 2019.” We hope to see you there!
For March, we have begun planning for the bi-annual San Diego Home/Garden Show. Those dates are the 1st thru the 3rd, and our District will offer its successful “30 for 30” landscape design consultations as well as homeowner education on hiring a designer and how they can bring real value to the residential outdoor experience. A CA native plant species garden tour tentatively scheduled for March 28th is also in the works to be held at a local residence. This remarkable garden setting was developed over many years and we look forward to a very informative tour!
We are proud to be part of the APLD California Chapter and look forward to contributing to its success through member engagement, advocacy, and education. Stay tuned for our Spring installment on goings-on in the San Diego District!