Members
Honoring the Leaders of our Profession
One of the objectives of the ISPLS is to “honor the leaders in the science of surveying.” We do this by offering annual awards for Surveyor of the Year; Distinguished Service Award; Friend of Society and Special Recognition.
Criteria for Nomination and Selection of Honorees
Award for distinguished service to the land surveying profession
(a) A nomination for the Distinguished Service to the Land Surveying Profession Award shall be presented to the Board prior to the December meeting of the Board.
(b) A record and biographical sketch in writing shall accompany the nomination.
(c) The Board shall not take action on such nominations prior to the December meeting.
(d) The Distinguished Service Award shall be awarded only when the Board feels that such award is justified.
(e) The following minimum requirements must be met to qualify for the Distinguished Service Award:
- Be a Registered Land Surveyor.
- Be a member of the Idaho Society of Land Surveyors.
- Have been in practice as an RLS for at least ten (10) years.
- Have a history for maintaining a high degree of competence.
- Have a history and reputation for maintaining a high degree of integrity.
- Have made substantial contributions to the advancement of the profession.
- Have shared knowledge and information with fellow professionals.
- Have assisted qualified and interested people in advancement within the profession.
- Have performed a survey or a series of surveys which are challenging in one of the following ways:
- In difficult topography.
- Of unusual difficulty.
- In the face of public or private opposition.
- Various requirements may be waived for one of the following reasons: Lifelong service to the profession. Eminence of a regional or national level. Performance of an act or service bringing widespread public acclaim to the profession
Surveyor of the Year award
(a) Nomination for the Surveyor of the Year Award shall be presented to the Board prior to the November meeting of the Board.
(b) A record and biographical sketch in writing shall accompany the nomination. Said record shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
- Membership in professional and technical Societys or societies.
- Awards or Honors.
- Membership, participation and service in the Idaho Society of Land Surveyors.
- Public Service.
(c) The recipient of the Surveyor of the Year Award shall be selected from the nominees by the Board prior to the annual meeting.
Friend of the Society
The Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors seeks to honor individuals whose works has consistently and significantly contributed to the profession of land surveying and/or the benefit of the society.
- Nominations shall be submitted to the Board prior to the fall Board meeting.
- The ISPLS Board of Directors will select the recipient prior to the annual meeting.
Becoming a member of the Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors has its perks. Members:

- Receive our award-winning magazine Gem State Surveyor several times a year
- Qualify for significant discounts on conference registration and training fees
- Are kept up-to-date on significant events and developments in the survey community through regular emails
- Speak as one voice to our elected officials, local, state and federal, to address issues affecting our profession. You can attend our annual Legislative Reception where you mingle with state elected officials and you will receive regular legislative updates during the legislative session
- Support the efforts of the society to advance the science of land surveying;
- Contribute to the education of the public in the use of surveys, maps and records
- Encourage and support students (see our Scholarship page) who are the future of our profession
- Members of the Society are invited to attend quarterly board meetings and to participate locally at the Regional Section level. We encourage our members to become active in many of the programs that we sponsor from Trig-Star to Survey USA.
Annual membership runs for the calendar year.
Join
ISPLS
Publications
Newsletters
The Gem State Surveyor
The Gem State Surveyor is the quarterly publication of the Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors. A subscription to the magazine is included with paid membership. Edited by Aaron Rush, the magazine contains lively discussions of the issues and experiences of surveyors in Idaho and on a national level. Comprised mainly of articles penned by our own membership, the Gem State Surveyor is a great way to keep up to date. Each issue includes a message from the current president of ISPLS and official minutes from the most recent Board Meeting.

Jack Clark, Former Editor of the Gem State Surveyor, participating in Survey USA 2011
Deadlines for submission of articles or advertisements:
Winter Issue…………..December 1
Spring Issue…………..March 1
Summer Issue…………June 1
Fall Issue……………….September 1
Advertising
Many companies have great success advertising in the Gem State Surveyor. Our reasonalbe rates and broad reach are effective ways to reach your market.
Ads should be submitted as a high resolution (minimum 300dpi), black and white digital files (.jpg or .tif):
Full Year | Per Issue | Dimensions | |
Full Page | $420 | $125 | 7.25″w x 9.75″h |
1/2 Page | $220 | $65 | 7.25″w x 4.7″h |
1/4 Page | $125 | $35 | 3.46″w x 4.7″h |
Business Card | $30 | $9 | 3.46″w x 2.25″h |
Sustaining members 10% off above prices.
The Gem State Surveyor will advertise equipment stolen from any of our members free of charge and will pay a $50.00 reward to anyone giving information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves thereof.
Sustaining members 10% off above prices.
The Gem State Surveyor will advertise equipment stolen from any of our members free of charge and will pay a $50.00 reward to anyone giving information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves thereof.
Committees
Education:
Duties include promoting education in schools and universities and creating scholarships to promote surveying education.
Administrative:
Duties include maintaining the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, financial administration, and ethical practice.
External Marketing:
Duties include lobbying and legislation on behalf of members, interaction with national professional surveying organizations, other professional organizations, and the community.
Internal Marketing:
Duties include membership benefits and recognition, professional development, election of board members, Gem State Surveyor publication, and section support.
Innovation:
Duties include researching developing technologies and next generation surveying technologies, exploring state and federal grants, and establishing criteria for the funding of survey related projects.
Draft Idaho Standards of Practice
To download the ISPLS Draft Idaho Standards of Practice, click here.
Coy Chapman
President
208-724-6808
coy@sawtoothls.com
Jeremy Fielding
Vice-President
Eagle Land Surveying
208-861-7513
pls2220@yahoo.com
Jerry Hastings
Past President, SW Section Director
Ada County Development Services
208-287-7912
jhastings@adaweb.net
Steve Frisbie
Treasurer
T-O Engineers
208-323-2288
sfrisbie@to-engineers.com
Glenn Bennett
IEPLS Liason
Civil Survey Consultants, Inc.
208-861-1802
gbennett@civilsurvey.net
Brian Allen
Eastern Section Director
Allen Land Survey
208-852-2839
allenlandsurvey@qwestoffice.net
Tyson Glahe
David Thompson Director
Glahe & Associates, Inc.
208-265-4474
tglahe@glaheinc.com
Chris Harmison
Magic Valley Section Director
EHM Engineers, Inc.
208-734-4888
charmison@ehminc.com
Joe Jones
QBS Representative
208-334-8949
joe.jones@itd.idaho.gov
Robert Liimakka
State CST Coordinator
Idaho State University
208-373-1807
liimrobe@isu.edu
Hagen Beckstead
GSS Editor
Foresight Surveying
208-339-4246
hagen@foresightsurvey.com
John Russell
High Country Director
Russell Surveying, Inc.
208-630-4737
jr_rsi@frontiernet.net
Bruce Smith
Bigwood Director
Alpine Enterprises Inc.
208-727-1988
bsmith@alpineenterprisesinc.com
Robert Stratton
Northern Section Director
Stratton Land Surveying
208-687-2854
rob@strattonls.com
Tom Taylor
Sawtooth Director
Keller Associates
208-542-6120, 208-756-8321
ttaylor@kellerassociates.com
Adam Thayer
Dipotra
adam@dioptrageomatics.com
Stewart Ward
NSPS Governor
Dioptra Geomatics, Inc
stewart@dioptrageomatics.com
Teri Ottens
Executive Director/Secretary
ISPLS
208-658-9970
tottens@amsidaho.com
Contact Us
Idaho SPLS Office:
5460 W. Franklin Rd., Suite A
Boise, ID 83705
Mailing Address:
PO Box 7886
Boise, ID 83707
Phone: 208-658-9970
Fax: 208-321-4819
Email: info@idahospls.org