The Willamette Chapter, PLSO, will again be hosting a booth at “da Vinci Days, ” a “celebration of  art, science and technology.” This “celebration” is a popular yearly event held in Corvallis. This year it runs from Fridayevening, July 19, through Sunday, July 21. Our goal, as members of PLSO, is to educate the public about the land surveying profession and generate interest in it as a career.

 

Seven members of the Willamette Chapter volunteered at least 3 hours of their time for last year’s event. Date Bateman, Bob Cook, Brenda James, Bill Lauer, Jamey Montoya, Louise Parsons and Tyler Parsons spent time answering questions and demonstrating various tools of the trade. Dave Schlosser (Northstar Surveying) also volunteered, as did OSU students John Raugust, Mahyar Sharifi Mood and Hamid Mahmoudabadi. The students got a lot of attention with their demonstrations with a 3D laser scanner, lent for the occasion by the OSU Engineering Department.  Mr. Schlosser demonstrated GPS and robotic equipment. We all thought the public interest and response was good and the event was worthwhile for the PLSO. All volunteers had fun, too (the weather was great!). After “serving their time” the volunteers used their free passes to enjoy other booths, demonstrations, entertainment and food (not free).

 

This year several new volunteers will join us: Ray Wilson (PLSO), Ed Query (PLSO), Patrick Mahedy (student, OSU College of Engineeering), Michael Olsen (OSU Assistant Professor of Geomatics), and, probably, several other OSU students.

 

Anyone interested can contact Bill Lauer atBLauer@Northstarsurveying.com,  by phone at 541-757-9050 or stop by the PLSO booth.