Exhibit at the 75^th Annual Surveyors' Institute!

2024 Invitation to Exhi​​bit at the WS​LS Annual Surveyors Institute​

As we have done the past few years​, we will be doing booth reservations online only. Booth reservation applications can be found on the WS​​LS.org/Store. 

We recommend that you make your personal room reservations as early as possible.  Rooms are only available at the reduced rate until December 24, 2022 or the resort is sold out. Please reserve your room as soon as possible. UWSP Continuing Education, the Conference Planning Team, and WSLS do not have control over Kalahari policies or room rates once the room block expires or fills to capacity. 

KALAHARI CONVENTION CENTER SHIPPING DETAILS

For questions or comments, please contact Bob Beilfuss at 262-250-8003 or flashthunder506easy@gmail.com.

​Building Boundaries (Category 3)​​​ (0.4 PDH)​

Presenter: Bryan Meyer

More Information TBA. 

1) Easements and Rights of Way (Part 1 of 3) (Category 1 or 3)​

Presenter: Gary Kent, BSLS - presenter of programs in all 50 states​

Surveyors deal with easements almost every day, and they are the subject of a tremendous amount of litigation, so they are of great interest to the surveying community. The program covers all aspects of easements from their creation (both written and unwritten), through interference, maintenance, overburdening, how they differ from licenses, the importance of recordation, reversionary rights, and the many ways in which they can be terminated or extinguished. The program is tailored to the laws and court decisions of the state in which the program is presented and generates a lot of interest and discussion among the audience.

​2) County Review of CSMs and Plats (Category 1)

Presenters: ​Dean Roth, ​​County Surveyor since 2016, PLS, ​​BS; ​​Geography/Cartogrpahy, UWEC, AS; Land Surveying, Nicolet College

3) The American Surveyor; The Impact Surveyors Had in How America was Built. (Category 3)​

Presenter: Emily Pierce, PLS

Let's travel back in time to the Revolutionary War. We're going to take a look at some impactful surveyors, their families, and the impact they had on how our great country was settled. From Colonial Times, to the first surveys in Wisconsin, surveyors played a huge role in the independence of the United States.

4) Boundary Law and Adverse Possession: 75 years of court cases that shape what we do today. (Catgory 1 or 3)

7) Easements and Rights of Way​ (Part 2 of 3)​ (Category 1 of 3)

13) Easements and Rights of Way (Part 3 of 3) (Category 1 or 3)​

Presenter: Gary Kent, BSLS - presenter of programs in all 50 states

Surveyors deal with easements almost every day, and they are the subject of a tremendous amount of litigation, so they are of great interest to the surveying community. The program covers all aspects of easements from their creation (both written and unwritten), through interference, maintenance, overburdening, how they differ from licenses, the importance of recordation, reversionary rights, and the many ways in which they can be terminated or extinguished. The program is tailored to the laws and court decisions of the state in which the program is presented and generates a lot of interest and discussion among the audience.

14) Electronic Processing of Certified Survey Maps​ (Category 3)

Presenters​​:​ Cheryl Berken, Brown County ROD 

                     Michelle Wilsey, Regional Director, ICE Mortgage Technology-SIMLIFILE

Certified survey maps are currently a paper based, time consuming, analog process. With Wisconsin adoption of approved Remote Online Notarization and 100% of Wisconsin Counties accepting eRecording, it is now possible to fully create, route, sign, notarize and eRecord Certified Survey Maps in a streamlined, secure and legal process. This session will explain and demonstrate options for electronic handling of certified survey maps including electronic review and approval, stamping, signing, notarization, recording and return.​

15) Opportunities for Surveyors in GIS (Category 3)

Presenter: Richard Kleinmann, PLS

Learn about the extensive opportunities for individual surveyors and surveying firms in the GIS world and how these opportunities may make your own career more resilient or help your firm weather economic downturns by diversifying your professional service offerings. This is NOT about parcel mapping; it is much bigger than that! The time might be right for you to expand your thinking and your personal and corporate potential.

16) Legislative Updates (Category 1)

Presenter: Bob Welch, PLS, The Welch Group, Inc., Madison, Wis.

Session description TBA. 

17) Vendor Session: TBD

18) Vendor Session: TBD

Get set for the 17​th annual big event, Wednesday evening, January 24, 2024, in conjunction with the Annual Surveyors’ Institute. Bucky’s Challenge is a trivia contest covering such topics as surveying (of course!), math, sports, television, movies, history, geography and whatever else comes to mind. Join up to 24 teams of three to eight people, representing firms, vendors, local chapters, alumni from our technical colleges, county surveyors and other groups that can find a sponsor. To learn more about “Bucky’s Challenge,” contact contest chairman Kevin Slottke at (414) 643-4161, kslottke@thesigmagroup.com, or visit WSLS.org.

19) Minimum Standards: History, Evolution, and why they are Important (Category 1 or​ 3)​

Presenter: Lisa Van Horn, PLS

Was AE7 the first time in Wisconsin we had laws to follow? The history and compliance of minimum standards in Wisconsin.​

20) PLSS Section Breakdown/Fractional Sections (Category 3)

25) A Look at Professional Ethics for Land Surveyors (Category 2)

Presenter: Devon Vanden Heuvel, AAS, BS, MS

​Professionals in general have a skill set and knowledge library unique to their profession that others may not have. As professionals we bear a certain duty or responsibility to those that will use our services to treat them fairly and with integrity. In this session we will discuss theses responsibilities and the professional codes that serve as the foundation of our profession.​

26) Access to State Highways - Why Surveyors Need to Know this Methodology (Category 1)

31) NAPS Certified Floodplain Surveyor Program (Category 1 or 3)

Presenter: Bart Crattie, LS in two states, CFS and CFM

The surveyor is well-versed in measurement, property law, history, mathematics and numerable topics related to surveying. This program is designed to enable the surveyor to learn much that has been within the discipline of floodplain management, thus filling the gap between land surveying and floodplain management. Attending this program and passing the exam allows participants to show that they have the particular expertise required to be recognized as Certified Floodplain Surveyor and an authority in the field. A history of the National Flood Insurance Program and the legislation passed to enact it will be covered, flood insurance and its impact on the community, various Federal, State and local laws and ordinances. the nuances of RR 2.0, correctly completing the Elevation Certificate and the paperwork required to apply for Letters of Map Change among other topics are all at the heart of the overall instruction. To participate and to become a CFS will enhance your licensure, perhaps lower financial liability and boost your bottom line. Most importantly, you will have taken an active step in protecting the safety, health and welfare of the general public.

32) Drone Survey Accuracy, and How to Prove it (Category 3)

Presenter: Logan Campbell, the Founder and CEO of Aerotas

Drones are used more and more in land surveying, but many questions about accuracy remain. Especially in a world where inexperienced users often create bad data with drones, the actual users of drone data are rightly concerned with their accuracy. In this presentation, we will cover exactly how accurate drone surveys can be, how to get there, and most importantly, how to measure and prove it to data users down the line.

33) Do I Own, what I Possess (Category 3)

Presenter: Bruce Blair, Professional land surveyor in 3 states

How often, when we perform a proper professional land survey, we find that the field does not agree with the title (deed)?do we just take the math, find a few points that seem to agree with the deed and set the boundary based on a "best fit"? What do we do when we find discrepancy with adjoining owners? What do we do if the deed calls (if any) are no longer available? This presentation will attempt to reconcile the title and survey taking into account such things as (a) adverse possession, (b) acquiescence, (c) area gores and overlaps, (d) senior and junior rights, (e) belligerent landowners and the resulting legal complaints. A few cases will be discussed and input from the audience is encouraged. ​

34) Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors Annual Meeting (Category 3)

This session focuses on the WSLS accomplishments of the past year and looks forward to 2024. 

​35) Vendor Session: TBA

36) Vendor Session: TBA

This entertaining event offers attendees a chance to bid on great items including cash prizes and many others. Items will be available for viewing throughout the Institute in the Foundation Booth. A cash bar will be available.

Join us for an evening of celebration, where we will honor exceptional surveyors. The Banquet and Awards will recognize new licenses, Map/Plat contest winners, Trig-Star winners, and other Annual Awards. Scholarship recipients will be recognized and the 2023 President will pass the gavel to the new 2024 President. Tickets are required for entry and are included in the cost of the Full Institute. Banquet tickets will be collected at the door at the start of the Banquet on January 25, 2024. On-site banquet tickets are limited, so be sure to purchase your ticket for spouses and/or guests in advance!

37) Online Record Research (Category 3)

Presenters: David Vogel

Presenting to the surveyors how they can find recorded documents online and what programs to use. I will begin with a brief overview of the websites they can utilize. Next will show them how to search the register of deeds sites to find recorded documents. Briefly touch on when they need to go to the courthouse. ​

​38) Historic Preservation and Public Works (Category 3)

Presenter: Felipe Avila

Federal and state laws require that historic preservation be taken into account for any project using public money or requiring permits from state agencies. This talk will look at historic preservation laws and how they could impact your project. We will also look at a few real life examples for how projects dealt with and worked through conflicts with historic properties.

39) Ethics - A Practical Look at the Real World of Ethics (Category 2)

Presenter: Steven Sorenson, Juris Doctorate and Real Estate Law Educational Specialist.

Ethics are something everyone talks about and regulators reference regularly but there is often a large discrepancy between the "Black Letter Rules" and the practical application of those rules out in the field. This program will review the actual rules and discuss the application of those rules to every day situations that face the licensed land surveyor. The presentation will explore the various contradictions and quandaries that a land surveyor must face when trying to meet the needs of the client while stay within the boundaries established by the Code of Ethics they are sworn to uphold. The presentation will also look at the differences between ethics and governmental standards established by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. The audience will be encouraged to share their own dilemmas, challenging the presenter to outline proper resolutions of the presented fact scenarios. So bring your questions and be prepared for a very interactive program.

40) Women's Surveyors Summit Recap & Surveying at the International Level ( Category 3)

Presenters: Netty Harley, PLS​​

41) AE-6 Wisconsin PLS Licensure (Category 1)

Presenters: Howard Herrild, PLS

42) Vendor Session: TBA

43) Tribal Lands - Sovereign Nations Have Land Ri​ghts too (Category 3)

Presenter: Cheri Hipenbecker,​ JD

44) The History of the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors and Who We are Today (Category 3)​

Presenters: David Mau, Past President

45)  The Role of the Survey in Municipal Annexation and Detachments (Category 1 or 3)

Presenter: Steven Sorenson, Juris Doctorate and Real Estate Law Educational Specialist.

The growth of metropolitan areas and the resistance of rural areas to urban creep have created an interesting array of different concerns for the citizens of the State of Wisconsin. This presentation will examine the forces behind the growth in Town incorporation, annexation of desirable real estate, the use of string annexation for sewer and water services and similar issues facing the local government who stands to lose or gain property and this tax dollars. A special emphasis will be given to the role of the surveyor in this emerging area of real property development. The presentation will examine the different parties a surveyor may be representing and the different pressures that follow the unique representations. A discussion will be had on how does a surveyor avoid being caught in the middle of the battle that often occurs when one property owner wishes to annex or detach and neighbors do not. It will also look at he role of the surveyor when retained by a governmental unit to give assistance or counsel on issues such as title, boundaries and impact of contiguous conformity rules. Those attending will be asked to share their own stories as the presenter attempts to acquaint the assembled audience with the rules and regulations of the world of annexation and detachment.​

46) Wisconsin County Surveyors Association (WCSA) Annual Membership Meeting (Category 3)

​Presenters: Ryan Duckart, PLS

This session provides a unique learning opportunity on a wide variety of land surveying topics. While this session serves as the annual membership meeting for the Wisconsin County Surveyors Association, all WSLS members are invited to join in on the discussions and ask questions on the various topics. Representatives from the State Cartographers Office, National Geodetic Survey, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be in attendance to deliver reports and answer questions. The "Friend of Wisconsin Land Surveying Award" will be presented along with recognition of WCSA members accomplishments.

47) Licensing Exam Prep (​Category 3)

Presenter: Conner Christopherson, PLS

An overview of licensing exams required to become a Professional Land Surveyor in Wisconsin from the prospective of a 2020 licensee. Reference materials, study techniques and the importance of licensure will be covered.​​

​​48) Vendor Session: TBA

The Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our members. Becoming a member of the WSLS will help to keep you up-to-date on issues, laws and regulations that affect the profession of land surveying. Join us in our endeavors of promoting the land surveying profession, improving legislative awareness and enhancing professionalism. We encourage our members to get involved, provide input and be an active participant. 

Organized in 1952, the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors (WSLS) is a statewide volunteer organization committed to the advancement of the surveying profession.  The WSLS supports professional land surveyors licensed to practice in Wisconsin, as well as those seeking licensure and Certified Survey Technicians.

The WSLS consists of nine chapters throughout Wisconsin.  Each chapter works diligently within its region, organizing and participating in community and educational events, networking, helping the public access licensed surveyors, and as an advocate in legislation and issues affecting the surveying profession.

For more information about WSLS, click here. To join or renew your WSLS membership, click here.

Join us on Whova!

More information will be coming soon, but if you would like a sneak peek, watch the Whova How-To Guide! More information on how to download Whova will be available soon and will be emailed to conference attendees.

Whova User Guide with Sound

Whova User Guide without Sound with Captions

A block of rooms is available at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center. Reservations should be made online to avoid excessive wait times and resort fees. Rooms are only available at the reduced rate until December 23, 2023 or the resort is sold out. Please reserve your room as soon as possible. If you are unable to book a room at the block rate before December 23, 2023, please contact The UWSP Conference Planning Team at uwspce-conf@uwsp.edu. 

Are you booking a group of rooms and would like them to be close to one another? Please add a note in the "request" section as you complete your online reservation. These notes are reviewed by Kalahari staff members. 

If you call to make a room reservation, please expect long wait times. The room block is under "WSLS UWSP."

UWSP Continuing Education, the Conference Planning Team, and WSLS do not have control over Kalahari policies or room rates once the room block expires or fills to capacity. A one-night deposit is required at the time of reservation.  

Important Information from the Kalahari
Per their policy, the Kalahari does not accept completed Credit Card Letter of Authorization forms, Tax Exemption forms, nor Purchase Orders at hotel check-in. They have a dedicated team that pre-approves these forms to ensure validity prior to check-in.  These forms should be submitted no later than 7 days prior to check-in via email or fax 608-254-6116.

The Kalahari highly suggests attendees submit these forms at least two weeks in advance of check-in so their team can process them in a timely manner. Failure to follow this procedure may result in full room and tax charges to your personal card, since their Front Desk will not accept these forms at check-in. The Kalahari General Policy Page explains their policies in full detail. 

Kalahari FAQ
Additional Information about Staying at the Kalahari

The 75th Annual Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors' Institute has been approved for 15.8 Professional Development Hours (PDHs). 

PDHs are endorsed by the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors. PDHs are earned in the workshops that you attend during the Institute, not on the workshops indicated when you registered. It is the individual’s responsibility to report PDHs earned to their appropriate credential or licensing board. You will receive your official PDH form via email after the Institute. Copies will be retained by UW-Stevens Point and WSLS.

​

Do you want to become a Certified Surveying Technician? Here's your opportunity!

The WSLS/CST Committee is offering a special testing opportunity on Friday, January 26, 2024, starting at 8:30 a.m. Tests will be given for CST Levels 1, 2, and 3. You must apply for the testing. Application and detailed information on the program can be obtained by clicking h​ere. ​ Applications and fees must be returned to the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors by January 12, 2024, at: Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q, Frederick, MD 21704.​ 

KALAHARI COVID POLICY

At this point, to attend the Institute, WSLS does not have an official mandate on masking or attendee vaccination status/proof of negative test. The situation remains very fluid and, as such, if protocols should change, we will be certain to inform all conference registrants.

Please direct questions or concerns to uwspce-conf@uwsp.edu.

UWSP Continuing Education works hard to communicate all special meal requests and allergies to the conference venue. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we cannot guarantee all special dietary needs can be met. If you have dietary needs (i.e., kosher, low salt, low carb, keto, etc.), you may wish to make alternative meal arrangements.

Conference fees cannot be adjusted due to special dietary needs.