Lou Slade KeyNotes Editor

Where is the Tipping Point?

President Obama has asked the Congress to raise the average fuel economy requirements to over 50 miles per gallon over the next 15 years.  The auto industry is concerned and this will be debated, but it’s clear that electric and hybrid vehicles will need to become a very significant proportion of the nation’s vehicle fleet to reach that goal.

I’ve put myself on the alert for that point at which the automobile buyers’ market will “tip” away from internal combustion engines to electric motor vehicles.  My wife and I have two cars that are both over 10 years old and working just fine.  We have no economic incentive to get rid of them, and we justify having them by believing that it’s energy efficient to conserve the energy needed to build the new car(s) we would buy to replace them, and also the energy needed to get rid of them.

We’ve also rationalized our procrastination because we are waiting until the technology changes have reached the point where we’re totally comfortable with the issues related to owning an electric plug-in or hybrid.  A recent article in the NY Times about the Chevrolet Volt made me realize that both the technology and our attitudes have to change to reach the point when we are ready to dive into the new technology.
Here is my list of concerns about electric automobile technology:

1. Hybrids are expensive to buy and own.  This may change as the technology evolves.  Alternatively, one can buy a plug-in electric that has only an electrical motor and thereby does not have any of the costs associated with the more complex hybrid technologies.


2. Plug-in Electrics can get stranded when the battery charge runs out. The Times article talks about how the Chevy Volt provides the reassurance that this won’t happen (as does the Prius and any other hybrid.)  This implies that hybrids are really transitional reassurance vehicles to owners who are not ready for all-electric vehicles.  Hybrids are helping the U.S. market accept the new technology, and thus taking us to the tipping point.


3. Batteries are expensive to buy and replace.  This too may change as the technology evolves, but I am concerned by the fact that most of the reserves of the rare metals needed for the new technologies are in China.  There are two ways around this issue: both involve NOT OWNING the battery.  The Massachusetts Institute of Technology student project to create a 200 mpg vehicle has suggested that batteries for automotive use should be leased, not owned.  This is because only the first one-third of the life of the current technology batteries is useful for automotive use, but the balance of the life of the batteries has value in industrial applications.  This suggests a market for leasing companies.

The second approach has been developed by Better Place, a Palo Alto CA based firm that has a system of switching out batteries from electric vehicles in one minute at stations that will be the equivalent of gas stations.  I assume that either Better Place or another company will own the batteries, and the auto owner will do the switch-out at stations, much like you get gas for your car at gas stations.  This is a very real system; Better Place has a huge contract with the State of Israel to build 70 stations.

1. It takes too long to recharge the batteries on a plug-in. Faster chargers are being developed, and the Better Place system is also a solution.  We’ve got to wait for both of those solutions.


2. I grew up when your horsepower was intended to be a reflection of your manhood.  The Tesla electric car is the answer to this concern; it out-performs most conventional cars.  Electric motors have extremely high torque and can leave our conventional cars in the dust.

So, slowly but surely my concerns are being addressed by innovations and the growth of the market.  More and more of us will more and more seriously consider electric as a viable option to internal combustion.  As more and more electric and hybrids appear on the road, the acceptability and peer pressure will add to the shift of consumer opinion.  This can happen fast.  I can easily remember when I thought cell phones were a nutty idea.

Lou Slade, International LAI Editor

LAI’s Board of Governors adopted the “Procedures to Form a New Chapter of LAI” at the Spring LEW in Glasgow. The updated procedures provide an easy to follow six step process.

At the heart of the new chapter formation process is a local champion who has the interest and desire to rally the local candidates for LAI membership and lead the effort. In many cases, the local champion is someone who was a member of LAI in another chapter but has moved to a city without a LAI Chapter. Assisting the local champion is a typically a seasoned LAI leader such as a LAI Executive Committee member or Chapter President. However, that champion could be you. .

Once we have the leadership and interest, the rest is easy. It only takes six steps and some of those could be merged.

Step 1 – Form a Steering Committee
Step 2 – Hold a Recruitment Meeting
Step 3 – Hold an Organization Meeting
Step 4 – Complete LAI Formal Approval Actions
Step 5 – Hold a Chapter Inaugural Meeting
Step 6 – Complete Chapter Formation Actions (admin stuff)

The Maharashtra Chapter is the first new Chapter following these updated procedures.

LAI’s Executive Director, Maria Salas, and the Regional Vice President for the appropriate region are ready to provide any assistance.

The new Procedures Guide is now available on the LAI website under the members only section.

Tim Youmans, Managing Principal, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS)

New Ely Chapter Initiates Sworn In

34 new Ely Chapter members were sworn in at the Annual Initiation Banquet held June 15, 2011 at the Peninsula Hotel downtown Chicago. The Peninsula Hotel is the site of the annual Ely Chapter banquet due to its stunning ballroom with breathtaking view of the City skyline and it’s cozy outdoor patio. The dynamic group of new members represents all diverse fields related to land use planning.

Also featured at the Banquet were two awards given:

• The Harry Chaddick Distinquished Public Service Award

  
  Presented to David Mosena, a city planner who continues to build an historic legacy of contributions to Chicago’s economic development and cultural life, as well as to transportation and aviation systems that make our City globally admired.
  
  This award was presented by Alderman Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward.

• The Robert J. Piper Distinguish Leadership Award
  
  

  Presented to Ruth A. Wuorenma, who brings her considerable legal, planning and collaborative talents to worthy development challenges, building partnerships that enrich neighborhoods and communities.

  This award was presented by Ted Wolfe, DLA Piper.

One of the themes of all four presenters (award winners and those introducing the award recipients) shared with the crowd is that of Mentorship. David Mosena was one of Alderman Dowell’s early mentors at the Chicago Department of Planning. Additionally, Ted Wolfe was Ruth Wuorenma’s first boss at Rudnick and Wolfe.

After accepting the Robert J. Piper Award, Ruth Wuorenma looked at the crowd and stated that coming to Ely Chapter events is like going to a professional family reunion. She also passed on to the group the 3 most important lessons she has learned during her career:

• First, do your best work but don't let it be at the expense of your humanity -- or of fun. 
• Second, play nice
• Third, remember that everyone has something to offer and has his or her own
  "highest and best use"

Brief powerpoint presentations about Harry Chaddick and Robert J. Piper, and their enormous contributions to the field of land use planning can be found at the Ely Chapter website, www.ely-chicago.org.

Terri T. Haymaker, Ely Chapter Scribe

At its regular quarterly luncheon meeting on May 27th, LAI-Aloha Chapter sponsored a forum on the Economic Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Japan and Hawaii.  Formal presentations were made by past Bank of Hawaii VP and Chief Economist Dr. Paul Brewbaker,  jauthor and economic consultant (in both Japan and Hawaii) Ray Tsuchiyama, and land economics and architecture/planning consultant Dr. Michael Leineweber, a frequent visitor to Japan. 

Dr. Brewbaker led off with a graphic power-point presentation showing economic trends in Hawaii over time.  He demonstrated that while the recent spike downward - part of it coinciding with the Sendai earthquake and tsunami – was steep, it was not nearly as steep as the decline following 9/11 and the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings in New York.  The bigger problem with respect to Hawaii, tourism and economic activity is the comparative lack of air traffic, particularly business traffic, with the commencement of non-stop flights to Japan from major American cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  There is simply no need to stop in Honolulu anymore except as a direct tourist destination.

Ray Tsuchiyama concentrated his remarks on the social costs and effects of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami on Japan.   The quake and the radiation from damaged nuclear power reactors have badly damaged the Japanese sense of safety and trust in government.  Some anecdotal results and trends:   bicycles have sold out in many locations due to disruption of rail commuting;  food products and bottled water from Chiba are not selling in food markets;  sales of condominium apartments are brisk in Tokyo as a hedge against further rail commuting disruption;  DVD and video game sales are up; weddings have increased.  As to the recession, it is likely to fade as the nation seeks to rebuild the Sendai region, much like Kobe following its earthquake.

Dr. Leineweber reinforced the conclusion that Japanese have lost confidence in their government, particularly with respect to the aftermath of the tsunami.   They “feel betrayed.”  There is a sense that to avoid such tragedies in the future, floodprone areas need to be better identified and building in such zones should be strictly regulated.  As an aside, Dr. Leineweber noted that contributing to such development is Japan’s death tax policy which assesses taxes at 80% of the value of rice paddies so surviving children and spouses often sell to developers for development in order to pay the death tax bill.
The forum was held at Honolulu’s Pacific Club and attended by about 30 chapter members.

David Callies, Aloha Chapter Scribe

The George Washington Chapter ended its spring luncheon series with a June presentation by Lewis Goetz, founder of the American High Speed Rail Alliance, a primary advocate for US high speed rail.  His article on the topic appeared in the March issue of Keynotes.  In each of the two prior months there were informative lectures by noted urban designer Cy Paumier on “Creating Great Places: a Vision for Washington’s Public Realm” and by Howard Riker, Vice President of the Hines organization, on the long awaited redevelopment of CenterCityDC, a 10-acre downtown site that was formerly the home of the Washington, DC Convention Center.  The CenterCityDC mixed use development to be built in three phases will have 2.5 million square feet of office, retail and housing, both owner and rental.  One interesting contrast in viewpoint between the two speakers was Paumier’s design and advocacy of a one-acre urban park for Center City in downtown plans intended to guide redevelopment of the site and  the Hines plan that ultimately created several smaller open spaces related to different components of the plan while eschewing a grander park.

The Washington chapter sent a healthy contingent of 10 members to the Scotland Land Economics weekend.  We were impressed by robust government leadership in development in Edinburgh, Glasgow and between, as well as a willingness to admit and correct “mistakes,” i.e. tear it down and try something else.

Rosalyn Doggett, George Washington Chapter Scribe

LEF EXPANSION

The Board of Trustees of the Land Economics Foundation has continued efforts on a monthly conference call basis to crystalize the meaning and purpose of the organization; the intent is expanding the impact of the Foundation. Commitments over the past six years have produced a number of successful ventures on a co-funded basis, these may be found on the LAI website. The Trustees agree that it is time to enhance both LEF and LAI exposure on multiple levels. By the end of this year it is their desire to trifurcate the Directors’ obligations among three core functions to increase effectiveness.

• Research Approval and Review Committee
• External Funding Committee
• Communications Committee

The expanded internal structure will allow more Members (whether Director or not) to participate, increase funding of projects within five years to $100,000 annually directed to both academia plus the public/private sector ventures having effects in other arenas through greater communication. A growth oriented Business Plan will be presented to and discussed by the Board of Directors in Scotland; the results will be shared with LAI Members in ensuing Keynotes. We invite input from all LAI members on this new direction. If you would like to take an active role in this process please contact any of the officers. We will keep you informed as we move through this new strategic direction.

Steven R. Gragg MAI, FRICS, LEF President

Maria Salas Exectutive Director

Meet the New Executive Director for LAI!

Maria Salas replaced former executive director, Shane Weinand, effective June 20, 2011. Maria is an Account Executive with Nonprofit Solutions, Inc, the association management company for LAI. She has been with NS for nearly five years, and has served as executive director of nine other nonprofit associations. Maria has worked professionally and as a volunteer in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years. She has prior experience as a consultant for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and as the foundation administrator for the Frey Foundation. In addition to her professional experience, Maria has served as a board director and volunteer for a variety of nonprofit organizations, helping them with board governance, grant making, and fundraising. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in public health, social work, and educational psychology, and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Hamline University. Maria’s immediate goal is to build upon the positive experience of Shane Weinand’s term and the several initiatives he moved ahead. In future editions of KeyNotes, Maria will utilize an 'Executive Director's Corner' to note ongoing initiatives for which assistance may be sought. She looks forward to her work with LAI and welcomes input and feedback from all members.

LAI Seeks Volunteer Scribe for 2011 Fall LEW in Sacramento
LAI is seeking a volunteer Scribe for the upcoming Fall LEW in Sacramento, CA to be held October 21-22, 2011. The Scribe will help provide a summary of the LEW for website posting, posterity and the advice and information of the membership. The summary of the LEW can be comprised of documents, speech summaries, venues, pictures and video. LAI would like documentation of each LEW to record the highlights of exposure, venues and information received both for the general membership, but also for LAI archives and the host Chapter’s record. LAI is offering a stipend of $500. Members interested in serving in this role for LAI may contact Maria Salas for further discussion: 651-999-8996 or msalas@nonprofitsolutions.com.

Save the Date: 2012 Spring LEW Is Set
The 2012 Spring LEW has been scheduled and will take place April 20-22 in Phoenix, AZ. The Phoenix Chapter very kindly stepped forward in Glasgow and volunteered to host the 2012 Spring LEW. Their invitation has been gratefully accepted. More information to come!

(from the left): Mari McMorrough Kavanagh (London Chapter); Jim Ellison (George Washington Chapter); Roy; Nancy Fawcett.

Roy W. Sheargold of Collaroy, New South Wales, Australia, one of our most distinguished overseas at-large members, and a frequent participant in LAI Land Economics Weekends died on 06 July 2011 en route to his home near Sydney after attending the recent LEW in Glasgow, Scotland.  Mr. Sheargold was 88 years old.  He will be remembered fondly by many of his friends in Lambda Alpha International for his good humor, charm and wisdom.  

After service in the 1st Papuan Artillery Battalion in World War II, a unit that fought in the jungles of New Guinea against the enemy, the jungle, disease and heat, Roy returned to Australia and his wife Beth whom he had married in 1942.  With the end of the war there was a shortage of housing, opportunities in the land development business to provide much needed housing for returning veterans and their families.  He and Beth set about establishing R. W. Sheargold, Pty Ltd, a firm that would later evolve into the currently named Sheargold Group. 

His firm specializes in land development: buying, improving and subdividing land as well as securing entitlements making it suitable for builders to follow.  In this way he has developed land for many residential projects throughout Australia as well as in the U.S.  Not content with his business activities alone, Roy has also been active in Lambda Alpha, the Urban Land Institute where he has been a life trustee, the New South Wales Development Institute where his was a National Life Member and Rotary International.  In his local Rotary Chapter, Roy was particularly involved in a project that purchased and sent pesticide treated malaria retardant mosquito netting to impoverished tropical countries.

Roy Sheargold (far right)to the left of him are John Dallimore and Mari McMorrough, Kavanagh (both of the London Chapter).

Family and friends will gather to remember his life and legacy at Camellia Chapel,

The Macquarie Park Crematorium, Plassey Road, North Ryde on Friday, 15th July 2011 at 2.30pm (local time).  Roy is survived by his grandson, Michael, his granddaughter, Georgina, grandchildren Liam and Lucas and daughter-in-law, Di.  His wife, Beth died in 2004 and his son, Bradley, in 2006.  The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Roy’s honor to the Royal North Shore Heart Research Foundation (http://www.heartresearch.com.au/).

Lambda Alpha International (LAI) has recently created a group on Linkedin.com. Linkedin is an online professional network of more than 60 million professionals in over 150 industries. Linkedin is a great place to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Linkedin allows you to:

• Stay informed about your contacts and industry,
• Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals, and
• Control your professional identity online.

Our LAI Linkedin group will provide a means to further promote communication and networking among LAI members. Please join us at LAI’s newest place to network: www.linkedin.com.

Forgot how to login? No problem.

Please visit the LAI Website at www.LAI.org. On the left hand side click on the Members Only Tab. Here you will need to use your email and the password is lai.

Sacramento Land Economics Weekend

October 20-22, 2011
The Citizens Hotel, Sacramento, CA

Pheonix Land Economics Weekend

April 20-22, 2012
Phoenix, AZ. More information to come!