President's Letter: January 2026

Happy New Year, Maryland Chapter ASLA Community!

As is the case every year, the turn of the calendar marks the beginning of a very busy season for our Chapter. Our January newsletter — the one you’re reading right now — is arguably the most important of the year. There are four key items I’d like to call to your attention:

1. The Call for Entries for our 2026 Awards Program is officially live, with a firm submission deadline of February 27 at 11:59 PM. This year’s awards will be juried by members of the Colorado–Wyoming Chapter. In addition, our Awards Committee is already hard at work planning another outstanding Awards Gala, scheduled for early May in the Annapolis area.

2. Tickets are now available for our Regional Conference, “Leading Locally: Our Responsibility to the Community, Climate, and Ecosystem.” This conference — our first since just before the pandemic — will take place at Vectorworks in Columbia, MD on Saturday, February 28, and is approved for 6.0 LACES credits.

3. Our 2026 Sponsorship Package is now live on the Maryland ASLA website. We look forward to working with prospective sponsors to identify meaningful and impactful opportunities, and we hope to welcome both returning and new member firms into our Circle of Support.

4. Maryland’s legislative session begins on Wednesday, January 14. Over the next three months, Maryland ASLA’s Advocacy Committee will work closely with our legislative and governmental affairs partners to monitor bills that may impact the practice of landscape architecture in our state. Should any items of significance arise, we will keep our Chapter informed.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support as we begin another productive year together!

In Fellowship and Service,

Patrick Whealton