Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists (MAPSS)
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Who or What is MAPSS? Quick MAPSS Information - Announcements, Events, Deadlines, etc. What does MAPSS do? Brief history of MAPSS as told by a charter member. Other MAPSS information (constitution, SOP). Looking for a job? click here for the event and job page (updated 07-22-2010). Member UpdateJuly 24, 2010 11:00 am is Laurie's memorial service at Oldenburg Point in Jay Cooke State Park. For additional information (hotel, parking permits) please click here. Memorial information.Ms. Laurie Brown died on June 27, 2010 (pancreatic cancer). Laurie was an active member of MAPSS for many years. She served on the SSTS Committee and executive committee (as secretary). She also helped plan several of the MAPSS tours. She worked as a soil scientist that helped map St. Louis County and worked for Western Lakes Sanitary Sewage District (Biosolids Program). Her latest position was as an extension educator at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. She leaves behind a husband, son, daughter and loads of family and friends. CaringBridge information about Laurie. Who We AreEstablished in 1973, the Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists (MAPSS) is the only organization representing the professional interests of soil scientists in Minnesota. MAPSS promotes the understanding and wise use of Minnesota's soil resources. Our members consists of professional soil scientists, consultants, researchers, teachers and students, as well as those who just have an interest in soils.Announcements, Events, Deadlines and Quick MAPSS InformationMAPSS Calendar. Submit events to mapss@mnsoilscientist.orgHave you read the current (Spring 2010) issue of the MAPSS newsletter? June (Spring) 2010. Back issues of the Auger can be found by clicking here: The Auger. June 30, 2010 - If you did not renew your PSS licenses by June 30, 2010, you cannot practice as a soil scientist. To renew go to AELSLAGID website. Don't forget, you HAVE to have your 24 CEUs BEFORE you renew your license. July 16, 2010 - SSTS Continuing Education Soils Training - July 16, 2010 in Duluth, MN. Real soils training by Real soil scientists! SSTS Continuing Education brochure. August 6, 2010 - MAPSS and WSPSS Summer Tour in and around Pine County, MN - Friday, August 6, 2010. MAPSS Registration Form - Register Today! September 15, 2010 - Submission Deadline for the Autumn issue of the Auger. Send submissions to mapss@mnsoilscientist.org December 3, 2010 - MAPSS Winter Technical event in St. Cloud, MN. More information in October! Congratulations to our president Michael Whited, president-elect David Bauer and treasurer Larissa Schmitt! Renew your MAPSS membership for 2010! Click here for the 2010 renewal form. December 31, 2009 - The Smithsonian Soils Exhibit (Dig It! The Secrets of Soil) ends on December 31, 2009. $10,000.00 was raised for the Minnesota Soil Monolith at the Smithsonian Soils Exhibit! Click here to view the thank you letter! The opening day of the exhibit was July 19, 2008. Curious if a bill introduced into the Minnesota State Senate or House of Representatives affects you? Review lists of bills introduced into each house and a pared-down version (a list geared to only scientists) in the Legislative News portion of this website. Terry Bovee earned the MAPSS Distinguished Service Award at the 2008 Winter Technical event for his long service to MAPSS - Congratulations Terry!! Curious about the status of the soil survey in a specific county in Minnesota? Click here to find out! What We DoWe support activities that provide continuing education for professional soil scientists and promote the understanding of soils. MAPSS offers:History of MAPSS as recalled by Richard O. PaulsonDick was one of the charter members of the professional soil scientist's organization in Minnesota.The roots to the Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists began about 1968 one evening during our annual workshop for Soil Conservation Service and University of Minnesota soil scientists. The discussion brought out the need to have an organization by which soil scientists could be certified and be recognized by other professionals such as engineers, etc.. The soil scientists in North Dakota were already organizing and were preparing legislation to establish a certification process in their state. All the soil scientists at the workshop agreed that we should proceed and each contributed $5 towards covering the initial costs of postage, etc. Out of this idea began an organization called "Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Classifiers". There were about 50 soil scientists in Minnesota who would qualify as "Professional Soil Classifiers". We adopted a constitution and by-laws about 1970 or 1971. Soil scientists who became members paid an initial fee of $50. This gave our organization some money to work with, particularly as we began the process of certification. MAPSC was certified as an organization by the Minnesota Secretary of State July 5, 1974. At a meeting of MAPSC held on October 26, 1974, the members decided to proceed with certification and registration. "A Proposal for Registration" was prepared and reviewed at the December 5, 1974 annual meeting, and was approved, with some minor modifications. The plans were to proceed with having a bill introduced with sponsors in both the house and senate. I recall there were several other miscellaneous bills introduced such as the state muffin to be the blueberry muffin. We decided not to follow through with our proposal, as it would not receive the attention and support it needed. There was sufficient support to sponsor a summer tour each year to be held in different parts of the state for soil scientists to share their work with others. The first summer field trip was held in Kandiyohi County. The hosts were Allan Giencke, Party Leader for the Kandiyohi County Soil Survey and Lowell Hanson, Extension Soil Specialist with the University of Minnesota St. Paul. It was well attended and the interest has continued, so our summer tours are still a part of MAPSS. In the early 1980s, many of the MAPSC members began to think we needed to expand our membership base and include soil scientists who work in other fields besides soil survey. A committee was formed in 1982 to study the issue. A report was made to the December 1982 annual meeting. It recommended the inclusion of soil scientists working in other disciplines. The thought was also that we might have more than on certification level: soil classification, research, teaching, fertility, management, etc. The membership approved the concept of broadening our membership base and be more inclusive. Thus, the name Minnesota Association of Soil Classifiers, was changed to Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists, MAPSS, in 1983. We never lost sight of our goal to become registered and certified. This finally occurred in 1997 when we became a part of the legislation which had been in place for engineers in Minnesota. Currently many of our members have become or are in the process of becoming licensed professional geoscientists with the Board of AELSLAGID. MAPSS Organization InformationMAPSC & MAPSS History of Officers and Awards (pdf file)MAPSS Constitution (pdf file) MAPSS Standard Operating Procedures (pdf file) - updated December 4, 2009 Please send comments about the website to: webmaster@mnsoilscientist.org. 
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