The Past-President’s Annual Breakfast on Friday morning was well attended this year. Present (left to right) were: Brett Kennedy - 2006, Don Larson - 1992, Dean Scott - 1996, Larry Holton - 1985, Charles Hanson - 1986 & 1990, Don Simons - 1999, Chuck Tiltrum - 1988, Randy Bacon - 2001, Don Jacobson - 1987, Tom Berkland - 2005, Kenroy Janzen - 2003, Dan Eisenbraun - 2000, Leonard Neugebauer - 2004, Rod Breitling - 2002, and MR Hansen - 1994

This year marks the celebration of the 25th year of SDSPLS. Receiving special recognition and plaques at this year’s banquet were the following founding members who have maintained continuous membership since 1983. Back Row: (left to right) Dan Britton, Ellwyn Nohr, Larry Holton, Don Larson, Charles Hanson, Wayne Haug, Dan Eisenbraun, Jerome Borgen. Front Row: (left to right) Warren Fisk, Emmett Kotrba, James Heald, Kenroy Janzen, Leonard Neugebauer and Clarence Fjeldheim. (Not pictured: Gary Renner)In addition to recognition at the banquet, each member was invited to a Founding Member’s Breakfast on Saturday morning and each will receive complimentary registration to the 25th Anniversary program at Mount Rushmore on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Not present were founding members Lonnie Anderson, Pete Bailey, Michael Bradley, Gerald Flannery, James Fletchall, Leo Gittings, Phillip Helgeson, Jr., Dennis Kemmesat, Daniel Norman, Edward Sunde, Daryl Thorson and James Walker.

The rifle donated by the Big Sioux Chapter was a popular item this year and hundreds of raffle tickets totaling over $1,500 were purchased!

Tom Berkland, Kenroy Janzen and Dan Eisenbraun visit outside of the session rooms.

A huge thank you to Kristi Goehring (pictured) and Diane Erdahl for all of their help with the Scholarship Auction and raffle tickets.

Feature speaker Wendy Lathrop (left) and visiting guest NSPS President Rita Lumos (right) look over their auction acquisitions.

Above Left: John (Steve) Peters (left) and Chuck Hanson (right) enjoy conversation and coffee in the exhibit hall. Wendy Lathrop was the feature speaker for the 2008 convention, addressing the issues of “To Accept or Not To Accept” and“Documentation for Self Defense”. Convention speakers also included James Manning on “Occupational Safety and Health Management”, Dr. Alfred Boysen with “Focus on Communication”, and Bill Henning on “GPS Derived Heights Part II”. Below Right: NSPS President Rita Lumos visits with Riley Skeen during a Thursday afternoon break. Exhibitors this year included Dan Kahm - A & D Technical Supply Co; David Pluym - Carlson Software; Nathan Kupfer - Frontier Precision; Bruce Weyrich - Graphics Plus; and Brian Fowlds - Surveying Solutions. A special thank you to each of the exhibitors for the generous donations made to the Scholarship Auction and for the door prizes.

The sunrise over the Missouri River on Friday morning was spectacular!

The 2008 scholarship recipients were Thomas Oines (STI), Beau Koopal (STI) and Jess Powell (SDSU). Not present, but also receiving a scholarship was Rex Randall (SDSM&T). Each of the students was invited to attend the SDSPLS convention as our guests to offer them the opportunity to meet members of SDSPLS, attend convention sessions and network with the South Dakota surveying community.

The Amazing Arthur was a real crowd pleaser following the banquet - lots of laughs!

Special guests Curt Sumner - ACSM Executive Director, Rita Lumos - NSPS President and Joel Romey - SLSI, were a welcome addition to our convention. Not pictured, but also present, were Steve Volesky - NDSPLS and John Hosfield - MSPS.

SDSPLS 2008 Board of Directors: Secretary Robert Kummer, Missouri River Chapter President Travis Jacobson, President Gary Andersh, West River Chapter President Steve Thingelstad, Treasurer Diane Erdahl, NSPS Governor Tom Berkland, Past President Warren Fisk, Big Sioux Chapter President Kim McLaury.

Chuck Tiltrum, Warren Fisk and speaker Dr. Alfred Boysen practice their communication skills following Dr. Boysen’s presentation.

SDSU scholarship recipient Jess Powell, Diane Erdahl,
Kristi Goehring and Dean Scott all lend a hand during the annual scholarship auction. With the assistance of
auctioneers Maynard Jensen and Ed Houska, and the generous donations and purchases, a record $10,000 was raised at this year’s event!