Welcome to this week's edition of the POB eNews...   

Yesterday, the U.S. House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on creating opportunities for small businesses in an economic recovery and published a report, Small Business Economic Outlook: Assessing Current Conditions and Challenges to Growth. The committee, which has jurisdiction over the Small Business Administration (SBA), is charged with fostering and protecting the small businesses that employ half the nation's workforce, including 45 percent of POB readers. It's no surprise that the committee's outlook is rather dismal.

According to the report, the condition of the housing market and the construction industry reflects the health of the economy. In that case, the prognosis isn't good: The housing industry is facing a crisis not seen since the Great Depression, and the construction industry has lost more than 500,000 jobs since January 2007.

Small businesses are struggling on a nationwide level in almost every segment of the economy. On top of this, lending standards for small businesses have tightened significantly. Typically, this credit crunch is mitigated somewhat by SBA programs, which were developed to function as a countercyclical source of funding for small businesses when credit from conventional banks became scarce. However, a zero-subsidy policy change enacted in 2002 has negated the SBA's ability to bridge the gap, the report states. Instead of an increase in the number and amount of SBA loans historically made during economic downturns, the number of SBA loans over the past year fell 38 percent. In fact, fiscal year 2008 marks the largest decline in SBA loans in the program's history--30,000 less than 2007.

So what's a small business to do? While most things are simply out of your hands, there are at least two areas that you can influence: your company's image and your company's capabilities. As always, POB is here to help. This is no time for modesty. You need to let potential clients know what sets you apart. An excellent way is national recognition for a extraordinary job done extraordinarily well in POB's 2009 Highlights in Surveying contest, which is now open for submissions. And to help expand your capabilities, check out Kristi's new blog, Sight Lines, to find out what she learned at the 2008 Leica Geosystems HDS & Airborne Sensor Worldwide User Conference.

And finally, be sure to check out this week's Surveying in the Headlines story 100 years of putting Ottawa on the map to learn how Ottawa's oldest surveying company survived--and thrived--a century of economic swings.

-Wendy Lyons, eNews Editor

You have less than a week to cast your vote for the candidate you believe will have a more positive influence on the surveying and mapping professions if elected president. Take a moment to vote in our quick poll at www.pobonline.com.   

POB Launches 2009 Highlights in Surveying Contest

Back for a fifth year, Highlights in Surveying recognizes great surveys around the world. The contest winner will join the city of Idaho Falls, last year's winner, in holding bragging rights and a $2,000 check from POB. We've completely revamped the competition format this year to make it even easier for you to enter and increase your odds of winning. Visit http://his.pobonline.com to enter.

2008 National Conference Surveying & Real Property Law

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. 
Thursday, Nov. 6 - Friday, Nov. 7  

Tuition rates: $695 Standard Rate; $645 per person for 2 or more preregistering at the same time; Group rate does not apply to walk-ins.
Register online with VIP Code 100, or call 1.800.844.8260 Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-5 p.m. CST

Only the Strong Survive. 
During the economic downturn,
it's important to stay ahead of the competition. 

The AEC Store offers products that can help. 

AEC Store's Bestseller:  
"Business Management Handbook for Land Surveyors"
by Daniel E. Beardslee, PLS  

This 150-page handbook provides guidance for land surveyors who are interested in starting or improving their own business. Veteran surveyor Dan Beardslee provides valuable insight and information with real-life examples from his classroom (Business Management degree) and field experience (20+ years as a surveyor). He provides 21 business management rules for land surveyors to follow as well a number of sample financial statements and worksheets. Retail Price: $65.00 CLICK HERE to purchase.

Visit AECstore.com to view our all of our surveying resources and products!  Call Stephanie at 248/244-1275 with any questions.  

Topcon and GeoAge Expand Partnership
After just more than a year of working with OEM partner GeoAge Inc., Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) is expanding the company's sales territory nationwide.

Ken Mooyman Promoted to President and CEO Leica Geosystems Inc.
In his new role, Ken Mooyman will be responsible for the company's performance in the NAFTA region.  

CA Surveying & Drafting Supply Delivers to CA Department of Transportation
CSDS completed delivery of 45 Trimble S6 Robotic Total Stations, including training, to the State of California Department of Transportation.

Optech Lidar Technology Discovers Snow on Mars
The discovery was made by the Optech-designed lidar system aboard NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, which landed near the Martian North Pole on May 25th, 2008 to search for water and environmental habitats that could harbour life.

100 years of putting Ottawa on the map
After a century in business, Ottawa's oldest land surveying firm, Farley, Smith and Denis Surveyors, is still going strong--and grossing approximately $1.4 million annually.

Engineering, survey begins on new bypass route in Arab
Surveyors hit the streets of Arab, Ala., this week staking out portions of a five-lane bypass scheduled for constuction in 2011.

Southold's 'Andros hoax'
A land surveyor fascinated by the history of his town's settlement finds some evidence that questions the controversial jurisdiction of the town's trustees, including their $15,000 per year salary.