A variety of APA leadership groups met in Fort Worth in early November. These groups included your APA Board of Directors and AICP Commission, the Chapter Presidents Council (CPC), the Divisions Council, and the Student Representatives Council. It was a mix of 106 elected APA folks from across the country. The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ASCP) also held their Board meeting and annual conference at this time and place. Here is a summary of the scheduled activities over those few days, followed by an overview of the Board of Director’s meeting that was held on November 9, 2006.

The AICP Commission started off the first day with a work session and then an afternoon Commission meeting. The eight-member Commission hunkered down and hammered out the framework for a “maintenance of certification” program. Many of us have been entering our continuing education units online at the APA web site, so have already got a start on the process. A draft of the program guidelines and requirements came out for input in December 2006.

The executive committee of the CPC met with all of the other leadership groups to keep lines of communication open between the state chapters and national leadership.

Other events followed on subsequent days. The CPC held their business meeting. Workshops were held to focus on the APA Communications Plan and branding/logo information. The Board and Commission also met with the Board of the ACSP, recognizing that communication between planning practitioners and professors is critical.

Dialogue on the ballot measures for eminent domain and how APA, as an organization, could better respond was a recurring theme. Interest was expressed in having a brainstorming session at the Philadelphia Delegates Assembly in April 2007 to come up with ideas to respond to these measures.

At the Board meeting, Dave Siegel noted in his President's report that staff will set up quarterly conference calls for all the regions, which would include at-large members of the Board (student representative, DC representative, directors at large, etc.). This is in response to the desire expressed by many to communicate more. The ACSP reiterated their desire to build stronger ties with APA; this will probably help for accreditation of planning schools. The general feel from the Board was that a little less talking and a little more action is needed, with kudos to the AICP Commission for moving the continuing education issue forward.

The Fall Leadership meetings were a round of intense sessions for three days to make decisions on keeping the APA strong. Communication between chapter members and boards will be important this next year, too.

Exam Application Procedures Change

If you have submitted an application to take the May 2007 AICP exam, you should be sure to get their employment and education verifications in ASAP. New procedures allow the AICP office to suspend review of any application for which no employment or educational verifications have been received by Tuesday, February 13.

Exam applicants will be notified if their application has been approved at least three weeks prior to the start of the testing window. Applications are processed on a rolling basis and applicants will usually receive a response within a month of their application being completed. An application is considered complete the day the last verification is received in the AICP office, not the day it was submitted online. Applicants may track the status of their application on the website.

Congratulations to New AICP Members

Congratulations to the 24 planners those who passed the May 2006 AICP exam and the 9 planners who passed the November 2006 exam! This is an important professional milestone in a planning career, and certification of planners strengthens the entire planning profession. Please congratulate these folks on their accomplishment.

May 2006

• Mike Basinger
• Charles Bates
• Martin Blackman
• Robert Brock
• Dan Burke
• Kristina Cerise
• Nancy Craig
• Martha Droge
• Kwadwo Fordjour
• Stephen Franks
• Matthew Gilbert
• Lydia Heard
• Harper Kalin
• Michael Kerins
• Francis Mandeville
• David Martineau
• Jacqueline Reid
• Gideon Schreiber
• Dale Schulze
• Anna Shepherd
• Jodie Vice
• Melissa Wittstruck
• Jo Anne Wright

November 2006

• Thomas Barrett
• Shelley Bolser
• Leah Forbes
• Erin Martindale
• Karl Otterstrom
• Dan Penrose
• Aubin Phillips
• Carly Ruacho
• Deanna Walter

Washington Planners again passed the AICP exam at a higher rate than the national average. Chapter pass rates are shown in the following table.

Exam Prep Session Scheduled for March 24

If you are taking the exam this May, or plan to take it next fall, you are encouraged to register for the Chapter AICP Exam Prep Study Session to be held Saturday, March 24 at South Seattle Community College, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration cost is $20. Click here to register online. The Chapter usually provides only one study session a year.

AICP Commission Considers Certification Maintenance Program

The AICP Commission is considering the comments received on the proposed Certification Maintenance program and is expected to have a revised draft proposal available for comment in February. Check the AICP website for progress on this issue.

ON THE WATER CALL FOR ENTRIES
Marga Rose Hancock

AIA Seattle Seeks Stories of Urban Waterfront Design
Entry deadline 2/23/07, submittals due to AIA Seattle 3/16

As a highlight observance of AIA150 – a nationwide 2007 observance of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of The American Institute of Architects – AIA Seattle seeks to elevate the work of design professionals with their communities to achieve great places. The “On the Water” program will highlight exemplary design for urban waterfronts, with special events and exhibits during nationwide Architecture Week in April 2007, and also utilize successful models in advocacy for a positive resolution of issues affecting the Seattle central waterfront, supported by publications of selected entries. In addition, AIA Seattle will leverage the designs to inspire and generate dialog as part of a community-level campaign focused on the viaduct and other waterfront design issues affecting this region.

Cities across Puget Sound and the Northwest seek new and compelling models for their urban waterfronts. Our communities will benefit greatly from the work of architects and design professionals who have tackled similar challenges in Washington and around the world.

AIA Seattle seeks examples of innovative waterfront design projects, both built and imagined, from the U.S. and beyond, and the stories of the community effort and political will that made them possible.

In April 2007, selected entries will appear online and in a feature display at the regional Conference of The American Institute of Architecture Students at the University of Washington/Gould Hall, “On the Water.” During the Conference, a panel of design-oriented Mayors and Council Members from the region will review and assess successful entries, as part of the annual AIAS-UW/AIA Seattle Design Dialog. The exhibit will then go “on the road” to bring these stories to widespread public and professional attention.

Eligibility

AIA seeks entry of projects, both real and imagined, demonstrating innovation in urban waterfront design. Individuals or teams practicing or studying either in the U.S. or abroad may submit.

ONLINE SUBMITTAL PROCESS: Details/entry at www.aiaseattle.org. Entry format: 12 digital images that include explanations of the project and its urban waterfront context, identification of the design team and significant partnerships affecting the design and its realization, and its significance to the community.

By late March, AIA Seattle organizers will notify applicants of selection to prepare exhibition boards, with instructions to guide preparation and delivery of up to two 24x36 inch boards, along with a PDF image of each board.

In April, the Chapter will be holding elections for three positions on the Chapter Board: Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. Interested members are encouraged to apply.

The Board of Directors is responsible for guiding and implementing Chapter programs and policies and adopting and managing the Chapter’s budget. Serving on the board is a great way to play a role in setting the Chapter’s priorities and ensuring that its programs best serve its members and promote planning in Washington State.

A brief description of the roles and duties of each of the positions follows:

Vice-President
The responsibilities of this position are largely self-defined. In conjunction with the Chapter President, the Vice-President will assist on special projects and assume other duties as assigned. Recently, coordinating chapter communication has been a vice presidential duty. This holder of this position is not necessarily expected to become the Chapter President.

Treasurer
The responsibilities of the treasurer are to prepare the chapter budget and ensure compliance with various reporting requirements. The day-to-day financial operations of the chapter are largely undertaken by the Chapter Administrator.

Secretary
The primary responsibility of the secretary is to take minutes of the board meetings.

Most importantly, in these positions you get to work with other Board members on issues and programs that benefit planners throughout the State. The Chapter Board meets 4-5 times per year. Any chapter member can run for the positions. The elections are for a two-year term commencing in July 2007.

The election will be by mail–in ballot only. In past years, ballots were permitted in a variety of forms: fax, e-mail and mail-in and the number of ballots returned was surprisingly low. Over the last two years, the Chapter switched to mail-in ballot only and the level of participation increased substantially.

If you are interested in running for one of the positions or would like more information, please contact Bob Sokol, AICP, Nominations Committee Chair, at (206) 267-2425 or bsokol@ahbl.com.

SNIPPETS

Washington Chapter APA member Alan Rabinowitz, AICP, reports that he has “scads” of planning-field books for which he would like to find homes. These books are available at no charge to chapter members. If interested, click here and send an email to him requesting a list of the books that are available.

WASHINGTON APA MEMBERSHIP REPORT

CHAPTER-ONLY MEMBERSHIP

REMINDER

Last year the board approved a new chapter-only group membership opportunity.

This membership is available to planning commissions, city councils and commissions, tribal councils, and board members of non-profit organizations and other professional associations.

Up to 10 members may be included in a group membership. The group rate is $150 and is administered by the chapter office.

To obtain a group membership form or learn more about the benefits of this membership, contact Anna Nelson, AICP, Membership Committee chair, at (206) 382-9540 or anelson@buckgordon.com.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Have a project you want to highlight for planners across the state? An issue you think more planners need information on? Planning Northwest is always looking to highlight projects and research of our members. If you are interested in having an article published feel free to contact the editor.

The deadline for the newsletter is the first of every month, preceding the publication month. Please submit all newsletter articles to newsletter@washington-apa.org.