May President's Message

alt


There is a different feeling in the air now that the 2015 National Planning Conference is over.  From my seat, it can be described as relief rather than anticipation. As joy rather than dread. As opening new possibilities rather than delivering on past commitments. It's probably just the bearable lightness of being president for only two more months...but reflecting on the last two years (four years if one counts being VP and Prez-Elect) will come next month. 

For now, we are still basking in the glow of a highly successful and cozy conference with 6,500 of our closest planning friends. To that end, this edition of The Washington Planner contains a number of articles related to the sesquidecadal NPC in our region.

alt


Reflections on Fifteen (2015)

  • AICP Commissioner Tackles the NPC: A new ethics officer has been appointed, the update of the AICP exam is being scheduled, and CM approval will in the future be based "on approval of providers rather than individual events."
  • Whatta Team!: Feedback from National APA's Director of Meetings and Conferences.

We hope you enjoy the thoughts of your fellow planners and they add to your NPC experience!

And, Chapter Life Goes On

That said, we can't stop there because planning doesn't stop and the great work of the chapter continues.  Some additional articles in this month's newsletter include:

  • APA Washington Seeking Candidates for Executive Offices and Section Offices: The chapter is accepting candidates for the position of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, along with many different positions in various local sections.
  • Shhh! APA Washington’s Best Kept Conference Secret!: The Inland Empire Section will be hosting its annual section at Priest Lake, Idaho on June 4th and 5th.
  • Watershed Planning to Support a Comprehensive Plan Update in the City of Duvall: The city is voluntarily doing watershed planning as part of its comp plan update.
  • Planning Accreditation Board Meets in Seattle: WWU has been given candidacy status on its way to having its Bachelor in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development program accredited.

I want to conclude this message by thanking the Communications Committee team—Kim Selby, Eric Crowell, Sarah Shannon, Kate Elliott and Nikole Coleman Porter—for their extra work on this long newsletter and for their great work to re-energize this critical component of the chapter over the past year.

alt

Ivan Miller, AICP
President, APA Washington
[email protected]


Return to May issue of The Washington Planner