Exciting Opportunities To Help Lead The APA-Washington Chapter And Its Sections Into The Future!

By Steve Butler, FAICP

The Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association and several of its Sections have opportunities to get involved by running for a number of important positions. We are looking for strong candidates to run — are you ready to “throw your hat into the ring?”

Serving in these roles is an extremely rewarding opportunity to make a contribution to the planning profession in Washington. Chapter and Section Officers help guide the state Board of Directors on a variety of key issues and actions. Serving as an Officer is a chance to give back to the profession, support planners and planning across the state, and make planning a force for positive change.

State Chapter

APA-Washington is seeking candidates for the office of President-Elect. We are looking for an innovative leader, with strong organizational and relationship-building skills, who can work with an energetic and hardworking Board of Directors to help take our organization to the next level.

This position will entail a four-year commitment as follows: one year as President-Elect; two years as President; and one year as Immediate Past President. The incoming President-Elect will take office on November 1, 2016.

As outlined above, the President-Elect spends one year working with the current Chapter President and Board of Directors to learn about the duties that are undertaken by the President. At the end of that one year period, it is time to take over the reins and become President for the next two years. Having been a Chapter President myself, I can attest to the many significant and rewarding aspects of heading up the Washington Chapter.

If you want more information about the duties and responsibilities of the President-Elect/President, please review the Chapter’s bylaws, or feel free to contact either our current Chapter President Paula Reeves ([email protected]; 360-701-1943) or the Immediate Past President Ivan Miller ([email protected]; 206-263-8297).

Sections within Washington State

Four Sections are also seeking people wanting to serve as officers:

Columbia Section: President, President-Elect, and Treasurer

Inland Empire Section: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four At-Large Board Members

Peninsula Section: President-Elect

Puget Sound Section: Secretary, Treasurer, and King County Representative

For more information about the duties and responsibilities of these positions, please contact the applicable Section president (listed on the Chapter’s Section webpage).

What Do You Need to Do Next?

If you are interested in being a candidate for President-Elect, or any of the Section’s positions, here are some key dates:

May 13 Final date for decision and commitment made by candidates
June 3 Deadline for candidate biographical statements (with photograph)

Note that candidates for the APA Washington board must be members in good standing with APA National at the time of their nomination and must have their primary place of residence, primary place of work, or both in Washington.

I strongly urge you to consider running for office!

If you have any questions about the nominations or election process, please feel free to contact any member of the Chapter’s Nominations Committee — me ([email protected]; 206-625-1300); Ivan Miller ([email protected]; 206-263-8297); Laura Benjamin ([email protected]; 310-748-6183); or Chad Eiken ([email protected]; 360-487-7882).

Return the the March issue of The Washington Planner