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Archive for Susan Elks

15 Free CMs AND Getting Social Media and App Savvy

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TechniCity is an extensive, free Massive Online Open Course being taught this spring by Jennifer Evans-Cowley (The Ohio State University) and Tom Sanchez (Virginia Tech).  This course begins by examining how our cities are changing, and then jumps into how technology is used to engage with the public to support decision-making. Participants will examine tools for analyzing the city, and explore the infrastructure that makes the real time city possible.  The four week course has been approved for 15 hours of CM credit and starts on May 4th.  More information is available here, and for a better idea of the course and Dr. Evans-Cowley’s work with social media and apps, follow Dr. Evans-Cowley on Twitter @EvansCowley or her blog.

Feb. 23: PA Land Use Institute

The PA Land Use Institute is hosting its annual session on Saturday February 23, 2013.  The training includes two hours of updates on recent court cases specific to Pennsylvania and a 90 minute session from FEMA on floodplain management.  The session will be held at the Berks County Agricultural Center in Leesport.  Registration information can be downloaded.  The registration deadline is February 18th.

Download: 43076_GC_PS_NTOASLU_FEB13_rev

March 23: AICP Exam Prep Session

The PA Chapter is once again hosting a full day prep session for the AICP exam.  The prep session is targeted at those who are taking the test in May or November of 2013, and will provide testing tips as well as an overview of material within each content area of the exam.  Information will be provided on history, law, theory, plan implementation, functional areas, public participation, social justice, spatial areas and ethics.  Resources will be identified to assist attendees with their studies.  The session is free for members and $20 for non-members; attendees must purchase lunch on their own.  Beverages will be provided throughout the day.  Registration details are attached or available on the Chapter website.

Download: APA_PA_AICP_Prep_Session_2013

Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Rescheduled NJ Chapter Conference – Registration Open

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The NJ Chapter rescheduled its annual conference due to the impacts from superstorm Sandy, and is now ready to go on with the conference – retooled to directly address issues such as permitting the rebuilding efforts, funding, recovery planning, and resiliency.  The conference, being held in New Brunswick, also includes training to prepare for the LEED exam and a GIS program that includes a half day working at computers.  Planning ethics and law are also covered during the two day program.

 

CONFERENCE QUICK LINKS

CLICK HERE to register for the upcoming New Jersey Planning Conference which will take place on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1

CLICK HERE to book a hotel room at a discounted APA-NJ room block rate

CLICK HERE to take advantage of sponsoring, exhibiting and advertising opportunities

A revised agenda/preliminary program is also available on the conference website www.2012njplanningconference.org.

2013 AICP Exam Fee Partial Scholarships

The PA Chapter of the American Planning Association will award two (2) partial scholarships for the 2013 AICP Exam testing cycles. The scholarship reduces the exam fee from $495 to $135 for first time AICP applicants and from $425 to $65 for previously approved AICP applicants.  Financial hardship is the primary consideration for the scholarship. Members of ethnic or racial minorities shall be given preference for the scholarship. Test applicants whose employer subsidizes the exam fee are excluded from consideration.

Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013 for consideration.  Send completed applications to APA-PA Professional Development Officer Susan Elks, selks@chesco.org .  Call 717.671.4510 or email info@planningpa.org with questions.

Please see the PA Chapter website for additional information and the application.

Deadline This Week!: APAPA Announces $2K Professional Development Scholarship

APAPA is proud to announce that through the generosity of Jerry S. Walls, FAICP, a new professional development award is available. Applications are being accepted through November 30. The Jerry S. Walls, FAICP Planning Professional Development Award encourages the pursuit of professional development, and one scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00 will be awarded this year to a Pennsylvania applicant who:

 

  • – demonstrates commitment in the field of community planning,
  • – involvement in public sector planning, and
  • – a desire to enhance their expertise and/or develop new skills.

 

A variety of training or coursework is eligible under the guidelines, so if you’ve been putting off classes to brush-up on your GIS skills or wondering how to pay for an APA Planners Training Service workshop – this is your opportunity!  Details on the application process are available for download after the jump.  Requirements include a resume and a narrative explaining what the funding would be used for and how you fit the guidelines.  Recommendations and supporting documents are optional.

Download: 526_JerryWallsPlanningAward092812

APAPA Announces $2K Professional Development Scholarship

APAPA is proud to announce that through the generosity of Jerry S. Walls, FAICP, a new professional development award is available. Applications are being accepted through November 30. The Jerry S. Walls, FAICP Planning Professional Development Award encourages the pursuit of professional development, and one scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00 will be awarded this year to a Pennsylvania applicant who:

 

  • – demonstrates commitment in the field of community planning,
  • – involvement in public sector planning, and
  • – a desire to enhance their expertise and/or develop new skills.

A variety of training or coursework is eligible under the guidelines, so if you’ve been putting off classes to brush-up on your GIS skills or wondering how to pay for an APA Planners Training Service workshop – this is your opportunity!  Details on the application process are available for download after the jump.  Requirements include a resume and a narrative explaining what the funding would be used for and how you fit the guidelines.  Recommendations and supporting documents are optional.

Download: 526_JerryWallsPlanningAward092812

Chestnut Hill Named One of APA’s Great Places in America

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Once again, a local area has been named one of the “Great Places in America” by APA –  Chestnut Hill was named a Great Neighborhood.  APA’s flagship program celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.  APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America’s truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.

In his 1975 report to the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, well-respected preservationist Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr., of Pittsburgh wrote, “Without question, Chestnut Hill remains one of the most beautiful residential areas in the United States.” It was not only important to save the neighborhood’s architecture, he said, “but the landscaping. Rarely does one see such a fine collection of great trees and shrubs.”The neighborhood’s landscaping, known as “The Wissahickon Style,” has been emulated throughout the country. Following the topography of the land to shape the neighborhood, this style of landscaping relies on the use of native plants, Wissahickon schist and fieldstone, and other materials of the Wissahickon Gorge, which formed the neighborhood’s southwestern boundary and encompasses today’s 1,400-acre Wissahickon Valley Park.

Link:  http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2012/

Law & Ethics CM Event in Central Section

The Central Section of the PA Chapter is hosting a full-day CM session on law and ethics on October 26, 2012.  5.25 CM credits will be available, pending approval from APA.

Susan Smith, Esquire will lead the morning session on law, covering recent Commonwealth judicial decisions related to land use as well as presenting an interactive review and analysis, from application through opinion, of a specific case.  The afternoon session will focus on ethics, and is being led by Steven Gimbel, Ph.D. of Gettysburg College.  Dr. Gimbel will provide an ethical framework, and Mark Stivers, AICP will provide a review of the AICP Code of Ethics.  Participants will then work in break-out sessions to discuss specific scenarios, with Dr. Gimbel, Mark Stivers, and Andrews Stern, AICP, assisting with the breakout group discussions.

Registration information is provided on the brochure.

Download: Ethics_Law_Workshop_Brochure___Regis_Form

Irving Hand Award: Win $2,500 for Professional Development!

Once again the PA Chapter is looking for applications for the Irving Hand Excellence in Planning Professional Development Award, which provides up to $2,500 for education/professional development for planners.  In these tight budget times, who couldn’t use an outside funding source for training?  Planners can self-nominate, and the basics of the application are a resume, eligibility narrative, explanation of the course of study, and two letters of recommendation.  Qualifying activities include graduate courses or specialized training.  I was fortunate enough to receive the funding for 2013 for the purposes of mediation training, which I have found quite useful for community planning.

‘The revised deadline for applying is September 14th.  Please see the attachments or the Chapter’s updated website for additional information.  The application form is after the jump.

Download: Irv_Hand_Award_Application_2013