Thanks to everyone who was able to come to our Holiday Party last week! It was a wonderful night full of good conversation and great food. We missed all those who were unable to attend, but we hope you can attend next year!
As we near the close of 2024 and the start of 2025, I want to thank all of you for the amazing work you’ve done. There has been a lot of activity in planning in our region, especially at the municipal, county, and private sector levels. Your work doesn’t go unnoticed, and each and everyone of you are shining examples of dedicated planners. It has been an honor working with all of you as your Section Chair in 2024, and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together in 2025.
We’ve accomplished a lot this year in our Section. As a brief recap of 2024, we:
- Launched a Section-wide survey to understand the needs of members and help improve resources and event opportunities
- Adopted new Section Bylaws on May 10, 2024, to modernize section practices and expand volunteer opportunities.
- Expanded communication efforts across the section, including: developing/increasing email contact list; sending monthly emails with events, job opportunities, and local news; providing agendas and minutes for every Section Council Meeting and archiving it online; creating social media platforms for the section; relaunching the section website; and providing section representation at events in the community.
- Formed two new committees to increase section activities and involvement
- Sponsored two CM events and an annual Holiday Party, in addition to monthly Section Meetings
For the next year, we hope to continue providing more events and educational opportunities for our planners. A few items we’re hoping to accomplish:
- Starting a Section Scholarship for our members to cover the cost of the AICP Exam or Professional Experience submittals
- Hosting 2-3 CM events in various areas
- Holding various site visits, social gatherings, and guest speakers
- Launching our committees to help with local college outreach and planning events
- Engaging more local community planners and municipal officials to promote APA and planning
- … and much, much more!
Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 16th at noon on Microsoft Teams. More information, including a calendar invite and agenda materials to come next month.
In terms of our meeting schedule for next year, we are working to determine a good way to balance the desire for in-person and online meetings. Tentatively, we are considering hosting quarterly in-person meetings, and online meetings for the other months. This may help provide flexibility for those with busy schedules and encourage more people to come to our in-person meetings on a more reasonable basis.
Finally, from all of us on the Section Council and the APA PA, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and we can’t wait to see you in 2025!