American Planning Association Upcoming Events

Mitigating Disaster through Design and Construction Conference

March 2-3, 2011

Washington, DC

APA is a sponsor of the “Mitigating Disaster through Design and Construction Conference.” Join the Honorable Earl Blumenauer (3^rd District of Oregon), Jim Schwab, AICP, Manager of APA’s Hazards Planning Research Center, and others in an important dialogue on critical issues in hazards mitigation.

Learn more here: http://www.mhcmarketing.com/ENR-2011/ENR-NaturalDisaster-Attendee/ENR-MitigatingDisasters-Attendee-17.html

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Tuesdays at APA–DC

Inaugural Event

Sustaining Places

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 • 5:00 p.m.

Join us for the inaugural Tuesdays at APA–DC at APA's Washington, D.C., office.

The featured speaker is APA President Bruce Knight, FAICP, who will discuss APA's Sustaining Places Initiative and its efforts to reexamine the comprehensive plan with a focus on sustainability.

As Knight said in his remarks during the United Nations Fifth World Urban Forum last March in Rio de Janeiro, "Sustaining Places will examine both how places can be sustained and how places themselves sustain life and civilizations. Planning's comprehensive focus is not limited to a building or a site but encompasses all scales and all forms of organization of human settlements, from rural areas and small town to cities and metropolitan regions. ... Planners are uniquely qualified to be global leaders in integrating these two concepts of sustainability and places. Ours is the place-making profession and the places that we make must have lasting value for all."

CM | 1.0

Join APA in Washington, D.C., each month for this after-work lecture and discussion series. Practicing planners, researchers, and professionals from allied fields discuss innovative ideas and concepts or present their latest projects. The events are free and open to APA members and nonmembers.

Location

APA's Washington Office
1030 15th St., NW
Suite 750W
Washington, DC 20005

APA's Washington, D.C.. office is located on the corner of 15th and L Streets NW. Please use the entrance on 15th Street. Let security know you are there to attend an event at the American Planning Association and they will direct you to the elevator to the 7th floor.

Several public transportation lines are close by, including the red (Farragut North station) and orange (McPherson Square station) lines. Additionally, several paid parking garages are available nearby.

Would You Like to Be a Speaker?

Are you interested in presenting at a future Tuesdays at APA–DC? Contact Ryan Scherzinger at rscherzinger@planning.org.

MURP Grad Appointed as Associate Dean

The College of Human Environmental Sciences (CHES) at Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service have announced the appointment of Jorge H. Atiles as the new Associate Dean for Extension and Engagement beginning July 1. The appointment was approved at Friday’s OSU/A&M Board of Regents meeting in Oklahoma City.

“We are extremely pleased to have Jorge Atiles join the college and the cooperative extension service,” said CHES Dean Stephan Wilson. “Jorge will provide leadership and vitality for our extension faculty." Read the Full Article.

PFBE - Graduate Fellowships

The Prince's Foundation is now inviting applications for the 2011 entry to The Prince of Wales's Graduate Fellowships in Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism. The deadline for applications for this year’s programme is 8 April 2011.

The Graduate Fellowship will commence in July 2011 and will be hosted by The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment in London, and will involve placements at The Foundation. Subject to performance, Graduate Fellows will spend a second year in a placement with committed practitioners in the United Kingdom. The second year in placement attracts a bursary of £20,000pa, subject to availability and economic conditions.

First year

The two-year programme begins with a three-week residential summer school, based next year in Wales. The Fellows will then be attached to departments of The Foundation and work within one of the three, multidisciplinary Projects teams of urban designers, architects and facilitators, promoting and implementing traditional urbanism.

Through a regular masterclass and seminar programme, Fellows will be taught by leading urbanists, traditional architects and transport reformers, and will contribute papers based on their own research. In the second year, Fellows produce a dissertation of around 16,000 words on an aspect of sustainable urbanism.

Second year

From August 2012, subject to academic performance and economic conditions, the Fellows will be seconded for one year to an appropriate architectural, planning or urbanist practice.

Eligibility

Due to a change in UK immigration laws in April 2010, only applicants holding an EU passport are currently eligible to take the programme. However, we are working to comply with the new regulations by the time the course starts, and we encourage all interested to apply on this basis. Successful applications by non-EU nationals can if necessary be deferred until next year.

Further information

Dr Matthew Hardy

Senior Lecturer in Architecture & Urbanism

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment

19-22 Charlotte Road

London EC2A 3SG

United Kingdom

Email matthew.hardy@princes-foundation.org

Web http://www.princes-foundation.org/education

Tel +44-20-7613-8500

Job Opportunity

Town Planner
Rocky Mount, Virginia

The Town of Rocky Mount is a great place in which to live, work and play on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge. The Town wants a planner who can improve our scenic, historic community where possible, communicate that vision with the public and enthusiastically advocate those possibilities.

Rocky Mount is home to 5,100 residents at night and 12,000+ during the day. Located along US 220 and Virginia 40, south of Roanoke, close to Smith Mountain and Philpott Lakes and Ferrum College. The town has new housing developments and recreational amenities in progress along with a major industrial park.

The ideal candidate is an outgoing, common-sense professional who enjoys technical aspects of planning but can relate its importance to the public. Work without constant supervision, seeking community neighborhood input and offering thoughtful insight for the town’s future. Great customer service and public relations skills are vital.

Primary job duties include: advise Community Development Director on planning & zoning decisions; draft and revise code; recreational planning; site plan review and approval; VDOT road standards enforcement; erosion & sediment inspections, review and administration; code enforcement; subdivision request review. Attends Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meetings.

Minimum qualifications: bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, mapping or related field. Familiarity with geographic information systems and erosion & sediment control helpful. Recent planning program grads welcome.

Salary likely in the low $40k range, depending on qualifications. The Town of Rocky Mount offers excellent benefits: Anthem health insurance, Delta Dental insurance, VRS retirement, 457 plan with employer match, paid holidays, sick leave and vacation. Requires Franklin County or Town residency within six months.

To apply, send letter of interest, resume, references and completed town application to: Amy Gordon, Attn: Town of Rocky Mount Planner Search, 345 Donald Avenue, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. Applications online at www.rockymountva.org or at the Town office, 345 Donald Avenue, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. Open until filled. Next application review is Tuesday, February 22, 2011.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MWCOG Job Openings

There are a number of new planning positions and internships currently available at the Council of Governments. Please pass on to anyone interested and visit COG's website to apply.

Full Time Regular Positions
DEP-1035 Water Resources Program Director
DTP-1101 Transportation Planner II or III
DTP-1034 Transportation Planner II or III

Internships
IDEP-1032 Environmental Education Internship-Metropolitan Wa
IDTP-1035 Transportaton Planning Intern

Job Opening

JUNIOR/MID-LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ANALYST

A large consulting firm in Rosslyn, VA, with particular interests in environmental sustainability and national security, is seeking to fill a junior/mid-level position to work on policy and communications. Sustainability policy issues to be covered include land use and regional planning as well as climate change and renewable energy. Applicant does not need to be an expert in all issues, but should have strong interest in these subjects and particular work experience and/or coursework in some of the areas.

Position is multi-faceted and includes projects involving research, analysis, and drafting reports and memoranda; client administrative support and management; and strategic communications.

Requires a bachelor's degree and 0-5 years of experience in a related area (if candidate has an advanced degree, then less experience is needed). Strong writing and analytical ability is a must, as well as excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Requires an interest in cross-cutting sustainability issues as well as the ability to work creatively and collaboratively in a problem-solving environment.

The company is located in Rossyln and is metro accessible via the Orange line. If interested, please send a resume to sustainabilityjob@gmail.com.

Job Opportunity | Sustainability Specialist at Sodexo

Sodexo is hiring a Sustainability Specialist to supports the Better Tomorrow Plan and its sustainability programs in North America focusing on the environment, health and wellness, and local community development. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting
our efforts to measure our sustainability performance within our company, at our client sites, in our logistics operations and our supply chain.

Sodexo, Inc. is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than provides more than 9.3 million meals a day and manages more than 700 facilities,
serving ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites.

The position supports the implementation of Sodexo's Better Tomorrow Commitments based on a platform of robust measurement of our performance. The position will assist in the strategic planning and evaluation of our sustainability performance measurement program, evaluating ROI for sustainability initiatives, and conducting meetings and trainings, and deployment of unit level measurement tools.

The successful candidate should have:

*Experience in measuring and evaluating sustainability performance
*A strong interest in promoting eco-efficient operations
*A collaborative and dynamic work style
*MBA preferred

To apply, visit: https://external-careers-sodexo.icims.com/jobs/5792/job

New job postings on NCAC-APA.org

In the past month, there have been a number of job postings and job updates on our website. Two of the latest include a Senior Planner position for the Town of La Plata Maryland, and an Environmental Sustainability Analyst for a private firm in Rosslyn. For more information on these and other job postings, check out http://www.ncac-apa.org/jobs.php.

Student Scholarship Writing Competition

TWO $500 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

The APA Divisions Council and the Environment and Natural Resources Division of APA are offering two $500 scholarships for student research papers. To participate in the writing contest prepare a paper of 2,300 - 2,500 words on some aspect of Food Systems Planning. This must be an individual paper, group papers will not be accepted.

Send papers to: Terry Holzheimer, FAICP at tholzheimer@arlingtonva.us by COB February 11, 2011. Papers should be in a Word or PDF format.

Awards for the for best student papers on Food Systems Planning will be announced on or about March 1st so students will have an opportunity to arrange to attend the APA Annual Conference and a special dinner on April 10, 2011. The Divisions Council will publish the winning papers on the APA website under Divisions Initiatives.

Call for Articles and Comments on New Urbanism

This is a special call for short articles and potentially commentaries about new urbanism for the June issue (Vol. 9, No. 2) of Practicing Planner. If you have an interest in submitting a short article or commentary on the topic of new urbanism (or possibly comments on other articles to be published), please contact me. The time frame for this, if you are interested, is between February 1 and about the end of April 2011. If interested or you have questions, please contact me at jweitz@bellsouth.net. Given the special nature of this request, we will not be able to offer an honorarium for these special articles and comments. Planning feature stories can be viewed by all at www.planning.org, then publications, then Practicing Planner.

Partners in Performance Internship

Partners in Performance, Inc. in Blacksburg, VA is offering an internship position for the Spring 2011 semester. The internship will begin in the latter part of January and continue through the end of the semester. See the announcement for complete information.

www.partnersinperformance.us

Employment Opportunity

Planner (Urban Design)

Organization: Fauquier County
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

Description:

Fauquier County is currently seeking an experienced planner with a focus on urban design. Located in the Virginia Piedmont, the County has a long established planning philosophy of developing thriving service districts surrounded by active agriculture. The County also seeks to preserve environmental and historic resources while encouraging economic development. Planners are therefore involved in a great variety of challenging cases and projects.

This position within the Planning Division of the Department of Community Development is responsible for professional planning work focused primarily on current planning such as subdivision plans, construction plans and development applications. Additional work will include design guidelines, corridor plans, streetscape designs and site design. The successful applicant must be well-versed in site design and the technical design details of development. Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or landscape architecture, with a Master’s degree preferred, at least three (3) years experience including land development review, urban design and long-range and/or current planning, and good communication, writing and graphic skills. Familiarity with Adobe Suite and 3-D computer graphics desired. Excellent drawing skills a plus.

This is a career ladder position. Minimum starting salary is $49,588, with salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Interested applicants must submit an on-line Fauquier County classified application, available on the County's website: www: fauquiercounty.gov.

Position is open until filled. For assistance call (540) 422-8300.

Recognizing Some Great MURPs

The “secret engine” that powers the Office of Economic Development

If you stop by the second floor of 702 University City Boulevard and walk down the Office of Economic Development’s (OED) side of the building, there’s one room that’s buzzing almost any time of day. The GA lab is currently home to seven student members of the OED team including graduate students in urban and regional planning, accounting, agricultural and applied economics, and business administration. OED’s director John Provo describes them as “the secret engine that’s enabled us to service a growing project portfolio during a period of transition among our faculty. They are valued colleagues, working directly with faculty and external partners, and making substantive contributions to all of OED’s projects.” - Read the full article here.

National APA Conference Student Scholarship Application

The National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAC/APA) is pleased to announce three (3) travel scholarships (up to $500 each) to the 2011 National APA Conference in Boston! The conference will be held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston from April 9 ? 12, 2011. This scholarship is intended for travel reimbursement and housing costs
associated with the conference only and will not apply to registration fees.

Please complete the application found here and return *no later than 4:59 p.m. on January 31, 2011* to the NCAC/APA Executive Board. Both electronic and hardcopy submissions will be accepted; however, the application must be received no later than January 31.

Job Opportunities

Information about the following job opportunities can be found here.

* Treasury: Environmental Policy Analyst in the Office of International Affairs
* Center for Climate Strategies: International Program Manager/Director
* NWF: Coastal LA Field Director
* NWF: Policy Associate - US Climate Policy

Two Upcoming Talks: Virginia Tech Politics and Planning Speaker Series January 26th and February 9th, 7pm

Virginia Tech Politics and Planning Speaker Series

“The Caucasus: Old Conflicts and New Geopolitical Design”

By Sergey Markedonov

When: January 26, 7:00-8:30 pm

Where: 1021 Prince Street, Room 305

Sponsored by the Virginia Tech’s Global Issues Initiative!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Abstract—Dr. Markedonov will discuss the transformation of the Caucasus region from the periphery to one of the focal points of Eurasian, European and Transatlantic security. He will examine the basic reasons of that are relevant and concern different states (USA, Turkey, Iran), integration communities (European Union), and international organizations (OSCE, NATO and UN) in the Caucasus since the dissolution of the USSR. Dr. Markedonov pays special attention to Russia’s position and its desire for maintaining an exclusive role in Caucasus geopolitics. A special emphasis is on the new status quo shaping after the August War of 2008 (the new political agenda for South Ossetia and Abkhazia, new Western strategies on engagement/non-recognition, impact of the August war on Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution and the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement).

Brief bio—Sergey Markedonov is a visiting fellow in the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program. He is an expert on the Caucasus, as well as Black Sea, regional security, nationalism, interethnic conflicts and de-facto states in the post-Soviet area. His publications include several books and reports, 50 academic articles, and more than 400 press pieces. Recently published books and reports include The Turbulent Eurasia (Academia, 2010), The Big Caucasus: Consequences of the “Five Day War,” New Challenges and Prospects (International Centre for Black Sea Studies, 2009), and The Ethno-national and Religious Factors in Social-political Life of the Caucasus Region (Moscow State University, 2005).

AND

"Power, You Can't Measure It But You Know When You Don't Have It"

By Clarence Stone

When: February 9, 7:00-8:30 pm

Where: 1021 Prince Street, Room 305

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Abstract—Community organizers, reformers, and sometimes even planners have a primary goal of empowering those who are not well off. But what is empowerment and how do you know when you have achieved it? Is empowerment of the poor feasible or only a pipe dream? Though there is no widely accepted metric of power, we can say much about who is powerful in city politics. A starting point is to be clear about different scopes of power—power to set the agenda, power to say NIMBY, capacity to launch a movement, or capacity to have junk cars removed from the neighborhood. Beyond that, the challenge is to think long term, and think like Albert Einstein and not Sir Isaac Newton.

Brief bio—Clarence Stone is Research Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at George Washington University. He is perhaps best known for REGIME POLITICS, a book on Atlanta’s biracial coalition that develops the concept of an urban regime. He was a Visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Southern Denmark in 2001-2002 and continues to have an interest in comparative local politics. Currently he is coordinating a transatlantic study of policies to regenerate urban neighborhoods and in that project is part of a team studying Baltimore.

For more details, please take a look at our new website at:

http://www.spia.vt.edu/about/events/vtpnpseries/vtpnpseries.html

Summer Internship Program with the Department of Homeland Security

DHS is the leading agency for the U.S. Government mobilizing and organizing our nation to secure the homeland from terrorist. OPA is responsible for developing and implementing the Department’s message regarding homeland security and the oversight of the website, secretarial events, public outreach, media relations, and communications to all regional offices.

Interns will be working on various projects related to the mission of the Office of Public Affairs and its 7 functional areas, (Internal Communications, Incident Communications, Office of the Press Secretary, Speechwriting, Strategic Communications, New Media and Web Communications, and Still Photography). The internship is full-time with flexible hours and the DHS office (located near American University) is metro accessible. All candidates must be U.S. citizens (no dual citizenship) currently enrolled and in good standing in a College or University. Preference will be given to applicants with a focus on political science, governance, development, public affairs, communications, and other related areas. Internships are unpaid and housing assistance is not provided. Interns will require a security clearance. In order to obtain a security clearance, all candidates must pass a background check.

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume to the Internship Coordinator via email at OPA.Internships@dhs.gov by February 15^th 2011. An informational flyer containing information regarding the internship can be found in the links below. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Internship Information

Internship Duties

Internship Application

Planning Award/Scholarship Opportunities

The APA Economic Development Division announces:

Get Recognized! Call for Submissions for Two Awards Given by the Economic Development Division of the APA

1) For Communities: Donald E. Hunter Excellence In Economic Development Planning Award

For more information:http://www.planning.org/divisions/economic/awards/

2) For Graduate Students: Economic Development Division Graduate Scholarship

For more information:http://www.planning.org/divisions/economic/scholarships

Deadlines for Both: Friday, February 11, 2011

APA Virginia Awards Due February 23, 2011

Call for Nominations . . .

The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association extends an invitation to submit applications for the 2011 Planning Awards to be presented during the 2011 APA Virginia Annual Conference at Wintergreen from July 20 – 22, 2011. Please help us recognize outstanding efforts in Planning by submitting one or more nominations.

Follow this link for more information.

Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) Application Period Now Open

APA is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) program. The CPAT is a place-based initiative designed to bring planning resources and opportunities to communities with a demonstrated need for assistance. APA Chapters and Divisions are encouraged to help spread the word about this opportunity to both communities and planning experts. Community applications will be accepted through February 22, 2011 for the first application window. The second will open in the summer 2011.

Visit the APA website for more information. You can find program FAQ’s here.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to pass them along to me or you can direct the member to our program staff at CPAT@planning.org.

Technology Resources for Planners: Technology in the Planning Process: Survey Results...

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