APA invites you to make a proposal for a session, workshop, poster, facilitated discussion, or technology showcase at the 2010 National Planning Conference in New Orleans.

Conference Proposals Closed

The deadline for most conference proposals has passed.

Poster proposals from student members of APA will be accepted through October 13, 2009.

Make a student poster proposal

Who May Propose?

Both APA members and non-members may submit proposals in most areas. Please read instructions carefully, and review the registration policy to determine your eligibility.

2010 National Planning Conference Session Proposal Information
Student poster proposal deadline	October 13, 2009
Acceptance letters sent	November 2009
Speakers Register By	February 18, 2010
Conference Dates	April 10-13, 2010 New Orleans, Louisiana

Proposal Formats

Local Host Committee Track

The Local Host Committee creates a special track focusing on local and regional planning initiatives and programs in New Orleans.

Mobile Workshops

The Local Host Committee Mobile Workshop committee invites specific individuals to propose Mobile Workshops for the conference. You must have been invited to propose.

General Sessions

Sessions are the most traditional form of proposal and create the bulk of the conference content. Topics cover a wide area of information, and can be organized in many different ways.

These full or half day training workshops provide practical skill development for planners and officials as they perform their jobs. Workshops incorporate lectures, hands-on experience, extensive interaction, and useful resources for participants.

Technology Showcase

The Technology Showcase consists of demonstrations and discussions regarding software, project applications, and case studies of visioning software, databases, GIS, and other planning information technology.

Facilitated Discussions

Facilitated discussions allow for informal, more intensive discussion among groups of people who share ideas or have situations in common. Audiences for Facilitated Discussions may include: planning directors, students, new professionals, and planning commissioners, elected officials, and appointed officials, and those working with youth.

Poster Presentations and Exhibits

Poster presentations highlight individual presentations on planning research, case studies, and planning projects. The mounted posters are displayed in the exhibit hall Saturday through Tuesday, with a special time on Monday for informal discussion with attendees.

View My Proposals

If you have already started a session proposal, click here to continue where you left off.

Speaker Policy

Speakers are allowed to speak in no more than two sessions. A session is a general session, and individual presentation, a division session, a local host committee session, or a poster session.

A speaker may also participate in one additional technology showcase or facilitated discussion. Any deviation from this policy is at the sole discretion of the Director of Education.

All speakers must register for the conference by February 18, 2010. Most speakers will register as paid registrants; some will qualify for a session-only guest registration.

Speaker registration policies are linked from the various submission pages. Please review registration policies carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to register for the conference to participate as a speaker?
A: Yes. All speakers must be registered for the conference. Click here to read the speaker registration policy and learn about registration options.

Q: I would like to submit a research paper, where should I do that?
A: We don't have a specific area to submit research papers. Please consider using your paper as a catalyst for a session or poster presentation.

Q: I'm submitting a complete session proposal, but I don’t know who my speakers will be yet. What should I enter in the proposal form?
A: You don't have to have all of your speakers confirmed yet. Entering speaker names in the proposal form gives reviewers a good idea of the positions/locations of speakers you are planning to invite. You will need to officially invite any speakers from an accepted proposal later in the process (APA will provide information on how to do this as needed). Proposers are strongly encouraged to list proposed speakers

Q: Is every session required to have at least one APA member as a speaker?
A: Yes.

Q: Does my session have to fit in a track?
A: No. Sessions are accepted on the full spectrum of planning topics. Select a track designation ONLY if your session proposal fits well in the track. There is no competitive advantage to selecting a track designation.