The Commissioner — Winter 2007

Commissioner's Voice

Henderson, Nevada, Planning Commission

By Debra March
Member, APA Board of Directors

The American Planning Association provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to effect positive change. — APA Mission Statement

Now more than ever, planning officials are poised to play an integral role in "building communities of lasting value." We should all be proud that the American Planning Association is the recognized authority for planning in America. The association offers planners and planning officials a myriad of educational and practical resources to enhance their planning skills, increase their knowledge of best practices, and provide them with a connection to fellow planners and planning officials.

As the planning official who was privileged to recently be elected as a Director at-Large Focused to the APA Board of Directors, I am committed to serving as your liaison to our association. At the July board retreat, I came to appreciate the depth and breadth of the talent, services, and resources available through our association.

Under the thoughtful leadership of Executive Director and CEO Paul Farmer, FAICP, and Board President David Siegel, AICP, APA is committed to an ambitious development plan to make our association the recognized planning authority in the country, while increasing its political, financial, and operational effectiveness. This will be accomplished by expanding our membership to reflect America's diversity, by moving the association to the forefront as the foremost planning advocate in practice and policy, and by providing high-level education, products, services, and policy leadership.

How does this impact you as a planning official and APA member?

Planning officials are often citizens' first point of access to their communities. We are regularly called upon to participate in informed discussion about land use, zoning, and public policy issues. Regardless of the size of your planning agency or the resources available to it, APA offers a wide range of tools targeted to your professional development. By using this broad base of resources and educational tools, you will increase your effectiveness as a planning official. Make a point to take advantage of membership and some of these tools, including:

• The Commissioner: the quarterly publication dedicated to planning commissioners
• Planning: APA's monthly magazine, with a focus on topical planning subjects.
• Audio/Web Conference Training Series 2006-07 and CD-ROM packages, covering topical issues and planning commission-focused training
• Chapter Membership, Meetings, Conferences, and Newsletters
• Research and Publications: APA supports extensive research in planning and related subjects and maintains a library.