2010 National Planning Conference

2010 National Planning Conference
Poster Presentation Proposal Submissions
Saturday, April 10 – Tuesday, April 13, 2010 • New Orleans

Deadline: October 13, 2009 (student members of APA)

Poster Presentations and Exhibits

Poster presentations highlight individual presentations on planning research, case studies, and planning projects. Members of APA and non-members of APA may submit poster presentation proposals. Student members of APA are invited to submit student poster proposals. Student posters are reviewed separately from general posters. All posters are displayed in the exhibit hall Saturday through Tuesday, with a special time on Monday for informal discussion with attendees.
APA members and APA student members should follow the instructions under "APA Members." Non-members may follow the instructions under "Non-Members of APA." Non-member students must submit by August 18 with the general poster proposals. Please read the instructions carefully.

Guidelines
Posters must be shaped for a planner and planning official audience. Here are some important tips:

Posters are educational and cannot be a promotion of a product, service, or organization.
Posters will focus on research, a case study, project, or program.
Posters are an ideal venue for single presenters or planning research.
Non-members should familiarize themselves with the APA and the work of planners before you submit; study the APA website.

10/2 Workshop!!!

Being that the department's budget has been cut, class selection reduced..(greatly)..this is a great opportunity to get more technical information! ;)

**REMINDER** **Don't miss the first in the Professional Development
Series "NUTS and BOLTS" Workshops**

"Environmental Impact Assessment 101"
presented by John Kain, President, Urban Crossroads and Joan Kelly,
AICP, Managing Principal, BonTerra Consulting

Friday, October 2, 2009, 12:00 - 3:30pm
Social Ecology I, Room 306

WTS-LA Chapter Scholarship Opportunity

WTS-LA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (the Orange County Chapter has something similar)

Seven College Scholarships + Qualification for International Scholarships

* $5,000, $3,000 for Graduates
* $5,000, $3,000 for Undergraduates
* $2,000 for a 1st or 2nd year Undergraduate
* $2,500 for a Graduate or Undergraduate
* $2,500 for Professional Development (Certificate Program)

REQUIREMENTS:

* Women currently enrolled in Undergraduate, Graduate Degree, or Certificate Program in a Transportation Related Field, such as Transportation Engineering, Planning, Finance, or Logistics.
* Student must be enrolled in a school in Los Angeles County or have residency in Los Angeles County
* GPA 3.0 or higher for undergraduates and GPA 3.5 or higher for graduate students.


APPLICATION DUE: Friday, October 2, 2009

Download scholarship applications from our website:
http://www.wtsinternational.org/Chapters.aspx?ID=6728

Rail Manufacturing Plant Coming to LA

from the LA Times:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board today awarded a contract to the Italian firm AnsaldoBreda for 100 additional light-rail cars, clearing the way for a new rail manufacturing plant that the company has promised to build in downtown Los Angeles.

The decision was a victory for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has made green jobs a centerpiece of his agenda. He said the rail plant would serve as the southern anchor of his proposed clean technology corridor east of downtown.

Board members approved the $300-million deal on an 8-3 vote — with two members absent — after impassioned speeches by union workers who said many of their colleagues were out of work and losing their homes.

Art Leahy, the MTA's chief executive, had recommended against approval of the controversial deal. But at the last moment, AnsaldoBreda circulated an e-mail that provided additional financial guarantees from the firm's parent company, Finmeccanica.

—Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall

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Article Competition: Cultural Awareness and Diversity

The Orange Section of California APA is awarding
$100 for an article on cultural awareness and
diversity! We are holding another competition
for the best original article regarding cultural
awareness and diversity in the planning
profession. The best article will be chosen
and published in the Orange County Planner
Newsletter and the winning writer will receive a
$100 gift card from American Express.
Cultural awareness and diversity in planning is
an important part of the planning profession.
According to our APA diversity initiative: The field
of planning is deeply rooted in advocating for
equity, reform, and justice in all communities.
APA and its members carry that tradition on
through innovative planning, programs, and
research designed to reflect America’s diversity.
If you would like to participate, write an original
article about why cultural awareness and diversity
is important to community planning or strategies
for outreaching to communities of diverse cultural
backgrounds for professional planners. Some
suggested topics that the article may be about:
Articles should be emailed no later than Thursday,
November 5, 2009, to Amy Thomas, AICP, Vice
Director of Membership at athomas@tustinca.org.

NY Times Post on New Phoenix Light Rail

Among the many detractors — and they were multitudinous — who thought a light rail line in this sprawling city would be a riderless $1 billion failure was Starlee Rhoades, the spokeswoman for the Goldwater Institute, a vocal critic of the rail’s expense. “I’ve taken it,” Ms. Rhoades said, slightly sheepishly. “It’s useful.”

more here...

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Oct. 3rd and 4th - Free Museum Day

Many museums in LA and OC are having free admission on this weekend to promote our region's culture to the masses.

Full list of participants here

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