JOIN APA Mississippi
APA MS is comprised of planners from around the state with the goal of improving the quality of life in their respective communities and advancing the profession.  Membership to the organization can be obtained in two ways--through APA National (as part of dues) or through Chapter Only Membership.  If interested in the latter option, click here to access the form.  Thank you for being a part of this great organization. 

APA Mississippi Endorsement
The Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association is endorsing one of the candidates for APA Director at Large.  The candiates for this position are as follows:  Kara W. Drane, AICP (MS); Marcie Stenmark, AICP (FL); Kurt Christiansen, AICP (CA) and David W. Woods, AICP (NY).  The Executive Committee is offering its support and endorsement to Kara W. Drane, AICP.  The voting will take place in March.  For more information,  including biographical information and position statements, visit the APA website at http://www.planning.org/elections   Also, click here for the Election Notice. 

APA Housing and Community Development Division Election Results 
APA Mississippi would like to congratulate Ivory Williams on being elected Secretary-Treasurer of the APA Housing and Community Development Division.  Currently, Ivory  works with the Office of Housing and Community Development Division for the City of Jackson, Mississippi.  Other winners of the election are as follows: Chair--Annemarie Maiorano, AICP (NC) and Vice-Chair--Brian Gillis (FL). 

A Message from the President
Spring has arrived, and the Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association has added several new individuals to its active and highly energized Executive Committee.  As a result of our recent electronic-ballot referendum to amend the Chapter Bylaws (which mesaure passed unanimously by vote of our membership in February of this year) the Executive Committee has been expanded (effective March 30, 2012) to include the following three new members:
Chapter Historian: Corinne Fox, FAICP
Chapter Outreach Officer:  Kara Drane, AICP
Public Information Officer:  Larry, Smith, AICP

As authorized by new language recently added to the Chapter By-Laws, the newly appointed Committee Members will be charged to perform duties, as follows:

Historian-The President shall appoint an Historian who shall be responsible for preparing and maintaining a scrapbook, notebook, or similar means of keeping assembled facts, brochures, programs and photographs.  The Historian shall also compile a History of the Chapter, which shall be updated annually.

Outreach Officer:  the President shall appoint an Outreach Officer who shall be responsible for the developmenet of the Chapter with regard to increased interaction with allied organizations including opportunities for participation in programs and conventions of those organizations.  The Outreach Officer will also serve as the chair of the Membership Committee to promote the growth in membership and will assist the President and the Executive Committee in handling matters, as assigned.

Public Information Officer:  The President shall appoint a Public Information Officer who shall be responsbile for the public awareness of the Chapter.  This person shall facilitate the inclusion of articles from members in allied organizations' newsletters and periodicals.  The Public Information Officer will be responsible for the publication of a periodic newsletter for the Chapter and will serve as the Webmaster for the Chapter's official website.

All three appointments are for terms which will  run concurrently with the term of the President who appoints them.  Several tasks assigned to the new Executive Committee Officers are currently being performed by individuals who serve on existing Standing Commitees or who have been assigned these duties by the President or the Executive Committee, in which instances these tasks will continue to be performed by said individuals, with oversight provided by the appropriate Officer so charged with that responsibility.

I feel extremely confident that these three new additions to the Executive Committee will help to facilitate a greater appreciation and documentation of our past accomplishments, will initiate a concerted effort to take on new challenges and seize opportunities to assist members, affliates and the public at-large in matters which require a take-charge response, and will greatly enhance all levels of communication both within and outside of our Chapter family.

I am anticipating an exciting, rewarding and productive year for APA MS and as always, I welcome your comments, critiques and congrats, as warranted.

Ed Shambra, AICP
APA MS President