ILAPA News BURST! Chicago Metro Section Report

Chicago Metro Section Report by Michael Mays, AICP

Program Committee Meeting Update: Thanks to everyone who came out on October 20th to participate in the annual Chicago Metro Section Program Committee Meeting. We had a great turnout – nearly 30 people including representation from several other organizations. A special thanks goes to Lori Heringa with CMAP for hosting the event at their new offices in the Sears Tower.

Many great ideas were suggested at the meeting, enough to fill two year’s worth of programs! As in year’s past we plan to offer several co-sponsorship opportunities with other organizations to provide fresh perspectives to our membership and give planners the “basic tools” they need to be more efficient in their daily work environment.

Kicking off 2007 we plan to have another event co-sponsored by DePaul and UIC as well as a the UIC alumni organization which will bring together planners and students for a program and reception in Chicago. We believe this event is a great way to promote the Illinois Chapter Mentoring program by giving students a opportunity to meet mentors or potential mentors.

Building on the success of this year, we will have detailed event information (the who, what, where) included in the annual calendar so you can plan well in advance of next year’s events. Look for your calendar to arrive via email sometime in January.

Thank You: At the end of this year my term as President of the Chicago Metro Section will end. For the past eight years I have served on the Executive Board of the Chicago Metro Section and for the last four years on the State Chapter Board. In that time, I have had the opportunity to meet many people involved with APA locally as well as other professions.

Whatever my daily challenges with work, (“I am sorry sir, you cannot put a billboard there!”) APA involvement would offer me a fresh perspective on our profession and renewed excitement about what we do. Not only did I learn a lot from my peers during the last eight years, I have had a lot of fun as well.

I want to thank the CMS Executive Board (Anne Kane, Allison Laff, Vijay Gadde and Kon Savoy) for their hard work and friendship over the years to continue doing what CMS does best – providing interesting and timely programs for the CMS membership. In the future, I look forward to working with Allison as she takes over as CMS President and hope to see you at future CMS program events.

Thanks.

Click for the 2006 Chicago Metro Section Calendar of Events

Michael Mays, AICP
Village of Woodridge
5 Plaza Drive
Woodridge, IL 60517
Phone: 630.719.4766
Fax: 630.719.4906
mmays@vil.woodridge.il.us