So why should you join a Division? Is it worth the additional $25.00 a year to your profession (and, perhaps more importantly, your employer) to join a Division?

The best way to describe the differences between a Chapter and a Division is that while Chapters are generalist in nature in serving the needs of members within a geographically-defined area, Divisions focus on the specializations of our profession, such as transportation planning, economic development, and urban design; creating a forum to discuss areas of interest unique to population-based groups of planners such as women, African-Americans, Latinos/Latinas, gays and lesbians, and Native Americans; and establishing a forum for the setting-based planners working in large cities and counties, as well as small towns and rural areas. While the focus of any one Division may be specialized, the scope is nationwide and global (especially true with the International Division). Division members share experiences with members throughout North America and the world, and the ideas learned are transferable to the situations each of us face on a daily basis.

As you scan the list of the 21 Divisions, you might be wondering what types of issues they are dealing with. Here is a small sample of these issues:

• The City Planning and Management Division just completed its 3^rd peer consultation. Following up on its success for Atlanta and New Orleans, the Division sent a team of 3 experienced Directors to Jackson, MS to consult with local leaders, staff and clientele, reviewed the City’s operations and procedures and made recommendations on improvement. 
• The Economic Development Division is presenting a ½-day "Economic Development Planning 101" training seminar at next year’s APA Conference in Las Vegas, designed for planners interested in this facet of planning or who want a refresher on the topic.
• The Federal Planning Division just completed its annual workshop, with 236 attendees, 29 exhibitors, and 28 breakout sessions.
• The Gays and Lesbians in Planning Division has addressed such issues as mapping safe neighborhoods, clear and concise planning documents, neighborhood revitalization, retirement housing, and social equity.
• The Indigenous Planning Division is currently partnering with the Alaska APA Chapter to hold a joint conference on Indigenous Planning in Anchorage in the fall of 2008. 
• The Planning and Women Division is in an exceptional position to influence the relationship of planning to women and to highlight outstanding women planners.
• The Small Town and Rural Planning Division is the first APA Chapter or Division to offer subsidies for AICP Division members to partially reimburse for the cost of maintaining the AICP certification.
• The Transportation Division is working on a number of initiatives, including the Airports Committee and tracking pending. As well, the Division is developing a mentoring program and revitalizing its Policy Advisory Council that will provide expertise on a range of transportation-related topics.
• The Urban Design and Preservation Division hosts a nationwide Design Forum Series to engage planners and allied professionals in design oriented planning. 

To conclude, before you complete your membership renewal, take another look at that bottom left corner of the application form directly right of this article and consider joining one or more Divisions. It is a simple task to hand-write the Divisions you want to join on the renewal form – and well worth the time and modest cost to do so.