Learn - Socialize - Repeat
Whether it’s engaging with fellow planners over a coffee, or picking the brains of our best & brightest, APAIL19 will provide plenty of time to grow relationships and build opportunities.
Everyone attends APA-IL state conferences for the interesting sessions, engaging mobile workshops, and impressive speakers. Somehow we also manage to fit in some fun amidst all the learning and knowledge. Think of this email as the intro to your APAIL19 Social Calendar! Read on for some social event details, Thursday program highlights, and then be sure to click the REGISTER button to grab a ticket to these limited-space events.
Conference Details at a Glance September 25-27, 2019 Hilton Orrington / Evanston 1710 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL #APAIL19 ilapa.org/apail2019
Lunch Announcements
Looking to learn a little while you're at lunch?
Wednesday, September 25th Farmhouse Lunch (CM | .5) Enjoy a plated three course farm lunch with Farmhouse Evanston owner TJ Callahan. Learn more about the development of Brown Dog Farm and the restaurants it supplies within the Farmhouse restaurant group to create a sustainable farm-to-table operation and the importance of this model in the future of food and beverage operations.
Thursday, September 26th Meet & Greet Erin Aleman
Have you heard the news? Erin Aleman was unanimously selected as the new Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Executive Director! Come to Rock 'N Ravioli for a chance to say "congratulations". Come celebrate one of our own making it big time!
Already registered? Email Keith Johnston, I3 Events to add lunches to your registration!
Evening Events
After a long, hard day of CM credits and PowerPoint presentations...
Wednesday, September 25th: Awards Reception and Exhibitor Meet & Greet This complimentary event is open to all attendees. Join us for our annual Awards Program then mingle with award winners and exhibitors at the meet and greet immediately following the awards. This reception joins you and other attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors while you enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.
Thursday Night Social Event: Flappers and Gangsters Welcome! Come September, we’ll be just months away from re-entering the 20s’ (2020s, that is)! So join us Thursday 9/26 for a prohibition-era themed party at Evanston Rocks’ “Speakeasy Room”. We're going to kick off the night with Planner Trivia then kick back and catch up with colleagues, & enjoy delicious, plentiful fare.
Starting at 8:30 pm, there will be live jazz on the Speakeasy's cabaret stage that is open to the public and planners are welcome to stay and enjoy. Tickets are limited so don't wait to add this on to your registration!
Already registered? Email Keith Johnston, I3 Events to add evening events to your registration!
Program Highlights
Why should you go to Thursday's sessions? Moms everywhere are saying, "Because I said so, that's why!"
We're offering 3-4 concurrent sessions + Speed Planning + Plan Commissioner Training for a total of 22 sessions Thursday. What will your picks be? Planners, Plan Commissioners, and Thespians… have fun role-playing as a “concerned” resident or plan commissioner and gain a new perspective during the Plan Commissioner Training's Mock Hearing on Thursday afternoon. Soak up important knowledge from planning experts and lawyers (all while earning CM credits, too)! Planners everywhere are asking… “how do we make sure our plans don’t sit on a shelf?” If that keeps you up at night, sit in on Ready for Takeoff: Steering Your Comp Plan to Implementation. The session will cover common challenges to successful comprehensive plan implementation, scalable and easily-duplicated best practices, and real-life implementation strategies from planning experts and peers. Each morning, Chicago area commuters ask… Urban Highways: Who needs 'em?? Whether you commute by car, bus, bike, or feet, this session will be a fascinating debate and discussion on: the debate over economic benefits and barriers, social justice, and how new and emerging mobility tech functions in the city with and without urban highways. To the municipal planners calling their lawyer friends all the time about how to deal with that one persistent resident… you’ll want to attend “Weathering the Scorn” – Tips and Advice on How to Effectively Conduct Public Business in the Face of Difficult Citizens (CM LAW). Grab tips, tools and best practices on managing difficult FOIA requests and requestors, suggestions for establishing agendas and reasonable rules for public comment, as well as provide advice as to what to avoid when faced with difficult speakers, especially in situations where emotions run high. For all of us realizing we probably should have taken that finance course in college… check out the Real Estate for Planners! This program is designed to give planners the fundamentals to determine whether a hypothetical development scenario is feasible from a private real estate perspective. It’s a practical tutorial on building a back of the envelope pro forma. Leave knowing how to meaningfully discuss real estate opportunities with developers. Be sure to visit the APAIL19 Program to learn about the rest of our sessions, mobile workshops, social events, and more!
Please note: items above are subject to change.
Mobile Workshops
APAIL19 offers a selection of 10 mobile workshops!
You’ll wish you could go to all of them! Here are a few, but be sure to check out the complete list:
Wednesday, 9/25
A Star is Born: Howard Street: Eight years ago, the first time our state conference was held in Evanston, city staff described ambitious plans for Howard Street. Come and see what’s come to fruition since 2011! Join this workshop to learn more about Evanston/Chicago relationships during redevelopment of this corridor, the use of tools like TIFs and SSAs, visit and meet with business owners to hear about the challenges of redevelopment on the "municipal frontier.”
Thursday, 9/26
Creating Bird-Friendly Places: Visit with local activists, planners, habitat stewards, government officials, and landscape architects to witness their efforts to pass bird-friendly ordinances, retrofit buildings to reduce threats to birds, design and maintain bird habitat, and promote community engagement and ecotourism with local greenspace. Please note this workshop starts at 8:15am. Binoculars will be provided as you tour a number of bird hubs during one of the year’s most active migration periods!
Friday, 9/27
Missing Middle: Evanston ADU Walking Tour: Led by the City of Evanston’s Grants Administrator Sarah Flax, this walking tour will take you through the City’s alleys and back lots to explore its rich collection of coach homes. You’ll also learn about strategies the City has explored to encourage housing affordability through the preservation and new construction of ADUs. Afterwards, be sure to join the CNU Happy Hour!!
Already registered? Email Keith Johnston, I3 Events to add mobile workshops to your registration!
Visit ilapa.org for all sessions, mobile workshops, speakers, and other details!
Please note: items above are subject to change.
Reminder: Sponsor!
Thank you to all the sponsors that have already signed up to support the APA-IL! It is incredibly humbling to know that so many companies support good planning in Illinois. Be sure and check out 2019-2020 sponsors so far...
We are still accepting Tier 2 and Tier 3 conference sponsors! Download the 2019 Prospectus today.
It’s not too late to learn more about the many options for super-sizing your sponsorship with our add-ons (do I hear a post conference event, anyone?). Contact Brandon Nolin, AICP or Stephanie Brown, AICP.
Reminder: Volunteer!
Volunteering at the conference is a great option for students, interns, retirees, or those in transition that would like to attend but need to watch their nickels and dimes. Volunteer a ½ day and receive complimentary registration for that day! Interested? Fill out our volunteer form and our Volunteer Coordinator, Glen Cole, will be in touch.
Reminder: APAIL19 Room Rate
Rooms will go fast! Don't forget to book your room at the Hilton Orrington / Evanston at the APA-IL rate...
Reservation Phone Number: 847-866-8700
Group Code: APAIC
Room Rate: $169
APA-IL Rate Cutoff Date: 9/3/19