The American Planning Association (APA) Chapter Presidents Council (CPC) recently announced their 2021 Award Winners. We are delighted to share the news regarding the TWO national awards APA-IL committees and volunteers received:
2021 Karen B. Smith Chapter Award for Outstanding Service to Members
To recognize innovations, programs, or new or improved services that benefit the members of a particular chapter. These might include such things as a training, a continuing education program, a conference, newsletters, an online service, membership, or volunteer recruitment efforts, AICP exam assistance, or any one or several things that have improved the service delivered by a chapter to its members.
Awarded to the APA-IL in recognition of the Membership Committee’s ongoing virtual networking to keep members connected during the pandemic and the Pro-Bono Program’s support to municipalities, nonprofits, and community organizations in the initiation, organizing, and fine tuning of early stage planning projects in Illinois.
APA-IL Membership Committee members: Emily Egan, AICP (Chair), Phillip Green (Vice Chair), Reema Abi-Akar, Jennifer Ganser, AICP, Rory Fancler, AICP
APA-IL Pro Bono Program 2019 & 2020 volunteers: Jaemi Jackson, AICP (Chair); Aaron Cook, AICP; Diane Gormely-Barnes, AICP; Erich Bohrer; Valerie Berstene, AICP; Tim Gustafson, AICP; Cristen Hardin; Caren Kay, AICP; Tanvi Parikh; Pete Pointner, FAICP; Viktor Schrader; Edward Tombari, AICP; Andrew Weiss; Lily Wilcock, AICP; Andi Yancey, AICP
The Pro Bono Program was last recognized nationally with the 2003 AICP President’s Award in recognition of their work in the communities and in the area of professional development.
2021 Lynn Jorgenson Leadership Awards
In support of leadership development objectives and the importance of acknowledging contributions to the organization, the CPC Executive Committee established a series of individual leadership awards, starting in 2021, named in honor of Lynn Jorgenson, APA's longtime chapter liaison.
Each year the CPC recognizes a Professional Development Officer (PDO) for exemplary work in advancing the professional development interests of their respective chapter; and, a chapter volunteer in recognition of an individual who has gone above and beyond the norm to advance the interests of their chapter and the planning profession.
Awarded to Trevor Dick, AICP (Illinois PDO 2014-2020). Trevor created a new paradigm for professional development officers with his tireless approach to conference planning and communication. “He’s in it for the people, he’s in it for the sense of community, he’s in it for the fun, and that’s what makes him a great PDO.”
The American Planning Association will be honoring CPC award reciepients as well as other APA Award winners this summer in Planning magazine with the rest of APA's awards program, as well as the virtual awards ceremony, and in Interact.
Congratulations to all!!
What is the Chapter Presidents Council?
A Council of all the incumbent Presidents of APA Chapters which meets as a body to advise the APA Board of Directors, and to exchange views and information on matters of common concern. Click here to learn more about APA leadership.
What are CPC Awards?
Each year, the APA Chapter President's Council gives out awards to chapters for accomplishments over the last year.
Lynn Jorgenson Leadership Awards
In support of leadership development objectives and the importance of acknowledging contributions to the organization, the CPC Executive Committee established a series of individual leadership awards. Starting in 2021, these awards were renamed in honor of Lynn Jorgenson, APA's longtime chapter liaison that passed away in 2020.
The CPC annually recognizes a chapter president with an individual recognition award for service to their chapter, CPC, and advancing the interests of the profession.
Additionally, each year the CPC recognizes a Professional Development Officer (PDO) for exemplary work in advancing the professional development interests of their respective chapter; and, a chapter volunteer in recognition of an individual who has gone above and beyond the norm to advance the interests of their chapter and the planning profession.
For each award, nominations are accepted from a chapter’s executive committee.
Karen B. Smith Awards
The Karen B. Smith awards honor the late APA Board of Directors member for her outstanding contributions to the association. Karen B. Smith was a planning consultant in Aspen, Colorado and treasurer of the AICP Commission, until her untimely death in an auto accident on July 24, 1984. She was 36. She had long been active in APA’s Colorado Chapter, serving as its president from 1979 to 1981. In 1981, she was elected to chair APA’s Chapter Presidents Council. She was elected to the APA Board of Directors in 1983.
The award for Outstanding Service to Members recognizes innovations, programs, or new or improved services that benefit the members of a particular chapter. These might include such things as a training, a continuing education program, a conference, newsletters, an online service, membership, or volunteer recruitment efforts, AICP exam assistance, or any one or several things that have improved the service delivered by a chapter to its members.
The award for Outstanding Outreach to the Community recognizes programs or outreach efforts which serve the community, region, or state. These might include, for example, educational programs, a public policy initiative, community service, service to advisory or legislative groups, or more things that have improved the service the chapter provides to the public or enhanced the understanding or image of planning in the community at large.
The award for Overall Chapter Achievement recognizes the overall accomplishments or improvements of a chapter.
The CPC awards are typically rolled into the awards program that occurs at the National Planning Conference each spring. If you do not attend the National Planning Conference awards ceremony then you may see these awards mentioned in Planning Magazine. In 2020, APA held a virtual awards ceremony sepereate from the National Planning Conference and will hold a virtual awards ceremony in the summer of 2021.