CONFERENCE
Conference Proposal EXTENDED TO JANUARY 31, 2024
Due to several closures for winter weather advisories, we are extending the deadline!
Whether you are a public sector engagement specialist, nonprofit leader, government planner, community organizer, or consultant, we invite you to present and attend the conference. We welcome seasoned and new practitioners, and those interested in working in this sector. Click here if you're interested in more information or want to submit a proposal.
P2 brings people together to work through issues that matter, which can spark a connection to their community and neighbors that is life-lasting. Think about designing a session that maximizes new connections among attendees and a variety of ways to connect communities across cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Ask yourself:
- How can P2 contribute to overcoming isolation in a post-pandemic era?
- How do you reach individuals and organizations that inspire, lead, and grow connections with the community?
Deadline: Proposals are due by noon Central time on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Submit here.
Conference Information: April 17-19, 2024, Thompson Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha
Questions? Please reach out to any of the below to discuss your ideas or get more information.
|
|
WEBINAR, FEBRUARY 14
Strategies for Scoping Community Engagement
Developing a scope and fee for community engagement work presents the ultimate dilemma: how do you identify and budget for activities that are yet to be determined or may need to evolve as the project progresses to meet the needs of the affected community? This presentation will discuss the framework of an effective public participation plan and how it can be used to guide the development of a project’s scope of work. This presentation will also provide practical tips to develop scopes of work and fee structures for contracts with community engagement tasks.
Register today!
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Feb 14, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Andrea Gebhart, AICP, is the Planning & Engagement Department Leader at JEO Consulting Group, where she and other engagement specialists design and implement public participation strategies for a wide range of civil engineering and planning projects. As a certified community planner with communication experience, Andrea strives to make each project she works on accessible and engaging to communities, specifically those most affected by the project. She serves on the board of directors of the International Association of Public Participation’s (IAP2) Midwest Chapter and is a core team member of the Chapter's Nebraska Network. Andrea has also remained involved with the UNL Community and Regional Planning program as an adjunct lecturer, teaching "Qualitative Techniques for Planners” in spring semesters.
|
|
CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
Be a Conference Sponsor!
Conference sponsorship offers an opportunity to demonstrate your organization's commitment to meaningful public participation (P2), as well as share your organization's mission and message with other P2-minded professionals from across the Midwest.
The various sponsorship levels and included benefits are detailed below.
To register to be a 2024 conference sponsor, click here, or contact Dan Pfeiffer for more information.
|
|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Welcome to our Newest Board Member, Leslie Yetka
The IAP2 Midwest Board of Directors is pleased to announce the newest addition to the team: Leslie Yetka. We are thrilled to have such a kind and skilled member join us!
 Leslie is the Natural Resources Manager for the city of Minnetonka, a suburb west of Minneapolis. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the fields of natural resources management, local policy and plan development, adult education, and public participation and engagement. Areas of focus include natural resources management, water resources protection, green infrastructure and sustainable landscape practices, and increasing community resilience to climate change.
Leslie has led many community and volunteer participation and engagement efforts and facilitated groups to achieve shared goals. She is an avid Art of Hosting practitioner, certified in IAP2 planning, has a Master of Science degree in horticulture from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Public Affairs degree in leadership and development from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. A lifelong resident of Minnesota, Leslie enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially at the family cabin in the mountains of Montana…maybe hiking, maybe reading, maybe knitting or crocheting. Definitely relaxing!
Farewell to Esteemed Board Member, Anne Carroll
 Anne has been a leader regionally, nationally, and internationally in IAP2. She has served as a Board Member for the Midwest Chapter since 2011, and was part of reorganizing and reinvigorating the Chapter in 2017. Her long leadership and depth of knowledge is an asset to our Chapter, and we are pleased she will stay active on committees! Thank you, Anne, for your commitment to the Chapter and to the field of public participation - it is strongly felt by those in your presence.
"Anne has a wealth of knowledge and experience in public participation, and she is always happy to share and mentor others. She is a leader in IAP2 globally and locally, creating a significant impact on our profession. Anne led this Chapter in its early days, and worked to move it into the active group we know today. Her energy and enthusiasm are unmatched." - Heather Lasher Todd, former President
"Anne has made a significant impact on this field through her work as a consultant, as a teacher, as a board member, and as a conduit with IAP2 USA. She has such enthusiasm for public participation and is fearless about centering equity and inclusion always. We thank Anne for her leadership on the IAP2 chapter and the many ways that she has set the table for so many connections and advancements in public participation in our region." - Josie Shardlow, Board Member
"Even as a newer member, I could tell we were in good hands when she was around because of how thoughtful and sharp she is. She seems to inherently grasp the principles of engagement and used them in our meetings to make sure we were all heard." - Michelle Bennett, Board Member
2024 Officers
In its first board meeting of the year, the Midwest Chapter Board of Directors elected 2024 officers. We congratulate Andrea Gebhart and Dan Pfeiffer for taking on the President and Vice President roles, respectively. Leslie Yetka stepped up to the Treasurer role and Emily Larson will continue as the Chapter's Secretary.
President & Vice President
|
|
SKILLS SYMPOSIUM
Stay Tuned for More Information
After a pandemic pause, IAP2 USA is restarting its 5-day Skills Symposium in 2024, and the Midwest Chapter is hosting it in the Twin Cities! Mark your calendars now for this early June opportunity to take one of a dozen or more trainings at great prices. Registration information coming soon.
|
|
Do you know someone who might be interested in these updates? Be sure to forward this email along!
|
|
|
|
|
