[APA-InfoTech Leaders] APA-IT DIVISION: 2007/05/25th Meeting Minutes

[pi at spatiallink.org]

If the committee agrees, I'd be happy to initiate contact. Now that I
think of it, even though Microsoft wasn't present at our conference,
even they are busy peddling Virtual Earth among local/government
planning/GIS communities.

Also, the membership letter looks good to me.
Harsh

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [APA-InfoTech Leaders] APA-IT DIVISION: 2007/05/25th
Meeting Minutes
From: JENNIFER COWLEY <cowley.11 at osu.edu>
Date: Fri, July 13, 2007 12:45 pm
To: APA-InfoTech Division Leaders <apa-infotech at list.planning.org>

Pursuing Google sounds like a great idea. I think they could be good
to pursue both regarding the booth and for our scholarship/awards
program. Is someone willing to pursue contacting them?

Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP
Assistant Professor and
Planning Education at a Distance Program Director
City and Regional Planning
Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture
The Ohio State University
275 West Woodruff Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1138
(614) 247-7479
cowley.11 at osu.edu

----- Original Message -----
From: pi at spatiallink.org
Date: Friday, July 13, 2007 12:34 pm
Subject: [APA-InfoTech Leaders] APA-IT DIVISION: 2007/05/25th Meeting
Minutes

> Please find attached/embedded the minutes from our last 
> conference. I
> will not be able to attend today's call, but here are my thoughts:
> 
> * Ken/Lyle,
> I am linking the 2 wireframes from my earlier work with MIG in 2005:
> - http://www.spatiallink.org/images/apa/img_it_mainpage.01.jpg
> - http://www.spatiallink.org/images/apa/img_it_mainpage.02.jpg
> You may use these as starting blocks. MIG uses some robust opensource
> tools like MapServer/PostgreSQL+PostGIS, and this project could also
> result in some good articles on 'Opensource in Planning'- our earlier
> newsletter theme.
> 
> * Ken/Milton,
> I had met with some ESRI representatives at this year's conference to
> see if ESRI would continue its planning sponsorship. In that regard,
> Terry Martin [tmartin at esri.com] could refer us to somebody.
> Personally, Google is a bigger fish and their presence at the 
> conferenceand their continuing push of Google Earth indicate that 
> they may be
> interested in a planning sponsorship.
> 
> And all 1-year free membership papers were mailed in early June.
> Thanks, Harsh
> PS: If somebody is doing a write-up on our booth at this year's
> conference, I have some pictures. Also, I am embedding below 2 
> previousdiscussions on our website for pointers-
> 
> [1]*************************
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: hvp
> RE: [apait-leadership]
> 
> team-
> good talk earlier mike. as discussed, here are some links as 
> ""food for
> thought"":
> * the yale ""bible"": [http://www.webstyleguide.com/]
> * richness-of-features/speed-of-navigation:
> [http://www.nyas.org/]
> [http://www.cancer.gov/]
> [http://news.google.com/]
> * article submission, page views and response tracking:
> [http://slashdot.org/]
> [http://www.dbforums.com/]
> [http://www.devshed.com/]
> ...but let's keep in mind that the proposed TOWNSQUARE plug-in 
> would be
> text-intensive for quicker download, stressing more on usability than
> looks.
> 
> mike-
> here's the link to adsense that i had mentioned we look at to 
> subsidizeour efforts: [https://www.google.com/adsense/].
> 
> dan-
> i tried your network solutions link. however, the process assumes that
> we are going to keep the domain with network solutions. if it is 
> OK with
> the team, i suggest we transfer to godaddy. some plans offer emails,
> forums, discussion boards, polls, blogs, all built-in along with the
> usual mysql, php and mambo [if we do go ahead, i suggest we 
> transfer the
> hosting before the domain, but there still might be some downtime].
> 
> rob-
> we are in the embryonic stage right now WRT TOWNSQUARE, but feel 
> free to
> offer any suggestions. once we complete our transfer, we should be 
> ableto create a sub-domain just for your SIG. 
> 
> also, here's a link that you may want to spread about:
> [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/business/01towers.html].
> 
> harsh
> [2]*************************
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: hvp
> RE: "
> 
> ...great! also, a lot of creative analysis that slices website designs
> is out there for use as a possible starting-point. in the 
> meantime, i'll
> add this information about possible host/maintainer to our 
> spreadsheet:
> DIVISION
> --WEBSITE
> --HOST/MAINTAINER
> 
> Transportation Planning Division 
> --http://www.apa-tpd.org/
> --Renaissance Planning Group
> 
> Federal Planning Division
> --http://65.23.142.31/
> --http://www.parsons.com/
> 
> Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Division
> --http://www.apa-enre.org/ 
> --WebGraffix
> 
> Gays and Lesbians in Planning Division
> --http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/lobby/7016/galip.htm
> --Yahoo
> 
> Planning and Women Division
> --http://www.urban.uiuc.edu/APA-PW/index.html
> --UIUC
> 
> Regional and Intergovernmental Planning 
> --http://www.homestead.com/intergovernmental/
> --Homestead
> 
> Resort and Tourism Division
> --http://www.tourismplanning.org/
> --Richard Stephens
> 
> harsh
> 
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: JENNIFER COWLEY <cowley.11 at osu.edu>
> Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:41:43-0400
> 
> Given all of our current time constraints I developed a very simple
> Excel template that we can use and each examine two division websites
> and then later figure out who has the the time to write up the report
> and recommendations.
> 
> Please use the attached template and just send a note to all stating
> which websites you'll review. If you see anything extra just add 
> it to
> the special features cell and I'll create a column if more than one
> website has it.
> 
> I've attached a first stab at an evaluation spreadsheet, look and see
> what you think and feel free to add to this.
> 
> Also, think about what would be your recommendations and best 
> practices.
> I thought of two
> 
> 1) You must have an up to date website, if you don't have the 
> resourcesto keep it up to date don't add extra information.
> 2) The website should be viewed as a recruiting and informational tool
> with much of the information available to the public, rather than
> restricting most items to members only.
> 
> Please add to this list.
> 
> Thanks,
> Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP
> Assistant Professor and
> Planning Education at a Distance Program Director
> City and Regional Planning
> Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture
> The Ohio State University
> 275 West Woodruff Avenue
> Columbus, OH 43210-1138
> (614) 247-7479
> cowley.11 at osu.edu
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: hvp
> Date: Sunday, July 31, 2005 6:04 pm
> > 
> > mike,
> > i did some thinking after our phone conversation and realized 
> that 
> > i would be spreading myself too thin on this one. but i am happy 
> > to serve on the committee and pick-up the retreat on the east coast.
> > 
> > i agree with chris with regards to jennifer's suggestions. i 
> hope 
> > that the end-product is best-practices ""with some teeth"". this 
> > could be done by tying it in with funding etc. having a 
> > representative from each division, as jennifer suggested, would 
> > greatly help in that regard. 
> > 
> > regards, harsh
> > 
> > Harsh Prakash
> > Spatial Planner & Website Administrator
> > 
> > ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> > From: ""Chris Steins"" <steins at urbaninsight.com>
> > Reply-To: <steins at urbaninsight.com>
> > Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 10:45:02 -0700
> > 
> > I like Jennifer's recommendation a lot. I think a somewhat 
> systematic> analysis of the Division's websites (where they are 
> hosted, what
> > content is provided, what is public/available to members, etc.) 
> would> be an outstanding approach, and a nice lead-in to best 
> practices> recommendations. The Division would build a lot of 
> ""street-cred""
> > within APA for doing this.
> > 
> > Chris 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mike Gritz [MGritz at LasVegasNevada.GOV] 
> > Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 10:34 AM
> > To: 'JENNIFER COWLEY'; Mike Gritz
> > Cc: 'hvp'; 'Chris Steins'; 'Milton Ospina'; Tjiong, Judy; Robert 
> Smith> (E-mail 2) 
> > Subject: RE: FW: APA Divisions Website
> > 
> > Will do Jennifer. Thanks for participating. Harsh, are you ready?
> > 
> > Chris, Any comments?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Mike
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: JENNIFER COWLEY [cowley.11 at osu.edu] 
> > Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 10:24 AM
> > To: Mike Gritz
> > Cc: 'hvp'; 'Chris Steins'; 'Milton Ospina'; Tjiong, Judy; Robert 
> Smith> (E-mail 2) 
> > Subject: Re: FW: APA Divisions Website
> > 
> > Mike,
> > 
> > I'm really pressed for time right now. I would be happy to 
> serve on
> > the
> > committee, but perhaps Harsh could chair it. I think the committee
> > should
> > have at least one representative for each division.
> > 
> > I think we could develop a divide and conquer mentality by reviewing
> > all of
> > the division websites, identifying what we think is good and then
> > putting
> > together a best practices kind of memo that can be distributed 
> to each
> > of
> > the divisions letting them know the kinds of information they should
> > be
> > providing.
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP
> > Assistant Professor and
> > Planning Education at a Distance Program Director City and Regional
> > Planning
> > Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture The Ohio State University
> > 275 West Woodruff Avenue
> > Columbus, OH 43210-1138
> > (614) 247-7479
> > cowley.11 at osu.edu
> > 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Mike Gritz <MGritz at LasVegasNevada.GOV>
> > Date: Friday, July 29, 2005 1:14 pm
> > Subject: FW: APA Divisions Website
> > >
> > > Jennifer and Harsh,
> > > 
> > > Clyde Forrest, Divisions Council Chair needs our help. Jennifer,
> > > I'm 
> > > not sure if you have the time to chair this committee. I'm 
> > > happy to
> > >
> > > serve on it. I'd like to offer it to you since you have done so
> > > much 
> > > web research in the past. Is this something you would be 
> interested> >
> > > in? Harsh, Would you be able to provide assistance to 
> Jennifer, or
> > > if 
> > > Jennifer is tight on time, either Co-Chair or Chair this 
> committee.> >
> > > I'm willing to help too.
> > > 
> > > Let me know if you have time available for this and maybe we 
> can set
> > >
> > > up a conference call on it. I'll assist with gathering any
> > > resources.
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > Mike
> > > 702-229-6889
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Clyde Forrest [cforrest at express.cites.uiuc.edu]
> > > Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 9:19 AM
> > > To: mgritz at lasvegasnevada.gov
> > > Cc: dglosser at insightbb.com; michael.delk at myclearwater.com; 
> > > mdmld at msn.com;wblanton at citiesthatwork.com;
> > > afreund at mail.co.washoe.nv.us;MWelch at planning.org;
> > > STurner at planning.org
> > > Subject: APA Divisions Website
> > > 
> > > Dear Mike;
> > > The divisions could use the expertize of one of your members 
> to 
> > > to 
> > > improvethe content of the Divisions site on the APA. This is 
> to 
> > > request that you appoint a Chair of a working group for this task.
> > > The Chair might need a small budget and should be willing to 
> > > spend 
> > > time on a regular basis to improve the role of Divisions in 
> the 
> > > national planningmovement.
> > > 
> > > Of course close coordination with Susan Turner in the APA 
> > > national 
> > > officewill be required.
> > > Improvement Ideas I have had include:
> > > -links to other information sources
> > > - information about Scholarships ( see the Chapters site for
> > > information)- information about the Divisions Council -
> > > information 
> > > about the elections cycle and leadership opportunities -lack of
> > > fresh 
> > > information about Division current accomplishments,(the news 
> > > letter 
> > > examples are from 2003)
> > > 
> > > Let me know if you will take this on as a task and who you have
> > > designated.--
> > >
> > > Clyde W. Forrest, FAICP
> > > Chair Divisions Council
> > > Professor Emeritus
> > > Urban and Regional Planning
> > > 111 Buell Hall,
> > > Champaign ILL. 61820
> > > 217-344-6331
> ****************
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------
> Information Technology Division of the American Planning Association:
> Executive
> Committee Meeting Minutes
> 
> 25th May 2007 [1:00 - 2:00 EST]
> 1-888-245-4141
> X 394006
> 
> Attendees
> 1. Ken Snyder, Chair
> 2. Jennifer Evans-Cowley, Vice-Chair
> 3. Harsh Prakash, Secretary/Treasurer
> 4. Judy Tjiong, Division Coordinator
> 5. Milton Ospina, Communications Chair
> 6. Robert Smith, Telecommunications SIG Chair
> 7. Gordon Hansen, Policy Chair
> 8. Lyle Hornbaker, Website Chair
> 
> Ken called the meeting to order shortly after 1:00 PM and brought up
> the following meeting agenda for review:
> 
> 1. Approve Agenda
> 2. Welcome New Chairs
> 3. National Planning Conference (APA 2007) Highlights:
> Leadership Meetings
> Division Booth
> By-Rights Sessions
> Reception
> Division Awards
> 4. Newsletter Update
> 5. Planning for By-rights Sessions
> 6. Website Opportunities
> 7. Next Steps/Next Meeting
> 8. Other
> 
> Ken kick-started the Executive Committee meeting by proposing to
> convert email addresses on the division's website to their image
> representations so as to prevent spammers from harvesting those
> addresses. Harsh mentioned a scripting alternative to obfuscate 
> the said
> addresses, if required.
> 
> Ken informed the members about his promising discussions with Steve
> Kokotas of MIG (http://www.migcom.com/) at the 2007 National 
> Conference,and the possibility of working with MIG on the division 
> website. Harsh
> mentioned his earlier interactions with Steve in 2005 that left him
> impressed with regards to MIG's professionalism, and strongly
> recommended MIG. Ken added that he would talk with Steve about their
> next steps.
> 
> Then Harsh requested the mailing addresses of the luck-draw 
> winners so
> that he could mail their 1-year free memberships. Ken promised to 
> emailthe requested information.
> 
> Later Ken welcomed Gordon as Policy Chair, Lyle as Website Chair, 
> Geneas Membership Chair and Jason as Conference Chair, and 
> described his
> experiences as Division Chair at the 2007 National Conference. He 
> talkedabout his leadership meetings that went over the business 
> items for all
> divisions. He informed the committee that according to APA National,
> there were approximately 14,000 registered members at this year's
> conference, and the divisions were witnessing an average drop of 
> 3% in
> their memberships, except for the regional ones. He said that in 
> generalthe divisions gave APA National an unsatisfactory rating 
> because of what
> they saw as a lack of proactive assistance in attracting new members.
> Milton interjected by questioning the total number since he remembered
> that the 2005 National Conference had about 7,000 registered members.
> Ken promised to double-check the total. Milton suggested giving away
> 1-year free memberships to attract new members. Harsh added that since
> their membership dues showed a significant drop in the 3rd quarter of
> every calendar year for the past 2 years, that would be a good 
> time for
> the new membership chair- Gene, to ramp-up his outreach. Lyle 
> asked to
> confirm possible correlations between the national membership 
> trends and
> the division membership trends. 
> 
> Then Ken brought up their report evaluation. He said that some APA
> divisions had failed their evaluations and were punished by having 
> someprivileges taken away. He was pleased to share that the Technology
> Division was 1 of 2 divisions graded exceptional. On Report 
> Projections,Harsh informed that their last report (prepared under 
> Chris Steins) did
> not include any projections. Ken replied that a simple summary would
> suffice, and promised to get in touch regarding the projections.
> 
> Ken also shared his experiences at the division booth. He said that
> their booth enjoyed a good location and thanked everyone for their 
> helpin manning the booth. He requested the committee to offer a 1-
> year free
> membership to Jason Lally for his hard work as a booth volunteer. The
> committee readily agreed and Harsh promised to mail the necessary
> papers.
> 
> Ken took an opportunity to thank ESRI (http://www.esri.com/) for its
> assistance with their banner printing. He also formally confirmed the
> division's name change to 'Technology' by APA National.
> 
> Then Ken informed the committee about the success of their 2 by-
> rightssessions. He also said that he had expressed his displeasure 
> at the
> conference's furniture arrangements with APA National. Gordon and 
> Harshshared Ken's displeasure with the "inflexible" furniture 
> layout. Robert
> agreed that it was not implemented right and would be a
> point-for-improvement in the future.
> 
> Later Ken proposed a project to assess divisions' websites. He said
> that it would entail talking with the respective chairs with 
> regards to
> their website functionalities. He added that since APA National 
> was in
> the process of revamping its own website, the project would be
> well-timed, and asked for interested volunteers. Harsh offered his
> expertise to work with Lyle. Lyle offered to begin drafting 
> letters to
> the chairs. Ken suggested using Google Docs for any collaborative
> editing. Harsh added that another service- ThinkFree
> (http://www.thinkfree.com/), offered some extra functionality like
> creating, editing and sharing presentations, and could also be used.
> 
> Ken also informed the members about a division-wide conference 
> call on
> 06/05th/2007 (3 PM EST)- organized by APA National, it would go over
> booth-related contributions. He said that he would ask Jason to take
> that call. Jennifer was also nominated to represent the division 
> for the
> call.
> 
> With regards to the division awards, Jennifer suggested reducing the
> number of categories. Ken said that that could also increase the
> individual prize money. On prize money, Milton reminded the committee
> that given his departure from ESRI, he could no longer promise ESRI's
> sponsorship of their awards. In turn, Harsh proposed making all of 
> their4 newsletter issues digital, and thus saving on some 
> exorbitant printing
> costs. Judy replied that she would prefer to have 1 newsletter issue
> remain as hard-copy for distribution at conferences. Harsh suggested
> printing some special copies for conferences, and added that the fewer
> numbers would still save them money. Ken cautioned that as the 
> divisionshops for sponsorships, it should remain cognizant of the many
> registration deadlines. Milton suggested reserving the booth first and
> cancelling it if their sponsorships do not come through. Harsh 
> suggestedapproaching PCIA (http://www.pcia.com/) for more sponsorship.
> 
> Ken also informed the members about the theme of their next 
> newsletter-
> Environmental Management and Technology. He said that Jocelyn Hittle,
> Newsletter Editor, was looking for articles.
> 
> Then the committee scheduled its next meeting on 06/08th/2007 (1 PM
> EST). Jennifer offered to email her report on the division-wide call
> since she would not be able to attend their next meeting.
> 
> Finally, Ken adjourned the meeting.
> 
> Respectfully recorded
> Harsh Prakash
> Secretary/Treasurer
> -------------------
> 
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