As winter turns into Spring (according to the calendar, anyway), we have a lot to talk about.

In this action-packed installment, you’ll find:

• Features:  Cathy Smith’s first president’s message looks at the importance of building a strong organization; we’ll meet Gwen (Happ) Howard, IAP2 USA’s new secretary; and a group of IAP2 pioneers wishes “Happy Anniversary!” to IAP2 Foundations training! Beat the heat of an impending deadline by starting your IAP2 Professional Certification Application, or finalize your submission for the 2019 IAP2 Core Values Awards!
• Events:  The program has just been announced for the North American Conference, happening in Charlotte, North Carolina, in September; we’ll also review the last two Learning Webinars, which featured the Core Values Award winners for Projects of the Year and Visual Engagement. Take a look at what's happening in Chapters across the US!
• Interesting Links: We find a critique of the City of Los Angeles’ civic engagement process.

Features:

President's Message: Strong and Getting Stronger

“Strong” is a word we hear often. Sometimes, it’s a word that mobilizes communities that are recovering from disaster; other times, it’s simply a concept that just make sense. When I open my favorite book, the thesaurus, the index for the “strong” shows that it relates to words like these: energetic, great, influential, robust, substantial, tough. Good words.

APPLY NOW for the IAP2 Core Values Awards!

Have you worked on a project that stands out from the others? Did it exemplify the IAP2 Core Values? NOW is the time to apply for the 2019 IAP2 USA Core Values Awards! P2 is often relegated to the background of an overall project, so this is the once-a-year chance to give the people who provide good, effective P2 the recognition they deserve. We’re looking for the best of the best examples of Inclusion and Culture and Creativity and Innovation, and there is also the General Project category (with the Project of the Year being chosen from those winners). There are also the awards for Organization of the Year and Research Project of the Year. The deadline to submit your entry is Friday, May 3, so there's no time to lose! Download the Applicant’s kit here.

ON YOUR MARKS… GET SET… Get Certified!

You’re an accomplished P2 practitioner, have completed the Foundations training and have a solid command of the Five Core Competencies: now it’s time to take that next step and become a Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3)! The next Certification Assessment Center is coming up September 27-28 in Portland, OR, which means you have until May 31 to submit your application. The process is rigorous -- as it should be -- and some CP3s have told us it takes about 40 hours to do the written work. But when you do, and you pass the assessment, you’ll have a designation recognized the world over as someone who delivers quality, meaningful P2. If you already have your CP3, you can also level-up to the MCP3 -- Master Certified Public Participation Practitioner. Learn more about certification here.

MEMBER PROFILE: Gwen (Happ) Howard

Issues Manager, Colorado Springs Utilities

Gwen Happ recently took on the job of secretary of IAP2 USA. “I was part of the early part of IAP2,” she says. “I was there when things weren’t so good and I’m so glad to see the organization turning it around and membership growing where we are now.” So now, let’s meet Gwen Happ.

“I know how to talk to people and make them feel listened-to; I can be empathetic and put myself in their shoes and ask myself, ‘If this were me and I were in that position, how would I feel?’ To have people share their meta-values with you is big, and one of my skills is to mine that information and do it quickly, finding out what people are really feeling. It’s energizing to be one of the people that the public begins to trust and share information with.”

IAP2 USA AMBASSADOR PROGRAM RENEWED FOR 2019  

At the February IAP2 USA Board Meeting not only did we get a new slate of officers and board members, but we also got confirmation that the Board of Directors is pleased with the work of the 2018 Ambassador Program pilot and wants to continue it through 2019.

Foundations at 20: The Lyrics Have Been Updated but the Melody Remains the Same

By Lewis Michaelson, Marty Rozelle and Doug Sarno MCP3

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of what is now the IAP2 Foundations program. To celebrate, three who developed what is now the training standard offer this background.

“It was 20 years ago today, Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.” Well actually, it was 20 years ago that the IAP2 President, Marty Rozelle, President-Elect, Lewis Michaelson and the Executive Director, Doug Sarno got together to create a training for IAP2 based on its Core Values. The intent of the training was to guide best practices in the field of public participation, provide legitimacy for our practice and create a sorely needed new income stream for an organization that was struggling financially. Little did we imagine at the time what it would become...

Events:

THE PROGRAM IS SET for the 2019 IAP2 North American Conference!

Field trips! Workshops! Sessions with presenters from across North America and overseas! Even a crash course for decision makers! The program is set for the 2019 IAP2 North American Conference, September 4 - 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the theme is "Leveraging P2 to Create Thriving Communities". Register before June 30 to get early-bird pricing, and remember that your registration also gets you into the Core Values Award gala, Thursday, September 5. Check out the Schedule-at-a-Glance, register before June 30 to get the early-bird discount, and make sure you book your room at our host hotel, the Sheraton Charlotte, by August 4 to get the IAP2 discount -- US $149/night.

Something new this year: the Conference app. It works across all mobile devices and will give you schedule and event information and up-to-the-minute news on conference goings-on. It’s also one more opportunity to be a sponsor of the Conference: if you want to connect with P2 practitioners or show how your business or government department is serious about P2, this is a great way to do it. There’s an array of sponsorship opportunities to suit your budget and target audience. Download the sponsorship package here, and download the sponsorship form here.

Remember: students, members of AmeriCorps, staff members at not-for-profits and volunteers with community organizations can also apply for a scholarship to come to the conference! Apply here.

Call for 2020 IAP2 North American Conference Steering Committee Volunteers!

Do you enjoy planning themed large events? Would you like to help organize the 2020 Conference with a team of results-driven people? IAP2 Canada and IAP2 USA are seeking five motivated individuals for the 2020 IAP2 North American Conference Steering Committee.

As an IAP2 North American Conference Steering Committee member, you will oversee the conference planning, including the creation of subcommittees to assist in the delivery of a successful conference. The Conference will be held September 9 to 11, 2020, in Banff, Alberta.

For further information, check out the volunteer job description and if this sounds like it is made for you, fill out the expression of interest.Submissions are Due by May 8, 2019.

Save the Date!: IAP2 USA Annual General Meeting May 16

The IAP2 USA Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 16, at 11:30 - Noon PDT. The meeting will be online, so register here, and remember the two-stage process: follow the link in the confirmation email to receive your login information.

Webinar(s):