The Cascade Chapter in Oregon just held its eighth “PI Works” conference Bend, Oregon, in Mid-June. I noted at this conference that the chapter’s successes have paralleled the craft brewing industry’s rise in the last 15 years Coincidence? Maybe.

Or maybe it’s the coffee, or maybe it’s the water, but there’s no doubt that shared time amongst Northwest practitioners undefined beers among peers, in some cases undefined has certainly spurred conversations that have advanced the public engagement practice here.  Is it so bad that we talk about public involvement and India Pale Ales in the same breath? It isn’t that much of a stretch? Say these out loud: (1) I’m a member of IAP2; then (2) If you’re having an India Pale Ale, I’ll have an IPA, too.

Joking aside, this organization faces challenges that all national organizations face, in having these conversations when we’re spread across the country and busy in our jobs every day.  The technologies are here, but the wide-spread understanding of how to use them is not…yet.  How will we move our practice forward nationally? IAP2 USA now has annual conferences, local events, training and webinars; and we’re working to expand these offerings. IAP2 USA’s presence on LinkedIn and Facebook offers our members additional opportunities to connect. We’re working with U.S. mayors on what cities and counties need to further promote a healthy and productive culture of engagement with community members. We’re working with the White House on best practices for federal agencies. How would you like to hear about these? How would YOU like to be involved?

Knowledge of IAP2 Core Values and guiding principles is already a “sought” attribute in job and proposal applications.  A team is working on the development of a certification program that we think is a next giant leap forward for our field. 119 practitioners weighed in with their thoughts on what our field core competencies need to be. That’s a great start.

In the upcoming months, we will conduct a survey of members. Give all of these questions some thought and help to shape the future of this organization.  I estimate that at any given time, we have at least 50 volunteers contributing to the organization and advancing the practice.  That’s outstanding, and our field would not be where it is today without this dedication. A lot is happening, but you’d expect that, since our field is evolving rapidly. We all need IAP2 to come together; and for that to happen, we need you. Step up. Join us for a virtual beer … or coffee … or an IAP2 IPA, too.

• IAP2 USA Certification Program
• IAP2 Webinar + Core Value Awards
• Interesting Links
• Social Media 101
• Upcoming Events
• Call for Volunteers
• Who We Are 

• THE NEWEST NEWS!
• IAP2 NA Conference
• IAP2 Talks
• Chapter News
• Upcoming Opportunities
• Online Resources 
• Social Media 

We hit our goal of 100 participants!

The IAP2 USA Board of Directors convened a Task Force in November 2013 to develop recommendations for developing a professional certification program.  A Task Force of 13 people (which includes two people from IAP2 Canada and one from IAP2 Southern Africa) has met a total of 16 times (!) so far.  Our most recent effort has been to survey members and other professionals to solicit input for development into the “core competencies” that will shape the application and assessment process we will recommend.

To read more about next steps, click here. 

July Webinar: Using Visuals to Engage and Inform Communities

Visuals of complex ideas and information stimulate creative thinking and help people engage more deeply and collaboratively.  

This webinar will share examples of visuals used to facilitate contentious public meetings and used in the visioning process and strategic planning. How can visuals help you tell the story? 

Learn which method is most effective. Also included are valuable insights into the five stages of issue engagement with community decision making.

John Blakinger is an organizational consultant who specializes in helping groups achieve their strategic intent using more effective and productive decision-making processes and tools.  John is the Co-founder of CivilSay.  www.civilsay.net

To register, click here. 

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Core Value Awards Update: Review Underway

The 2014 Core Value Awards are in full swing, with submittals under review and announcements of winners to be made in Winnipeg at the IAP2 North America Conference Core Values Awards Gala, September 30, 2014.  

Our judging panel includes seasoned practitioners with many years of experience and research expertise.  They bring great wisdom and insight to this volunteer work.  

We are appreciative of the hours of service by: 

1. Dr. Jim Creighton
   
2. Mike Huggins
   
3. Lewis Michelson
   
4. Joel Mills
   
5. Dr. Marty Rozelle

To read more, click here. 

Links to interesting articles or activities:

"Simply put, the research shows that citizen engagement initiatives make life better…for everyone." http://ow.ly/yjWVO

"We need a real digital public square, not one hosted by Facebook, shaped by Google and snooped on by the NSA," writes Micah Sifry in his new book -http://ow.ly/yjVgP.  "If we don’t build one, then any notion of democracy as ‘rule by the people’ will no longer be meaningful.  We will be a nation of Big Data, by Big Email, for the powers that be.”

Nan Ellin is Professor and Chair of the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning at University of Utah.  Her IAP2 Talk demonstrates how changing our orientation - to focus on assets and the  future rather than problems and the past - can benefit society.  This inspiring talk provides examples from her work as an urban designer to illustrate how changing perspective can move communities from sustainability to prosperity. To see the video, click here.

As IAP2 USA President Doug Zenn noted, The Cascade Chapter in Oregon just held its eighth “PI Works” conference Bend, Oregon, in Mid-June. The PI Works conference was a huge success as stakeholder engagement pros met for a rousing day and a half in beautiful Bend, Oregon. This was the 8th PI Works regional conference, the Pacific Northwest's signature event for public participation, presented by Cascade Chapter of IAP2 USA.

If you're interested to learn more about the conference, or how you can do something similar to this in your region, please email us at info@iap2usa.org.

Call for Leaders in Gulf Coast Chapter

If you're in the Gulf Coast Chapter and are interested in getting more involved with individuals in your area-- please email us at info@iap2usa.org to see how you can become a Chapter Leader.