APA Scholarships

Hey UPRers,

Just to remind you that APA offers a number of scholarships for planning students. Maybe over the break is a good time to think about applying for them if you are eligible. I don't think all of the listings are quite up to date, but I see that links are provided so you may follow those if you are interested.

Also the Orlando Section offers a scholarship here are the link: http://www.floridaplanning.org/Orlando/index.asp

I'm pretty sure the Tampa area chapter does too, but I can't find a link for it.

Good luck and get some $$$!

Missed the Baum Lecture...

Photos from the event are on the SPA FB page. But some highlights...

Rescheduled SPA Meeting...Nov 14th 3 PM ARCH 439

Sorry for the last minute postponement, but it was not possible to hold a meeting last week. This week we will be discussing some issues that will be forthcoming in your time here:

T-shirts (Update)
Budget (For 2008-2009)
Winter Social (Dec. 1)
National Conference
Howell Baum Lecture (Nov 15th)
Curriculum (Critical issues on requirements)
Alumni relations
Dept. Marketing
SPA week (as suggested at faculty meeting this week)
Mentoring program
Spring pre-plan

Howell Baum Lecture...November 15th

Final Call for Tshirts...

Hello All,

SPA has extended its deadline for SPA T-Shirt orders to thisTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1st. Please follow the instructions providedon the sheet that was left in your mailbox regarding how to orderyour T-Shirt.If you have have any questions regarding T-Shirt orders contactMarcus Oberlander at mo@ufl.edu.Don't miss your opportunity to sport a SPA T-shirt!

Next SPA Meeting November 7th...

Next SPA Meeting will be Wednesday November 7th in ARCH 439 at 3:00 PM (Following Growth Management). See you there.

Painting the 34th Street Wall?

Someone suggested that SPA collaborate in a timeless UF tradition and paint the 34th Street Wall in honor of Planners. Any ideas? Is there an interest in engaging in this UF Tradition? It's something on your checklist of things to do before you graduate. Anywho, leave some notes on that.

Transportation Field Trip...October 19

Hosted by American Society of Civil Engineers - UF Chapter...

Attendees will need to be at Weil at 6:00 AM, and we will get back around 9:30 to 10:00 PM.

We will be visiting a wastewater treatment plant currently under construction, the TMC and Sunwatch center at the Turnpike office, the I4-408 construction project, HNTB's office for a design/build presentation (and lunch), a bridge and roadway project on the 408 with OOCEA, and a very nice dinner with Kimley Horn and Associates at Sam Sneads.

From a transportation perspective, we will be visiting two heavy roadway construction projects (I4-408 and OOCEA), the DOT traffic ops center (TMC and Sunwatch), and both HNTB and Kimley Horn are respected transportation consulting engineering firms. A signup sheet is in the ASCE office (Weil 453) and the trip costs $25. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will all be provided.

Let me know if you have any questions about the project.

Regards,

Dan Jordan

ASCE 1st VP

URP Website review

Hey,

As mentioned at the last SPA meeting, UF URP is looking to revamp their website. What is asked of everyone is to provide comments as to:

What is missing?
From other school websites you looked at during your grad school decision making process, what struck you from their website? Was there some information or organization that was impressive?
What is too much on our website?
What kind of information do you feel is important to be on the UF URP website? (For current students, prospective students, alumni, faculty/staff)?

Please leave me comments regarding this. Thanks.

APA Young Planners

National APA would like to seek our comments. Please leave some, so I can forward to National APA.

---------

Young Planners Group
Action Plan

Charge: To identify what Young Planners want from APA, what APA can do for them and to recommend messages, programs and services of interest to young planners.

Work Tasks:
This may involve but is not limited to, the following tasks.

1. To evaluate the issue of young planners and their engagement in the organization by studying the following:
What are the professional needs of young planners?
How is APA currently meeting those needs?
Identify possible gaps between the needs of young planners and the services and products available at APA.
Identify programs or services that may be of interest to young planners.
Identify how young planners are getting active in the organization, nationally and through the various components.
Identify if any barriers exist for young planners in getting involved in the organization.
Identify potential areas of contribution of young planners to the organization.

2. Prepare a report on findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors at their meeting in Las Vegas.

3. Conduct a session on the topic at the national conference.