With the consent of the Exceutive Board I am encouraging you to review an op-ed piece on the AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) program that has been published on the Planetizen website. Its authors are Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP, of Virginia Tech, Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP of Rutgers, Jennifer Evans-Cowley, AICP, of Ohio State University, and Chris Steins, of Planetizen. It characterizes the administration of the CM program as “predatory, confiscatory, unfair and inequitable” and explains why, and goes on to propose a series of improvements to it.

You may view the op-ed piece at the following link: http://www.planetizen.com/node/29996

Please share your comments and/or opinions with me, so I may include them in the next newsletter, as well as bring them to the attention of the Chapter President's Council and APA National leadership.

Also take the time to read the message from AICP Board President, Graham Billingsley, which can accessed under Professional Development and the AICP's staff reponse to Planetizen Op-Ed.

As Chapter President, I have requested our state representatives to move forward on the Missouri County Planning Act. My letters to the Senate and House leadership are available for your review under the Legislative Affairs section. Now it is your turn. It is critical that you take the time to contact your representatives and urge their support of this bill. The information is at your finger tips. Take the time to tell the planning story. Now! Without your voice, without your action, our elected representatives have no incentive to act. Your involvement will make a difference.

The results of the November 2007 AICP Exam have been released. On behalf of the Execuitive Board,  I would like to extend a welcome to the new members of the AICP from the Missouri Chapter:

Lisa Atkinson, AICP
Dhaval Barbhaya, AICP
Surabhi Barbhaya, AICP
Christopher Eaker, AICP
Shannon Jaax, AICP
Shawn Seymour, AICP

Passing the exam is a mark of professional achievement, a milestone in a planner’s career that will contribute to many other accomplishments. Please be sure to extend well-deserved congratulations next time you see these planners.