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  1. Women & Planning Division
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  3. Executive Committee

Division Committees

Volunteer for a Division Committee!

Considering volunteering? Complete and submit a brief Volunteer Interest form at the link below! Please contact us at women.apa@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Volunteer Interest Form

Committee Descriptions

The descriptions below provide an overview of Division committee activities and focus areas. When relevant, we've identified when each committee is most active. Several committees have more notable peaks and valleys in activity. Please use these descriptions as a guide. Volunteers are welcome to participate in more than one committees or initiative!

* = High priority need

Communications Committee

Busiest period: Consistent activity, with peaks around big events (i.e., NPC)
This committee works directly with the Director of Communications and supports the Division's numerous outreach and communications tasks. Sub-committees or task leads are established for specific modes of communication.
Example volunteer activities: 

  • Quarterly newsletter editor or contributor: Help curate, design, and publish the Division's quarterly e-newsletter shared with over 4,000 subscribers using MailChimp.
  • Social media editor or contributor: Help create and publish Division communications and announcements on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
  • Email editor: Help manage and update the Division's roster and email distribution list, create and send e-blasts and announcements to over 4,000 subscribers using MailChimp.
  • Website editor: Maintain and update the Division's website (using Wagtail) once a month.

Programs Committee

Busiest period: Consistent with peaks of higher activity around large events (i.e., NPC, Women's History Month)
This committee supports the curation, planning, promotion, and facilitation of the Division's events and programs.
Example volunteer activities: 

  • Book Club support/manager: Work with members to identify books; facilitate and lead discussions; communicate with members.
  • Coffee Breaks support/manager: Identify and schedule guests; 
  • Mentorship Program support: Support management, promotion, and facilitation of Division's mentorship program.
  • CM support: manage credit provider status, schedule and facilitate educational offerings for CM credit.
  • Curate and facilitate annual Women's History Month programming.

National Planning Conference Committee

Busiest period: January - April, annually
This committee supports planning, preparation, and facilitation of the Division's annual slate of events at the National Planning Conference including educational sessions, annual reception, service activities, meet and greets, member recruitment, business meeting, and more.
Example volunteer activities: 

  • Pre-conference planning
  • Reception and event planning and hosting
  • Communication and promotions (i.e., social media and photography)
  • Session greeters 
  • Coordinating with Divisions and Chapters 

Note: You do not have to attend the conference to volunteer for this committee.

FAICP Nominating Committee

Busiest period: May - August in nomination years

This Committee is traditionally led by the Division’s Vice Chair and is responsible for facilitating WPD's award winning FAICP nominations program. FAICP nominations are notoriously complex and time-consuming for nominees. Our program and application toolkit smooths the way and provides candidates with hands-on mentorship and a collaborative enviroment for giving and receiving feedback.

Example volunteer activities:

Soliciting interest statements from eligible Division members.

Soliciting FAICP mentors.

Communicating with nominees about deadlines and deliverables.

Editing and proofreading application materials.

QA/QC prior to nomination submissions.

Helping draft Division nomination letters for nomination packets.

Tracking Division FAICP nomination statistics and general FAICP demographic data to measure progress towards gender parity in FAICP.

Collaborating with other Divisions or Chapters to jointly support diverse applicants.

Note: Experience with FAICP nominations is not required. This opportunity is also very useful for anyone planning their own FAICP nomination in the next few years!

Untold Stories Project Committee*

Busiest period: Mostly consistent throughout the year. May be some peaks around events and promotions.
This committee manages and promotes the Division's Untold Stories Project, a digital archive memorializing, cataloguing, and sharing stories of leadership, mentorship, teaching, creativity, and contributions to the planning profession. Stories are submitted to the archive via a digital form and responses are transformed into easy-to-read, dynamic snapshots highlighting the submitter's personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to planning.
Example volunteer activities: 

  • Overall project and grant management. 
  • Monitoring submissions.
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Writing and editing.

Note: This is a unique opportunity to lead and leave your mark on a signature project with lots of potential! Compensation is available for some positions.

Membership Committee

Busiest period: Relatively consistent.
This committee supports new member recruitment, member retention, and member satisfaction activities.
Example volunteer activities: 

  • Help plan, administer, and promote biannual member survey (every other year).
  • Plan and execute creative member recruitment strategies.
  • Reach out to members to get feedback.
  • Help repond to member issues, requests, etc.
  • Track and report member statistics and trends.
  • Gauge the perceived "value" of the Division and provides guidance for improvements to programs and resources.
  • Support member-focused programs (i.e., FAICP nomination committee).

Funding/Financial Support Committee

Busiest period: Periodic, with peaks of activity around active funding opportunities and sponsorship solicitation.
This committee promotes and awards the Division's funding opportunities and solicits sponsorships.
Example volunteer activities:

  • Administering and promoting funding opportunities.
  • Managing and reviewing funding award applications.
  • Helping develop annual sponsorship prospectus and sponsor benefits program.
  • Soliciting sponors.
  • Supporting sponsor liasion/ satisfaction efforts.