From AICP’s President
Roger K. Hedrick, AICP, ASLA	© & Author Info

It is with great pleasure that I can say for the third year in a row, AICP Press is able to provide you with the opportunity to obtain the National Conference Proceedings. And, with the help of technology we are able to expand the availability and distribution of the Proceedings. It continues to be my view that provision of the Proceedings is something that most planners and those interested in the American planning movement will continue to want on an annual basis. Even more importantly, for those who can not always attend our annual get together, the 1999 Proceedings offer a snapshot in time of the current state of affairs in planning as evidenced by our Annual Conference.

In 1997, only 300 Conference Proceedings were published. Last year nearly 1,000 copies of the Proceedings were printed and needless to say are now collector’s items. This year, for the first time, AICP Press has produced a CD ROM for all fully paid conference registrants. It is anticipated that over 4,000 CDs will be made available to those who attend the conference or want them. Yes, AICP Press will continue to selectively publish and produce papers and perhaps a journal of interest to planning practitioners and academics based upon need and demand. And, there are more projects being considered for the coming year by AICP’s Multimedia Task Force as chaired by Karen Fernandez, AICP. Stay tuned to the AICP Website at www. planning .org for the latest information.

This year’s conference in Seattle is also historical for AICP. Although not fully illuminated within the confines of these Proceedings, the historical significance of FAICP must be noted here. For the first time ever, forty-six exemplary members of AICP are being inducted into the College of Fellows of AICP. In my view, the formation of FAICP is the most significant new AICP membership program since the merger of AIP with ASPO in 1978. I personally want to thank Sue Schwartz, AICP and her five-member task force for being able to implement the concept and challenges presented to them in less than two years. Credit must also be given to each of your AICP Commissioners for their enthusiastic support.

Another first this year is the editing of the Proceedings by University faculty. I want to also personally thank Mary Kihl and Bill Kasson of Arizona State University for their hard work and significant contribution to the field and profession of planning. One of the important strengths of AICP is the willingness of so many of our members to freely give their time and energy on behalf of public service. There are currently nearly thirty volunteer AICP task forces, committees, or juries working diligently to advance the planning profession. They exemplify AICP’s finest traditions of volunteerism and member involvement.

Finally, AICP Press owes a debt of gratitude to Integraph. Without the financial support of their Education Grant program, the mass production of the Conference CDs would not be possible.

AICP’s mission into the third millenium and beyond is to assure the public of quality professional planning and the provision of support for professional planners as the leading advocates for planning in communities throughout the nation and perhaps the world. The AICP Commission proposes to carry out this vision in four general program areas: certification of professional planners, accreditation of university planning programs, ethical standards and awareness and professional planning education.

It is in the area of planning education and practice that perhaps we now face our greatest challenge. While the provision of Conference Proceedings is one way to provide this valuable communication vehicle, there are of course many more possibilities. Perhaps most promising is the interest of the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) in increasing communication with AICP and planning practitioners. My hope is that you and your colleagues will share your thoughts and suggestions with us concerning how we can best improve communication, service and support to you and to all others who want it.

I promise you that we will listen and act!

Sincerely,

Roger K. Hedrick, AICP, ASLA, President
The American Institute of Certified Planners
1997-1999

(Mr. Hedrick is a Community Builder Fellow with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Louisiana State Coordinator’s Office, New Orleans.)