Page 11 - Mar-Apr24 Vol 41 No 7

Over the past several months, each delegate and more back-and-forth Summation
APWA diligently has been working discussion. Shilhanek, was on hand Overall, the Council of Chapters
on a complete website transition. The to help guide the discussions, along meeting was a successful and highly
national and chapter organizations have with APWA Board of Directors Brown, informative gathering. While the
had challenges during the transition, Garland and Neal. perspective of the other chapters was
with still much more work to be done. The primary topic of discussion was certainly missed, the smaller gathering
The attendees had the opportunity the importance of the Pace Award and allowed for much more in-depth
to spend time with Shilhanek to its utility as a guide for chapter best discussion among those represented,
work through and understand the practices. Six of the eleven chapters in and revealed that the chapters making
current state of the organization’s Regions III & IV won the PACE award up Regions III & IV have many
technological resources. Chapters were last year and were able to offer details similarities. The opportunity to get
able to understand the path forward and tips on achieving chapter success. to know one another and learn more
and timeline for the transition to be The five chapters who did not earn the about the successes and challenges of
complete. PACE also discussed their challenges each of the chapters in our regions was
In the day and time we currently and goals for the coming year. Brown illuminating and invaluable.
find ourselves, technological resources led a discussion to gather feedback from TCAPWA Chapter Leaders bring
and the strategy to engage members delegates for APWA on how to improve back this valuable experience to not
“where they are at” includes the very the PACE award process in order to only enhance the organizational
important tools of social media, help more chapters achieve PACE performance for our chapter, but to
national and chapter websites, and recognition. also meet the needs of our members.
email communication. Chapter leaders The highlight of the Council of Our goal is to provide the most value
were offered information on resources, Chapters meeting was the individual to our members and stakeholders,
best practices and shared success from chapter reports. Each chapter delegate serving our membership well through
both national APWA and Region II presented an annual report to the the organization that serves our Public
and IV chapter members. These shared group summarizing the successes and Works professionals.
experiences help to strengthen the challenges facing their chapter during In summary, the Roger Clark
foundation of success for each chapter, the past year. Again, the new format Leadership Conference and Council
and the organization as a whole. worked to everyone’s advantage as there of Chapters combined meetings offer
APWA Council of Chapters was a robust question-and-answer the regional chapters an opportunity
For the Council of Chapters’ winter period following each of the chapter to dive down into our challenges and
meeting, APWA opted for a more reports, allowing for greater exchange of develop strong relationships to share
ideas and mutual encouragement.
focused regional approach rather than The Tennessee chapter’s report, our successes. Snoderly summed up
the typical large meeting of all North presented by chapter delegate Bradshaw, the opportunity and organization well
American chapter delegates. This highlighted the success of the annual when saying, “Networking is a key
dovetailed nicely with the biannual conference in Nashville. Bradshaw component of APWA. It is important
Roger Clark Leadership Summit jointly discussed TCAPWA’s successful to have connections with peers within
held by Region III & IV. Most of the awards program, scholarships, branch the industry to see both what others
chapter delegates sat in on Monday’s meetings, education sessions, PACE are doing well, and to get feedback on
leadership training for a refresher Award, TPWI program, and TPW issues.”
on APWA structure and then spent Magazine, among other initiatives. “There are really no problems that
Tuesday discussing Council of Chapters Bradshaw identified membership someone else has not experienced in
topics. development and leadership the industry; you are never alone in
The regional meeting format meant development within the chapter as areas your issues and concerns,” he said. This
that instead of 62 chapters crowding in which he thinks the chapter can sentiment lends itself to the heart of
into a room, there were only 11. This improve. the organization and the unmeasurable
led to increased participation from metric of our collective success.

APWA First APWA National Public APWA Fallen APWA Chapters/
Responders Awards Works Week Heros Strategic Plan Regions Map

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