Call for Nominations!

Serving as an elected leader in APA offers a tremendous opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your networks, and work directly to strengthen the impact of the organization. The portal for candidate self-nominations will be open through Friday, May 8 at https://apa.directnominations.net/, and includes all the groups and positions up for election this year. Learn more at https://www.planning.org/elections/

Call for Nominations: Call for Board of Directors

Call for Nominations

The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association is a membership group of about 600 persons across the upper part of New York State. We are a Chapter of the National American Planning Association (APA) are required to hold elections for the officer positions every two years. The terms are for two years, beginning the January of 2027. We are a completely volunteer board and have administrative assistance to help with organization and day to day activities. There are five different sections: Capital, Central, Southern, Genesee Valley, Western. We encourage everyone to become involved in both the sections and in the Chapter board. Involvement with APA is a great way to meet other practicing planners from across the state.

In March of 2026, the nominating committee will begin to solicit individuals interested APA members in running for the various elected offices. We meet typically a zoom call bi-monthly for on Friday mornings from 10:30 am until about noon depending upon activity. There is an annual conference in October hosted on a rotating basis of the various sections around the state where we all meet in person. As a volunteer organization, there are committee assignments and everyone donates time for specific tasks as requested by the President.

Please see the NYU chapter Web site at www.nyupstateplanning.org – “About Us” – “Chapter Board” to see the various positions the current bylaws that are available to this next election cycle. We anticipate the elections to be held in the fall of 2026 and the two-year terms to begin this coming January.  If you have any specific questions, please email me at mlongaicp@icloud.com.

Michael Long, FAICP, Officer Emeritus

NYU Chapter Elections Committee.

WNY Section Updates: Student/Professional Career Recap!

We had a FANTASTIC turnout at our Student/Professional Career Workshop this past Monday night! We want to first thank all the professional volunteers for their time and sound advice. We also commend all the students who attended outside their class and free time to participate. We hope the feedback on resumes and practice with interviews helped to foster new thoughts and that some lasting connections were made!

Our panelists were excellent in providing some experiential and professional knowledge. Shout out to Angie Hernandez, Angela Keppel, Jonathan Bleuer and Laura Wilson for going above and beyond to help us.

Lastly, thank you to the UB School of Architecture and Planning and the UB Office of Alumni Engagement for providing the space and refreshments for our attendees.

Stayed tuned for some other joint events coming up soon!

APA Website Updates and CM Credits

As APA continues the transition to a new online platform, we want to keep you informed about known functionality issues that may affect CM administration and credit claiming, as well as the steps being taken to address them.

Member Login & Password Reset Issues

Some members continue to have trouble logging in or resetting passwords, which may temporarily prevent access to the CM system. 

• Members should allow additional time for password reset emails and check spam or junk folders.

• APA Customer Service can assist with login issues at customerservice@planning.org.

• Due to higher-than-normal inquiry volume, response times may be longer than usual.

AICP Member Grace Period

 Restoration of CM provider dashboard access is underway, with full access expected by mid-January. 

• To account for these disruptions, the CM grace period has been extended to May 31, 2026, providing additional time for providers to enter CM activities and for members to claim credits.The grace period is January 1, 2026, to May 31, 2026.

• There are no changes to CM program requirements or criteria.

• Members experiencing persistent issues with claiming CM credits should contact AICPCM@planning.org.

CM Event Approvals

Requests and submissions for CM event approvals will be delayed until the CM website functionality is restored. We simply cannot approve anything until this is fixed. Your patience is appreciated.

2026-2027 Work Plan Approved

At its meeting on November 21, 2025, the APA Upstate New York Board of Directors approved its new work plan for 2026-2027 and its 2026 budget. The Chapter is investing in stronger advocacy, better education, and a deeper connection with and among members. We are committed to ensuring a real return on investment for your membership. The work plan focuses the Chapter’s work in the next two years into five areas. These areas are:

1. Elevating & Advocating

2. Engaging & Communicating

3. Growing & Advancing

4. Governing & Compliance

5. Coordinating with National

“We are laser-focused on maximizing the return on investment for your membership dues,” said Chapter President Sean Maguire, AICP, CEcD. “This newly approved budget and plan reflects significant increases in investment toward what matters most to our community: stronger member engagement, impactful advocacy, and expanded educational opportunities.”

News: APA Sustainable Communities Division Call for Nominations!

The APA Sustainable Communities Division is pleased to announce the opening of the nomination period for the 13th Annual Awards for Excellence in Sustainability! 

The awards honor projects, policies, plans, and people who show exemplary leadership and inspiration in sustainability planning and implementation. The 2026 Award categories are listed below. More information can be found in the information packet.

• State and Regional Award

• Community Award

• Environment, Climate, and Energy Award

• Quality of Life Award

• Policy, Law, and Tool Award

• Student Award 

We encourage everyone to consider nominating your own work, or the work of others. You can learn more on the SCD website, apascd.com/awards. 

Deadline for submission: 11:59 PM (ET) on Monday, January 12, 2026.