The Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA MD) and the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) announce a Call for Session Proposals for the 2024 joint planning conference, to be held October 20 through 22 at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Across the state, citizen planning boards work with professional practitioners and state and local planning departments to tackle 21st century planning challenges and to implement change. This year, APA MD and the MPCA have joined forces to celebrate the collaborative work of citizen and professional planners over the course of this two-and-a-half-day event.

We hope you will be inspired by this year’s theme: Two Tracks, One Destination: Citizen and Professional Planners Working Together to Shape Sustainable Development Across Maryland

We aim to address current issues, trends, challenges, and solutions that are shaping the work of professional and citizen planners, and we need YOU to make that happen. Attendees will include planning commissioners, board of zoning appeals members, historic district commissioners, professional planners, Maryland county and municipal staff, and planning students.

We encourage you to propose new ideas, new presentation formats, solutions, tools, interactive sessions, and mobile workshops that engage our state and/or the Howard County landscape.

We encourage you to propose new ideas, new presentation formats, solutions, tools, interactive sessions, and mobile workshops that engage our state and/or the Howard County landscape.

Submissions should identify a presentation team (one to five people), focus on a topic that expands on this year’s theme, be formatted for either 15 minutes, 45 minutes, or 1.5 hours, and propose an engaging presentation.

Note that the 15-minute Lightning Round proposals will be combined with other Lightning Round proposals into a session of 90 minutes (15 minutes per speaker/topic, 5 speakers maximum.

If you believe your session could qualify for AICP CM credits, please note this so we can work with you to verify eligibility.

DOWNLOAD FULL CALL FOR PROPOSALS Document

Submission Deadlines and Details:

The deadline to submit your proposal is June 17 (Extended). The Committee will notify proposal submitters (session chairs) of its decision no later than July 1. The Committee will only accept proposals which are submitted electronically to contact@apamaryland.org.

Questions? Please send inquiries to contact@apamaryland.org.

Sponsoring the APA MD and the MPCA’s Joint Conference is an exciting way to help us celebrate the work of professional and citizen planners while increasing your visibility among the organizations’ hundreds of members from across Maryland and the D.C. region. Sponsorship opens the door to our expansive professional networks that also engage in a variety of training, professional development, and networking opportunities each year.

Your organization’s sponsorship plays an essential role in creating an enriching conference experience for the professional and citizen planners who will join us at Turf Valley Resort this year. As a sponsor, we invite you to take advantage of the following opportunities:

• Network with 300+ professional and citizen planners, university students, and community leaders throughout the two-and-a-half-day event. Enjoy the opportunity to share information about your firm with potential clients and prospective employees.

• Ensure the conference provides a high-quality and engaging learning environment for all attendees

• Mingle with other sponsors, companies, and organizations throughout the conference

• Demonstrate your commitment to MD APA and MPCA and all they offer to advance professional and citizen planners throughout Maryland

• Connect with fellow planners, showcase your organization’s expertise, and demonstrate your leadership and achievements in the planning profession

• Promote brand recognition through a variety of exclusive sponsorship and branding opportunities

For more information, download full conference sponsorship packet.