Training Invitation - Introduction to Strategic Sustainability Planning

Hi APA Members and Sustainability Practitioners,

Are you interested in a 1-hour, web-based introduction to strategic sustainability planning? You have two options: (1) free introductory webinars (1CM), or (2) Sustainability 101, an award-winning e-learning course at the promotional cost of $55 (CM credit pending), as described below. There's also a 3-hour intermediate-level e-learning course at the full pice of $98.

Free 1-Hr Webinars (1CM)

• Aug. 9, TNS-USA, 11am-12pm(PST), 1 AICP CM Credit: sign up (scroll to bottom of page).
• Sept. 22, TNS-Canada, 10:30-11:30 am (PST), (no CM credit) sign up 
• Dec. 6, TNS-USA, 4-5pm (PST). 1 AICP CM Credit: sign up  (scroll to bottom of page).

If you sign up for the introductory webinars and would like a little email exchange or blog posting/commenting between APA members, email me and i'll arrange something (scott-e@sustainability2030.com).

E-Learning (2 CM pending)

Sign up by July 30th and join the APA California Northern section’s Sustainability Committee in a group of 10 or more to receive a 45 percent promotional discount on The Natural Step’s award-winning, 1-hour, e-learning, Sustainability 101 course (details here and here).

The e-learning courses are a next step beyond the introductory webinars in learning about strategic sustainability. In an effort to provide planning professionals with access to the powerful TNS Framework for incorporating strategic sustainability into their work, The Natural Step Network USA became a Certification Maintenance Provider for the American Planners Association in 2010. Review their community planning initiative, learning resources, and current course offerings for training beyond the excellent e-learning foundation.

Send an email to scott-e@sustainability2030.com for details on how to sign up to be part of the Northern Section group and receive the promotional rate.

I highly recommend this course. I’ve taken the 3-hour course and found it to be a remarkably rich implementation of web-based education. I also recommend it too, but there is no promotional rate now. Email me for questions, concerns, suggestions: scott-e@sustainability2030.com.

The fee includes unlimited access to the course and supplementary materials for one year. As part of the promotion, we will also receive a 1-hour group consultation (conference call).

For those interested in a solo affair, you are more than welcome to take the course, drop into the consulting call, and explore the resources more fully over the coming year.

For those interested in a little more structure and interaction, the Committee will organize an optional web-based dialogue (as simple as email, or as high-tech as a webinar; TBD) to introduce the topic and set up taking the 1-hour course, to debrief/set up the consulting session, and possibly, to have a final email exchange or discussion.

For such an option to work, we would need to follow a schedule. Unless the proposal below would not work for the majority of participants interested in a more interactive option, we would proceed as follows.

1. By August 2nd: Committee sends you email welcome/introduction. 
2. By August 30th: Take the course. Record reactions and questions.
3. By September 15th: Summarize your experience, questions etc. Email to group.
4. Late September: Committee synthesizes the group’s experience; sends to group and TNS.
5. End of September: Participate in the TNS consulting session.
6. Following Week: Email debrief/final thoughts/suggestions for next training.

Tentatively, depending on resources, etc., we could also organize two webinar debriefs, probably during a mid-week lunch hour (arbitrarily say Wednesday):

• Weel of Sept. 19th: 1 hour debrief webinar.
• Week following TNS Consultation/Discussion: Webinar debrief.

So, send me an email before July 30th ( scott-e@sustainability2030.com) to sign up or for questions, and we can do a little strategic sustainability planning training together.

Cheers,

Scott