Welcome to 2019! I begin the year as the not so new president of Western Planning Resources, the publisher of Western Planner, having served in this capacity several years ago. Many thanks to Angela Parker, our outgoing president, who has relocated from Alaska to Wyoming and remains on the board.

Western Planner begins 2019 with great promise along with some challenges that will provide opportunities.

2019 will bring transitions as new board members join and others change positions. Please looks at the website for an updated listing and contact information for the board. The board will meet in Denver on March 9 at the La Quinta airport hotel. I invite our sponsors and supporters to weigh in and let me or other board members know what you want from Western Planner, and what you may be prepared to give as well.

Our long-time editor, Rachel Girt, will be leaving the Western Planner shortly as she has accepted a position with the newly-elected governor of Wyoming. I, along with the entire board wish Rachel “happy trails” and thank her for a tenure of excellent and professional service that saw the Western Planner transition from a traditional printed journal to a captivating web-based network. Needless to say, let me know if you have suggestions for filling this position. We will be posting a job announcement shortly.

I will be wearing another hat early in my presidency: that of conference coordinator for the 2019 Western Planner & APA New Mexico conference to be held September 8-11th in Santa Fe. The conference theme is “Planning for a Changing Future," and it will focus on “Planning Our Places” as this should connect present realities to desired futures, whether local, regional or tribal. Stay tuned to this website for further details soon about the hotel and call for proposals!

Let me remind you that Western Planner is no longer a subscriber-based organization. We rely on your support in at least three ways: being a sponsor by donating; writing articles that are intended by and for planners in the network, and attending and participating in our annual conference.

I look forward to serving as your president this year and next and wish you all a prosperous and satisfying 2019. May we all strive for better planning and a “more perfect union” as we rise to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Dan Pava, FAICP

Published in January 2019

Changes and opportunities facing the WP in the 2019