PRESIDENT’S CORNER
By: Carlos Rodrigues, NJAPA Chapter President (Elect)

Dear colleagues and fellow planners:

As you may suspect, I am the new President (elect) of the NJAPA. After all, I was running unopposed for this position. Frankly, I wish there had been some competition. It would have been reassuring to know that my colleagues were casting their votes for me -- based on my platform, outlined in my position statement.

That notwithstanding, I respect the electoral process and accept your choice. I am deeply honored to be the next President of the NJAPA. I take this position very seriously. I will work hard to advance the objectives I outlined in my position statement.

For starters, I will work aggressively to expand the membership in the chapter. All of you planners out there with lapsed memberships in the NJAPA can expect a letter urging you to rejoin the organization. (Many others who are not technically planners, but are nevertheless part of the planning community will be approached as well). If that doesn’t work, you may receive a phone call from me, or even a personal visit. I am a nice guy, but I don’t take no for an answer.

I plan to work on a number of other fronts, which I will keep you aware of, both in this column and through other means. You have elected me, and I take that seriously. By the same token, I expect a lot from you. I count on the NJAPA membership for the energy and support that will drive this leadership position for the next three years. I will consult with you at every critical juncture in this process.

A basic premise of my position statement is to make the NJAPA a more meaningful and rewarding organization to be a member of. Of course, NJAPA is a volunteer organization, so it depends largely on its membership to get things done. If you have ideas about what the NJAPA should be doing – in the legislative arena, in terms of professional development, or in any other area -- I want to hear them. Please feel free to contact me. The best way to reach me is through my home e-mail, at pres@njapa.org. If you would like to see NJAPA undertake new initiatives, please be ready to step up to the plate and volunteer your time. While I appreciate good ideas, I would like to see them backed up by your efforts. I believe we have a tremendous potential as an organization to influence public policy in a positive way and change the way the general public thinks about planning issues, but we do not yet have a professional staff to carry out any significant actions. So we must rely on our distinguished membership to do this, for the foreseeable future.

Like Ebenezer Howard, I believe in a better tomorrow, and I am convinced planning is an integral part of the solution to many of the problems we collectively face, as a society. I need each of you to help me and the NJAPA find the right path. Please stay engaged. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these ideas and to seeing you at the NJAPA annual conference on November 5 in New Brunswick.