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Committees do the work . . . .
NAEP Launches New Committee Structure
by Ron Deverman
Background and the Journey
In recent years, under the leadership of the NAEP Executive Committee and Board of Directors, we have moved confidently forward with our strategic initiatives: refining our association’s national identity, growing our relationships with NAEP chapters, and providing enhanced benefits to our members at every level of our association and affiliated chapters. We have been engaged in an amazing journey to create a more enduring, meaningful and productive future together as environmental professionals. In July 2011, we decided to form a task force to review and evaluate the accomplishments, successes, and working structure of our existing committees and working groups. The result of that “hard look” review was a dynamic initiative to restructure our 30 existing committees and working groups into eight national committees that accomplish the same products and services for the association and better nurture the cross-cutting professional dialogue we need as we face the environmental challenges of the 21st century.
The Executive Committee especially commends the fine work that so many talented NAEP members have accomplished for the association over the years as they stepped up to serve and be leaders of our committees and working groups. Having been involved in this association over 22 years, I know from first-hand experience that NAEP includes the best minded, most heartfelt and experienced professionals in the country. We have never been short of talent, creativity and energy. And we are confident our new Committee structure better focuses this talent into more unified, energized groups of committed, hard-working leaders and NAEP champions. We believe our eight national Committees will effectively serve the association well into the future, be more effectively supported by our national office, and demonstrate to all NAEP’s passion for the environmental professions and our deep sense of community within the professional relationships we create.
The New Committees
One focus of NAEP’s mission is “…developing the highest standards of ethics and proficiency in the environmental professions.” This mission is exemplified in the work of our national Committees. The eight new Committees listed below include the interest/practice areas, focus of the Committee, and leadership contact information. We encourage all NAEP members to seriously consider getting involved in a Committee that excites you and holds similar professional interest for you and your career growth.
| NAEP Committees |
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- Education- The Education Committee focuses on providing training and education opportunities through our NAEP webinar series, career development seminars, and our national/international dialogues and exchanges. It is committed to promoting the growth and advancement of environmental professionals by providing education for NAEP professionals, student members, affiliate Chapter members and other environmental professionals. To learn more about the Education Committee, please click HERE.
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- Membership - The Membership Committee recommends strategies for enhancing NAEP membership for our general membership and affiliated Chapters. The Committee continually evaluates our current services and benefits through member surveys to ensure our members’ needs are met. It develops member incentives and creates new benefits that help retain members and add value to their professional careers. To learn more about the Membership Committee, please click HERE.
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- Awards- Our Awards Committee is the benchmark of professional accomplishment and environmental achievement. For decades NAEP has recognized the efforts of hard-working and ambitious professionals, practitioners and students in the environmental fields through our Environmental Excellence, Zirzow, and Fellows awards, and the Jim Roberts Scholarship. To learn more about the Awards Committee, please click HERE.
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- Conference – The Conference Committee is committed to ensuring the continued successful planning, implementation, and conduct of NAEP’s Annual Conferences well into the future. This Committee is led by Carol Snead and Jennifer Lundberg and is comprised of Permanent Conference committee members and members of several Annual Conference planning committees. The leaders and members of the Conference Committee work together to successfully plan and run each Annual Conference. To learn more about the Conference Committee, please click HERE.
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- NAEP Operations - The Operations Committee handles the administrative activities of NAEP, such as Board elections, developing the Association budget, and other finance matters and audits. The Committee has initiated new efforts for board succession planning and new board member training. To learn more about the NAEP Operations Committee, please click HERE.
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- Chapters Committee - The Chapters Committee provides support and exemplary leadership to our NAEP affiliated Chapters at the multi-state, state, or regional level, and our student Chapters that are affiliated with a specific college or university. Members of the Chapter Committee consist of the affiliated Chapter representatives and presidents and for the student Chapters the representative and faculty advisor from affiliated colleges and universities. To learn more about the Chapters Committee, please click HERE.
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- Environmental Policy Committee - The Environmental Policy Committee is NAEP’s most dynamic, cross-cutting national Committee. It is comprised of four focus areas of professional interest: NEPA Practice, Transportation, Energy, and Sustainable Systems. The Committee plays a lead role in keeping NAEP membership informed of important legislative and regulatory changes and their potential impacts on the environment and it serves to highlight best practices for all environmental professions. The Committee also informs environmental professionals on important energy issues and environmental policies, regulations, and legislation. To learn more about the Environmental Policy Committee, please click HERE.
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- Communications Committee - The Communications Committee enhances NAEP’s national identity and in a large way is the Association’s public voice through our external relations with federal and state environmental agencies and other national environmental associations. The Committee’s work includes internet marketing and interface (Facebook, LinkedIn and NAEP’s website) as well as overseeing our three nationally recognized publications: the NAEP E-News, the peer-reviewed quarterly journal, Environmental Practice, and the NAEP National Desk. To learn more about the Communications Committee, please click HERE.
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The Call to Action
The work of our eight national Committees is the strength and underpinning of our successful Association. From my experience I know that strong friendships and affiliations begin by being a vital part of our Committee work; it advances us personally and professionally. I believe each individual reading this article will find value in our professional interactions, our connectedness and our mutual interests that are so ably realized in our Committees. The work and products created from our NAEP professionals have resulted in stronger, more mutually-beneficial relationships with agencies/associations throughout the U.S. and have provided increased benefits to every NAEP member at every level of the Association, especially our affiliated Chapters.
Leadership begins with how we shape and create our future and the future of those we lead. The fruit that our national Committees currently produce include the NEPA Annual Report, Quarterly Policy Reports, the E-News (bi-monthly newsletter), the quarterly journal Environmental Practice, the NAEP National Desk, NAEP webinars (at least six a year), Annual Conference, NAEP website (soon to be redesigned), Facebook page, and the NAEP LinkedIn group. As NAEP members and professionals, we all benefit from these publications and interactions because through them we become better informed and lead more enhanced lives. Come joint us in our amazing journey.
For more information you can also contact Tim Bower at:
Tim Bower, CAE
NAEP Headquarters
PO Box 460
Collingswood, NJ 08108
P: 856-283-7816
F: 856-210-1619
E: naep@bowermanagementservices.com
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