Communicator March 2010
Riddick Practicum Slated for June How are your communication skills— especially the skills you need in your parliamentary work? Communications 101 is the epicenter of the educational sessions at the Riddick Practicum this June. This “total immersion” event offers you the very best of parliamentary education in a setting designed for teaching and learning. Whether you need to hone your skills in presiding, writing
Table of Contents Board Meeting Summary
6
Bookstore
2
Calendar of Events
12
California Practicum
8
Call for Nominations
9
CE Requirement
7
Chapter Profile
9
Contacts
2
Contributions
10
Dahms’ Workshop
4
Deadlines
9
9
New Members
10
Newsletter Deadlines
2
PJ Historical Article
11
PJ Preview
4
President’s Letter
1
Public Seminar
4
Region II Conference
5
Riddick Practicum
1
Road Show Report
5
Silent Gavels
10
Teacher Certification
6
Teacher Certification Course
7
Upcoming Events
3
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Getting Back to our Roots Have you noticed how many commercial brands are bringing back ads from the past? Everything from football teams to soda companies are featuring “throwback” versions of their product. AIP is also taking a look back. Even as we move aggressively into the future – we are looking back to ensure that we remain true to our roots. The dawning of a new decade is a perfect time to renew the educational commitment that spawned this organization over fifty years ago. Maintaining the creative, intellectual, and organizational focus of our founders is important as we continue to transform AIP into a professional association capable of meeting the needs of the public and our membership. Now seems the right time to reclaim that heritage and, in so doing, to recommit to the goals of such pioneers as Bob English and Lester Dahms. These leaders believed that AIP could serve a broader purpose within the parliamentary community by promoting the use of effective democratic practices. The board of directors has worked to return to our roots by making AIP once more the transformational organization these leaders envisioned. Clearly today, the promise and potential of solid parliamentary and governance education is still relevant in a new era where good decision-making techniques are more important than ever. By reorganizing our structure to focus on providing direct support to the public and our chapters, AIP is renewing its commitment to
opinions, scripting, or motions that change the way members communicate, it will all be here for you. There’s also a two-hour introductory session on Friday evening for those who would like to get a review of the basics. The primary instructors for Communications 101 will be Mary Randolph, CPP-T, and Jim Lochrie, (Continued to page 4)
by JAMES “Jim” JONES, CPP-T
be an engaged institution, a learning society, and a clearing house for democratic practices and ideas. These efforts have led to new partnerships between AIP and the public such as our recent work with the National Bar Association, Alabama State University, and the American Society of Association Executives. Also, through our new chapter grants program AIP is opening more learning opportunities at the grassroots level. All of these changes bring us closer to carrying out our founder’s action plan. As good governance has become more of a public issue, AIP finds new publics appearing at our doors — a more diverse pool of individuals in need of knowledge and tools to serve their constituencies as well as more and more adults seeking continued learning opportunities in their lives. AIP remains committed to helping all of these publics. This is why we exist. Just like those throwback commercials reflect – looking back allows us to hold onto those things that are foundational while creating new markets to meet current challenges.