APA's 2009 National Planning Conference

April 25–29, 2009 • Minneapolis

Conference Speaker Policies

Number of Sessions

Speakers are allowed to speak in no more than two sessions. A session can be a general session, a division session, a local host committee session, or a poster session. A speaker may also participate in one additional technology showcase, or facilitated discussion. GIS workshop speakers and Mobile Workshop speakers are exempt from this policy. Any deviation from this policy is at the sole discretion of the Director of Education.

Registration

All session presenters (moderators and speakers) MUST register for the conference. In any session at least one presenter must be a paid registrant. By registering online, you can avoid the paper registration fee or, if you prefer, you may fill out the registration form included in the back of the Preliminary Program. Both options will be available in December. Once registration has opened in late 2008, go to www.planning.org/nationalconference to register.

Most session moderators and speakers will register at the speaker rate of $695 for the conference. For a detailed list of your options, carefully review the Registration Options below.

Registration Options

Full-Paid, Registrant Speaker
If you plan to participate in the entire conference, register online to receive the speaker registration fee of $695. This fee remains in place until online registration closes. We recommend that you register early in order to secure tickets to popular mobile workshops, evening events, and orientation tours. These ticketed events are available for an additional fee. After online registration closes, you must register onsite. If a speaker has not registered before online registration closes, an invoice will be generated and he or she will be expected to pay the conference fee onsite.

Weekend, Paid Registrant Speaker
A weekend registration rate is available to speakers whose sessions are on Saturday or Sunday. This registration fee covers all conference events taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Ticketed events, such as orientation tours and mobile workshops, are available for an additional fee.

Student Registration
Students who have an APA Student Membership may register at the student rate. All other students must register at the speaker rate.

Monday-Only, Paid Registrant
For Planning Commissioner, Elected Official, or Appointed Official Speakers ONLY
Speakers who are planning commissioners or other appointed and elected officials may register for Monday only. This applies only if the session in which they speak is on Monday. This registration fee is available only to officials who are not salaried or consulting planners. The registration includes the Opening Reception, entry to all sessions on Monday, and the morning breakfast for Planning Commissioners, Elected Officials, and Appointed Officials.

Non-Paying, Guest Registration
Some speakers qualify for a guest registration. The guest registration entitles the speaker to attend the session at which he or she is speaking without a fee. The guest registration is valid for attending that session only, and the speaker may not attend any other sessions.

The session organizer is responsible for requesting guest registration for speakers who qualify. Read both Criterion A and Criterion B below carefully. One of the two criteria must be met to qualify. If you think you qualify, make sure to ask your session organizer to submit a request for consideration.

Criterion A
The speaker works outside the field of planning and is not a member of APA. Examples are a mayor, a city engineer, or a neighborhood resident.

Criterion B
The speaker is an academic who does not teach planning and is not a member of APA. Someone who teaches economics, for example, would qualify.

Criteria Strictly Enforced, No Exceptions — In order for a speaker to be considered for a guest registration, the session organizer must indicate on the Invited Speaker Form the speakers to be considered for guest registration. Once the form is submitted, staff will review the request and determine whether the speaker qualifies as a guest registrant. If the speaker qualifies, we will send a confirmation letter and further instructions. The guest speaker will pick up a badge onsite that will provide access to his or her session. If a speaker does not qualify, the both the session organizer and the speaker will be informed and the speaker will become responsible for paid registration.