This National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) course will use an interactive approach to learning the basics of NEPA.  The course focuses on exploring each phase of the NEPA process, including formulation of alternatives to meet project purpose and need, appropriate public involvement, impact analysis, the Record of Decision, and maintenance of an administrative record.  The complexity of NEPA's regulatory management is synthesized into a presentation that is usable and understandable.  NEPA case studies are used selectively to learn how to manage a project from kickoff through publication of the Record of Decision. This brief course is designed for both the NEPA novices and experts.  Participants will leave this course with a better understanding of how to work with NEPA, to get your projects successfully implemented. This course is offered in collaboration with SWCA Environmental Consultants. Speakers:  Al Hershon and Steve Knox

Cost: $350 for private/corporate and $300 for public/ non-profits.

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Time: 8:30am-5:00pm and 8:30am-12:00pm

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This 2-day Planning class is critical for developing effective public participation. Using IAP2’s Spectrum for Public Participation, you’ll learn how to establish clear and achievable objectives for a public involvement program and how to define the promise to the public. Course materials include exercises using IAP2’s five steps for planning effective public participation. You’ll learn how to guide your organization in conducting public involvement and how to plan for the timing, techniques, and resources needed to make citizen engagement a success.

You’ll also learn the practical importance of the IAP2 Core Values and how the IAP2 Code of Ethics applies to both practitioners and clients.

The detailed real world examples and practical hands-on exercises will give you the tools needed to build realistic public consensus programs.

Cost: $375.

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Time: 8:30am-4:30pm and 8:30am-4:30pm

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This one-day class will give you the fundamental communication skills  specifically geared to public participation practitioners. You’ll learn the Principles of Authentic Communication and focus on specific tools used to prepare and present information materials effectively in a variety of forms, small and large group meeting techniques, and facilitation essentials. This course will give you the skills and confidence to deal with difficult, issues, meetings and people. This course is valuable for both beginners and seasoned communicators and covers the techniques that are critical to public involvement and dealing with the most difficult, high stakes public situations.

You’ll leave understanding the importance of active listening, the essentials of risk communication, how to create effective written and verbal presentations,  and how to work effectively with news media.

Cost: $375.

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Time: 8:30am-4:30pm

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This class takes you way beyond public meetings. You’ll learn a range of practical tools and techniques that can be used in a variety of situations to better communicate with people, build trusting relationships with citizens and get their help and support with public projects. Techniques that you’ll learn include the World Café, Revolving Conversations, Citizens Jury, Advisory Groups, and several others that you’ll be able to use immediately in your work. .

The class includes full overviews of more than 20 of the most proven tools and techniques that have been tested, refined and used effectively by public participation practitioners around the globe.  Interactive exercises and practical tips will take you beyond the theory, and take-home materials used throughout the two-day session reinforce skills that you’ll put to immediate use.

You’ll know how to get beyond endless, rancorous debates and instead create effective forums for discussion and dialogue. You’ll learn how to avoid the many problems encountered in traditional public meetings. You’ll leave this class armed with a detailed student manual covering the course materials and a packet of IAP2 Tip-sheets offering practical advice for selecting, using and evaluating a broad range of public consensus building activities

Cost: $375.

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Time: 8:30am-4:30pm and 8:30am-4:30pm

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Do you wish you knew how real estate development works in terms of dollars and cents?
How do you get a better understanding of the push and pull of costs and income, time and risks and how changing one factor can affect a whole chain of other factors?

This course is designed for the broad audience of private and public professionals in the fields of planning, design, engineering, and administration. It is intended to give attendees a minimum level of literacy about the economics of development through a better understanding of the real estate feasibility analysis, the proforma. Attendees to this course will need to bring a laptop, Excel 2003 or 2007 is preferred

Cost: TBA

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Time: 8:30am-4:00pm

Registration Form .