APWA is the number one source for continuing education that addresses the full gamut of public works topics. We're always scanning the environment to identify key issues and provide solutions. For 2007, we have revised our program format to offer more focused solutions and hands-on learning opportunities.

Public Works Stormwater Summit—Stay on top of the latest NPDES news and other stormwater regulation compliance trends by attending this summit geared specifically to the interests and needs of public works directors and public agency stormwater managers. All this for no additional charge when you register for the full week.

• Public Works Stormwater Summit Opening Session – NPDES Program Update
• Public Works Stormwater Summit NPDES Phase I and Phase II Panel
• Public Works Stormwater Summit Impact of Increased Stormwater Runoff on Urban Drainage Systems
• Public Works Stormwater Summit NPDES Permit Compliance: Checking the Boxes or Improving Water Quality?
• Public Works Stormwater Summit Innovative Public Education Programs
• Public Works Stormwater Summit National Stormwater BMP Database – What Is It? How Can You Use It?

Workshop Wednesday—You asked for it, here it is... your opportunity to delve deeper into cutting-edge topics, featuring expert speakers in a workshop format. Among the workshop topics you'll be able to choose from:

• Training the Public Works Trainer (Wednesday Workshop)
• Back to Basics - World Class Hiring, Orientation, Training, and Evaluation to Create and Meet Performance Standards (Morning Workshop)
• Equipment Replacement Strategies and Fleet Charge-Back Systems: What Do I Need to Know? (Wednesday Workshop)
• Managing the Urban Forest 101 (Wednesday Workshop)
• Pre-Planning Traffic Incident Response at High-Accident Intersections (Wednesday Workshop)
• Telling Your Story! Gaining Community Respect through Effective Public Outreach and Media Relations (Wednesday Workshop)
• A Demo! Innovative Street Reconstruction Technologies (Wednesday Workshop/Onsite Demonstration)
• San Antonio River Improvements Project (Wednesday Workshop/Onsite Demonstration)

• Back to Basics - World Class Hiring, Orientation, Training, and Evaluation to Create and Meet Performance Standards (Afternoon Workshop)
• Beyond Brochures – Community-Based Social Marketing (Wednesday Workshop)
• Public Works: Planning for and Responding to a Terrorism/WMD Incident (Wednesday Workshop)
• Intelligent Transportation System Related Projects - TransGuide/ Signal Pre-emption/Reversible Lanes(Wednesday Workshop/Onsite Demonstration)

Who do I contact if I have questions about submitting a proposal?

Questions? Contact Karen Wilson 816-595-5210.

How do I speak at next year’s Congress?

Submitting your proposal is easy! Proposals must be submitted using the Online Submission Form or the Official E-mail Proposal Submission Form. No faxed or mailed submissions allowed.

Online:
http://www.apwa.net/Meetings/Congress/2008/CallForPresentations/

Simply fill in the required fields on the Online Submission Form, then instantly transmit your proposal by clicking “Submit.”

E-mail:
Download the Official E-Mail Proposal Submission Form. Complete it, save it on your computer as a new file, then attach it to an e-mail addressed education@apwa.net. Within 48 hours, you will receive confirmation via e-mail of your proposal tracking number.

How are presentations selected?

All submissions are reviewed and evaluated by a committee of accomplished professionals representing various public works functions. The evaluation process is competitive—approximate 50% of the total proposals submitted are selected for presentation. Your success in the selection process depends on how well your proposal supports these primary criteria:

• Relevance and Clarity: Content is interesting and useful to a significant number of expected attendees. Learning objectives are clearly stated using active verbs that describe how the presentation will help attendees.
• Practical Application: Presentation provides take-away knowledge and material that can be used by participants in their day to day work settings, describes how ideas and methods can be transferred for use by others, and/or offers how-to skills to improve performance.
• Leading Edge: Presentation addresses critical issues, emerging trends, innovative technologies and methodologies.
• Balance: The selection committee will conduct a review for balance to ensure that any one speaker or organization is not disproportionately represented and that any one topic area is not overrepresented in the final selections.

What kind of proposal is APWA looking for?

The APWA Congress audience is interested in the broad topic areas listed below as they relate to the variety of public works functions and the provision of infrastructure services. Think about how your knowledge and experience will help other public works professionals more successfully lead their agencies, manage their operations, and serve their communities.

Leadership and life skills

Operational nuts and bolts

Best practices and innovative approaches

Practical applications for technologies and methodologies

Process and system enhancements

Emerging regulatory and legal trends

Future visions for the profession

Proposals are encouraged in areas of interest and importance to the public works profession. (But don’t feel limited by these suggestions; out-of-the-box thinking is encouraged!)

State-of-the-Art Operations for Every Type of Public Works Service

• Roads, streets, traffic (pavement performance and maintenance, work-zone safety, snow and ice control, street, arterial, and intersection design, traffic calming, community mobility, etc.)
• Solid waste systems and issues
• Water and wastewater systems and issues
• Stormwater management and erosion control practices and issues
• Smart growth and sustainable design
• Right-of-Way issues
• Infrastructure security and emergency management and preparedness
• Facilities management (maintenance strategies, inventory systems, condition assessments, etc.)
• Urban forestry (caring for trees and vegetation, sidewalk issues, recycling green waste, etc.)
• Engineering/Construction (public works project management, project delivery systems, etc.)
• Fleet (maintenance and replacement strategies, business plans, service level agreements, customer service, shop and parts management, etc.)
• Technologies used in public works (GIS, GPS, ITS, RFID, wireless communications, online bidding, asset management systems, pavement management systems, etc.)

Public Works Leadership

• Core values and competencies
• Critical issues facing public works today and ideas and visions for the future
• Human resource issues (employee recruitment, retention, motivation, etc.)

The Business Side of Public Works

• Public/private partnerships, contracting, budgeting, financing public improvements, citizen participation, etc.

Personal Enrichment

• Stress management, improving communication skills, life strategies, etc.

Are there others guidelines or related information I should know about?

ONLINE OR E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY: All proposals must be submitted either online or by e-mail using the Official Proposal Submission Forms. Submit your proposal only once.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES : All submissions must include three (3) learning objectives that complete the sentence: By attending this session, participants will be able to: (e.g., develop a project plan, evaluate which method will work best for certain climatic conditions, etc.)

TIP: When writing learning objectives use active verbs like: implement, evaluate, prepare, solve, identify, demonstrate, discuss. Avoid verbs like: know, understand, learn, believe, comprehend.

SESSION LENGTH: Please indicate the expected length of your session. (50, 75, 90, 150 minutes). APWA will try to allocate your session the requested number of minutes, however due to space limitations and time constraints, we may be asking you to shorten your session into a shorter time block, or we may ask that you combine your presentation with similar-themed submissions into a larger time block.

SCHEDULING: Due to the complexity of determining topic placement, we are unable to accommodate specific date and time requests. Make sure that you and other speakers in your session will be available to present on any day of the Congress beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 17, 2008, through noon on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.

DO NOT REFER TO SPECIFIC COMPANIES, AGENCIES, OR PEOPLE IN THE CONTENT DESCRIPTION PORTION OF YOUR PROPOSAL: The selection committee’s first reading of all proposals is done in an anonymous format.

COMMERCIAL-FREE ZONE: Direct promotions of a speaker’s products, services, or monetary self-interest are not appropriate for education sessions. Case studies on product applications, project management systems and services, etc. should include presentations from user agencies and organizations.

REGISTRATION FEES AND TRAVEL EXPENSES: Speakers at APWA’s International Public Works Congress & Exposition are also considered attendees and are expected to pay their own travel expenses and the appropriate member/nonmember registration fee. If you can only attend the Congress on the day of your presentation, you may qualify for a complimentary single-day registration.

PAID PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS AND SPEAKERS are welcome to use the Online and E-mail Submission Forms, but be sure to check the appropriate ‘paid speaker’ box.

When is the deadline for submitting proposals?

The submission deadline is September 30, 2007!

Who do I contact if I have questions about submitting a proposal?

Questions? Contact Karen Wilson 816-595-5210.

We've organized the Education sessions by date and by subject.

Check out the Full Schedule for a complete listing of Education Sessions plus additional meetings, general sessions, and more.

Create your Personal Schedule. Just click the calendar icon next to any event listed on the Sessions by Date, Sessions by Subject or Full Schedule pages to help you plan your days at Congress. Don't forget to print out a copy before you leave for San Antonio.

Selected live audio digital recordings of the general sessions and education sessions will be made available via an interactive MP3 CD-ROM package series. Additional content includes the speakers' PowerPoint presentations, an exhibitor directory, and information about upcoming events. Full Congress registrants may order the package in advance at a discounted price of $119. The CD-ROMs can also be purchased onsite for $129 or after Congress for $229.

.1 CEU = 1 PDH (Professional Development Hour)
APWA's education sessions are eligible for CEU credit. The CEU is a nationally accepted measure of participation in continuing education activities, and by obtaining them, you can demonstrate to your employer that you are learning new skills and keeping current with changes in the industry. You'll find instructions in your onsite materials about how to receive these valuable credits.

APWA has worked with the San Antonio host committee to identify municipal projects that can serve as live learning models. Technical Tours supplement the traditional classroom-lecture format and give you a first-hand view of best practices. Please note that some tour sizes are limited. Registrations are confirmed on a first-come/first-served basis. Tours with insufficient attendance may be cancelled. Refunds will be given for any cancelled tour. Click here for listing of tours and for more information.

NOTE: Education sessions are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.