Harrisburg Area Community College Will be hosing an APPA Drive In Workshop Tuesday, August 16, 2011 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

This four-hour program will provide an overview on the newly released APPA Staff Guidelines. Session content will include
Custodial Operational Guidelinesocedures, Grounds Operation Guidelines and Maintenance Operations Guidelines.

More information and to register online: http://appa.org/Training/Driveinprogram.cfm

Halifax, Nova Scotia… Closer Than You Imagine
 

By Christine Matheson and Gary Schmeisser ERAPPA 2011 Co-Chairs 

Don’t miss out on the 61st Annual Meeting of ERAPPA on October 2nd – 5th, 2011 being held in Halifax, NS.

On-line registration opens May15th.

The mid-year meeting provides a forum for the ERAPPA Board, the ERAPPA Committees, current and future Host Committees to meet face-to-face, to collaborate and advance the goals and objectives of our membership. At this year’s meeting in Halifax, as part of the group's collective professional development, the general session was treated to a motivational message and musical performance from native Newfoundlander Dr. Terry Kelly.

Dr. Kelly’s inspirational message – that life offers everyone gifts disguised as challenges - is one that is delivered with enthusiasm and passion that comes from firsthand life experience. Terry was stricken with blindness at the age of two and has chosen to recognize his blindness as a gift that unlocks possibilities and reveals opportunities.

By David Raffin

James Madison University saw a need for more intensive facilities planning that would allow for campus-wide participation and tie facilities goals to the university’s overall strategic plan. A software solution provided both flexibility and accountability, as the university developed a central database of information to serve as a foundation for planning and decision making.

By Blayne Mackey, Chapter President 

 I am pleased to provide an update on the activities of O.C.F.M.A. as well as some background on our chapter and the region we serve.

Planning is well underway for our annual conference. This year it will be hosted in Markham by Seneca College on September 25 – 28, 2011. In keeping with the Conference theme of “New Horizons: Building Our Future,” the professional development program of concurrent sessions is focused on “prospering through change.” We have identified 3 tracks: Plan + Manage + Adapt and Thrive. We believe this combination allows for a wide range of best practices from our members to be shared and showcased.

American University (AU) , in Washington, DC, has earned a gold rating from the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) system. The system was developed by representatives from colleges and universities, higher education associations, related nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government agencies and is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AU is the first university in Washington, D.C. to earn a STARS rating and is the top scoring university in the nation, qualifying for STARS gold status.

By Blayne Mackey, Director of Facility Management Services

Providing students with an education that not only gets results but also helps to build better communities has been a hallmark of St. Lawrence College's experience ever since the college was established in 1967. With campuses in three small to mid-sized cities in eastern Ontario, SLC serves a wide and diverse catchment area. What sets the college apart is its ability to offer a world-class educational experience without the hassles of big-city living.