APA-PW Division Survey Results Summary

1. Your APA membership type:
  Response Percent Response Total
  Regular member
78.3% 54
  Planning Board member
  0% 0
  Student
15.9% 11
  Retired
1.4% 1
  Life
4.3% 3
  Don't Know
  0% 0
Total Respondents   69
(skipped this question)   1
2. How long have you been a member of the Division?
  Response Percent Response Total
  15-25 years
15.9% 11
  10-14 years
13% 9
  5-9 years
18.8% 13
  2-4 years
20.3% 14
  < 2 years
31.9% 22
Total Respondents   69
(skipped this question)   1
3. Is planning your primary job responsibility or study focus?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Yes
81.4% 57
  No
18.6% 13
Total Respondents   70
(skipped this question)   0
4. What is your primary area of planning practice?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Local planning agency
40.6% 28
  Regional planning agency
4.3% 3
  State government
  0% 0
  Federal government
  0% 0
  Private consulting
15.9% 11
  Non-profit organization
8.7% 6
  Academia
17.4% 12
  Other (please specify)
18.8% 13
Total Respondents   69
(skipped this question)   1
1. Field Policy & Management
2. Commissioner
3. Emergency Management
4. local government
5. County Planning
6. Industrial Development Agency
7. Nonprofit consulting
8. community organizing
9. Local Community Development agency
10. Real Estate development
11. corporate master planning
12. private
13. land use law

  
5. The mission of this division is to:
Essential Important Somewhat important No longer relevant No opinion Response Average
Address issues facing the planning and development of communities, cities, regions, states, and the nation related to the changing roles of women and men
50% (33) 44% (29) 6% (4) 0% (0) 0% (0) 1.56
Create a national network of planners, decision makers, and persons actively involved in organizations which are concerned about similar issues
39% (26) 50% (33) 8% (5) 3% (2) 0% (0) 1.74
Promote professional growth of persons interested in these issues and improve the level of competence in planning for women
62% (41) 32% (21) 5% (3) 2% (1) 0% (0) 1.45
Advance technical knowledge and improve techniques for dealing with these issues
27% (18) 59% (39) 11% (7) 3% (2) 0% (0) 1.89
Promote the analysis and examination of these issues at every level of government and in colleges and universities.
38% (25) 38% (25) 20% (13) 3% (2) 0% (0) 1.88
Total Respondents   66
(skipped this question)   4
6. Please add any suggestions or comments about the mission statement:
 Total Respondents  
12
(skipped this question)   58
1. I think continually improving women's competencies in planning, identifying and promoting niches, advocating for pay equity, and mentoring future women planners are work activities that the Division should maintain. Perhaps we need to revisit our mission statement?

2. I'd like the Division to acknowledge that many of the theories and practices in planning have previously been overwhelmingly shaped by men and that it is important that women's voices, opinions, theories and practices receive full advancement. Hmmmm, it's 2005 and the thought is that women still can't do math.

3. I think it is important for the Division to focus on providing Planning Departments practical ways that planners can address the changing roles of women and men.

4. The statement of purpose is very issue driven. Would that mean if all issues could be resolved we would not need a division anymore? Finding friends, networking, recognizing accomplishment and sharing are important too.

5. add "....to create sustainable patterns of living."

6. every item falls under/winthin the first statement

7. The mission statement is too long -- it should be succinct. While I checked most of the items as essential or important, I think they could be combined. Here's what caught my eye from each piece: changing roles of women and men; a national network of planners; promote analysis and examination of issues (throughout communities).

8. There are two areas that I suggest the Planning and Women Division's mission evolve: 1) include a stronger emphasis on the cultural disparities of gender and class, which are more static than "related to the changing roles of women and men." not necessarily only by practitioners. 2) emphasize truly diverse competencies rather than only "technical knowledge" and critique professional/administrative competencies (e.g., foster community service models).

9. I believe there are planning/design issues specific to women (and children) that are not usually addressed by traditional planning methods. For example, the growing number of women without partners who are rearing children alone... what special design elements would be beneficial to them?

10. It's a good mission statement and I think it is accrurate in terms of what members want.

11. How to effect policy changes. Working at a desk is not going to make a difference. Research and documentation is important, but decisions are made through the political process. The division should encourage discussion of ways to become more effective politically.

12. Address planning issues which affect women significantly, e.g. housing, transportation, job training, homelessness, child care, etc.
  
7. Do you receive the newsletter?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Yes
68.8% 44
  No
31.2% 20
Total Respondents   64
(skipped this question)   6
8. How often do you read it?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Every issue
51.1% 23
  Occasionally
48.9% 22
Total Respondents   45
(skipped this question)   25
9. Which feature(s) do you find most helpful? (Check all that apply.)
  Response Percent Response Total
  Articles
79.1% 34
  From the Chair
41.9% 18
  Rants
20.9% 9
  APA National Planning Conference Education
23.3% 10
  Awards
11.6% 5
  Women's Networking Series
44.2% 19
  From the Editors
23.3% 10
  Calendar
34.9% 15
  Nothing
9.3% 4
  Other (please specify)
2.3% 1
Total Respondents   43
(skipped this question)   27
1. I just upgraded computers, and can now log on to the issues. Never saw it prior to this.
  
10. What subject(s) would you like to see addressed (check all that apply)?
  Response Percent Response Total
  PWD business / news / issues
53.6% 30
  General APA news that affects our division members
58.9% 33
  Articles about conference sessions
39.3% 22
  Articles on innovative technologies, programs, agencies
66.1% 37
  Case studies
64.3% 36
  Planning opinions (soapbox articles)
39.3% 22
  Articles on planning education
32.1% 18
  Articles related to planning certification and education
30.4% 17
  Professional profiles, i.e., meet a prominent female member of the planning field
69.6% 39
  Acknowledgement of new members in the division
30.4% 17
  Scholarly articles
26.8% 15
  Other (please specify)
8.9% 5
Total Respondents   56
(skipped this question)   14
1. Acknowledge women planners who have retired and those who have died.
2. job listings
3. job offerings
4. Lets hear how the self-employed are doing
5. women planning consultants (me)
  
11. Do you distribute / forward the electronic PWD newsletter to your colleagues who are not PWD members?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Always
2% 1
  Sometimes
32.7% 16
  Never
65.3% 32
Total Respondents   49
(skipped this question)   21
12. Which planning issues are of interest to you (check all that apply)?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Status of women within the planning profession
84.4% 54
  Availability of daycare
25% 16
  Pay equity
75% 48
  Integrating feminist theory in planning classes
28.1% 18
  Transportation needs of women
48.4% 31
  Other (please specify)
28.1% 18
Total Respondents   64
(skipped this question)   6
1. Housing needs of women; single women without children; negative attitudes towards single mothers not held towards single fathers
2. This question should be worded differently: "Which of these women-oriented planning issues..." or something like that. This is otherwise a very limited list, of course.
3. Affordable Housing
4. Explore New niches for women in planning
5. telecommuting and non-traditional work schedule options
6. affordable housing
7. overall attitudes of acceptance of women in this area
8. borader issues of community & design
9. Planning Safe Environments
10. housing and gender
11. Highlighting successful women in the planning/zoning field.
12. housing, historic preservation
13. sustainability/climate change
14. housing & jobs/job training needs of women, particularly female haded households with minor kids
15. Making use of grassroots and community-based wisdom
16. safety and security for employment and cultural and recreational activities
17. Housing needs of women & children
18. Planning for the various needs and roles of women in the community.
  
13. If the division could focus on only one policy issue in the next year, which one would you choose?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Status of women within the planning profession
48.3% 29
  Availability of daycare
  0% 0
  Pay equity
16.7% 10
  Integrating feminist theory in planning classes
8.3% 5
  Transportation needs of women
13.3% 8
  Division should not focus on any policy issues
1.7% 1
  Other (please specify)
13.3% 8
Total Respondents   60
(skipped this question)   10
1. Affordable Housing
2. advancing telecommuting and non-traditional work schedules to reduce demand on public services and foster home based offices
3. future trends
4. Say how we can compete as professionals
5. nexus of transportation, jobs, housing needs of women
6. Making use of grassroots and community-based wisdom for planning
7. Can't choose - all important
8. Housing & Women
  
14. How frequently do you visit the division website?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Daily
1.6% 1
  Weekly
3.1% 2
  Monthly
18.8% 12
  Occasionally
43.8% 28
  Never
32.8% 21
Total Respondents   64
(skipped this question)   6
15. What section(s) or information do you find most helpful or interesting (check all that apply)?
  Response Percent Response Total
  Division information
65% 26
  Newsletters
47.5% 19
  Book reviews and publications