Fall Planning Program Picnic Each year at the beginning of the Fall semester students, alumni, faculty, and guests in the undergrad and graduate planning programs enjoy a potluck picnic in Norm Tyler's back yard. It is a great start to the school year to which we all look forward. This year 35 people attended on Tuesday, August 30th, the evening before the first day of classes. If you did not make it, we missed you.

Salt Lake City Conference This year faculty members Bob Jones, Nina David, and Norm Tyler attended the annual conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, an organization representing planning programs from across the country. This year Nina gave a presentation on "Joint Master Plans in Michigan," Bob attended sessions on planning accreditation, and Norm was able to ride with the mayor, planner Ralph Becker AICP, on a bike tour of Salt Lake City (see below).

Mark Ferrall: Planning Games Recent graduate Mark Ferrall had an article listed on Planetizen on Board Games for Urban Planners. Give it a look.

Greening of Detroit PLACE 4th annual Tree Planting EMU planning students volunteered recently for The Greening of Detroit project. This year they helped plant 140 trees on Solvay, Wheelock, and Green Streets in the city. This is the 4th year students have helped in this effort. See them hard at work.

MAP Conference Each year EMU Planning students, faculty, and alumni meet for a social hour during the conference. This year they met at Bobarino's Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids.

Students close street Planning students and others closed off a portion of the streets in Ypsi's Depot Town as part of a "Better Blocks" program. Organized by City Planner Teresa Gilloti, the experimental exercise was meant to illustrate how streets could be used with alternative purposes. Students from Nina David's class, Professional Practice for Planners, participated in the afternoon demonstation. Senior student Mackenzie Lake said of it, "This city's got a lot to offer; people just don't realize it yet."