Introduction
To The
Community
Planner

Planning
Information &
Resources

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Contributors,
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Contact Information

 

We welcome contributors to The Community Planner. The Community Planner is meant to be an indepth, hands-on publication for citizens, community leaders, and planners. As such, articles should be clear, understandable across an audience with a broad range of experience (from no experience to professional training), and detailed. While planning terminology should not be avoided, definitions for professional terms must be included either in the text of the article or, if a longer explanation is necessary, in a sidebar. Take time to read an issue before sending an inquiry.

Each issue focuses on a specific aspect of planning or "theme." Upcoming issues include:

August 2010: Working with the community, asset inventories, identifying stakeholders, and creating and working with citizen advisory committees (CACs) and community steering committees.

Novemeber 2010: Working with consultants, universities, and other outside agencies; understanding the bidding process and writing RFPs, RFBs, and RFQs; and scoping.

February 2011: Developing public information and planning education programs for the comprehensive planning process; developing public information materials, including press releases, newsletters, information columns, and websites; and effective public information and outreach techniques.

Length: Length will vary depending on content, article type, and topic.

Article Types: Each issue of The Community Planner will include hands-on, how to (step by step) articles, case studies (both good and bad...what happens when it works; what happens when it does not), product reviews, sidebar information.

Article Depth: The articles in The Community Planner should have both depth and detail. The purpose of the journal is to provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for planning processes, projects, and tasks so that citizens, community leaders, and planners can pick up an issue, follow the instructions, and successfully complete a single task or larger project. These are not meant to be overview articles.

How-to/ Step by Step Articles: Articles should focus both on how a task, project, or process is specifically done, provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide to what is involved and how each step should be handled, and explain why specific steps are taken. Some articles may require sidebar information. Sidebars provide background information, definitions, and brief issue discussions.

Case Studies: Case studies are an indepth look at processes, projects, or tasks, in a specific location, which either did or did not work. In is as important to understand what went wrong as it is to understand what went right. The case studies are designed to give readers a deeper understanding and to provide on-the-ground examples of the process of planning.

Product Reviews: Throughout the planning process, citizens, planners, and consultants use different tools and materials, including computer programs, special supplies, data sources, and resources. Product reviews should be objective and balanced and should provide readers with both the pros and the cons of the product. Product review articles are generally fairly short (500 words or so).

Articles are reviewed by the editorial staff. Dorsett Publications purchases publication rights for accepted articles at .05 per word for the final edited version of the article. Unsolicited manuscripts are not read, so please be sure to send a letter of inquiry prior to sending article materials. Letters of inquiry should include the correspondent's daytime phone number and email address.

Letters to the Editor are considered donated material and do not come under the same review and editorial process. All Letters to the Editor must be signed. The Community Planner does not publish anonymous materials.

Submissions: Please send a letter of inquiry with a brief article proposal to:

Dr. Diane Zahm, Editor
The Community Planner
Dorsett Publications
630 Depot Street NE
Christiansburg, VA 24073