Professional Practice Networks (PPNs)

PPN Leadership Guidelines

Learn more about volunteering as a PPN leader. +

ASLA’s Professional Practice Networks (PPNs) provide peer-to-peer learning and networking events. These activities are led by each PPN’s Chair and leadership team. 

PPN CHAIRS 

With the support of other engaged PPN leadership volunteers and ASLA staff, PPN chairs are expected to:  

• Lead monthly or bi-monthly PPN leadership team meetings. If you can’t make a meeting, designate another PPN leader to fill in. 
• ASLA staff: set up meeting invite and meeting agenda document, but the PPN Chair sets the agenda items. 
• Plan and facilitate or designate another PPN leader or invited ASLA member to do so, quarterly virtual meetups for your PPN’s members. 
• Facilitate an annual planning meeting (in-person at the conference or virtual around the time of the conference) for your PPN. 

Leadership Term and Anticipated Time Commitment 

Chairs serve for three years total, one year each as: 

• Incoming Chair 
• Chair 
• Immediate Past Chair 

This allows enough time to establish meaningful initiatives and leadership. Terms typically begin and end at the conclusion of the ASLA conference. Past chairs who would like to stay involved may do so as a PPN leader after their term as chair ends. 

PPN Chairs should anticipate spending 2-3 hours per month on PPN activities. 

Identify a Successor 

Identify and mentor a successor to eventually follow you as PPN Chair. Any member of the PPN, or a member already serving as a PPN leader, is welcome to volunteer as Chair. New PPN chairs are often recruited from the existing PPN leadership team. 

LEADERSHIP TEAMS 

Any member of a PPN* may volunteer to join their PPN’s leadership team by submitting the online form. 

One PPN leadership team member should be designated as the Notetaker for the open-invitation PPN meetings. Each PPN should share a recap after these conversations with insights gleaned and key takeaways. Depending on the length of the recap, this may be shared via email to PPN members, on the PPN website landing page, or on The Field. 

PPN leaders use the online platform Basecamp to stay in touch between meetings. Leadership team meetings are posted on the Schedule, meeting agenda/notes can be found under Docs & Files, and the Message Board and Chat are available to all PPN leaders to use. You are also able to add a profile photo and set your notifications preferences. 

Basecamp is for PPN leaders only—this platform cannot accommodate all a PPN’s members. 

*With approval from the PPN’s Chair, a non-member may be permitted to serve as a PPN leader if they are unable to join ASLA. 

PPN MEETINGS 

• Monthly or bi-monthly: PPN leadership team 
• Quarterly: open invitation to all PPN members 
• Annual Planning Meeting: at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture or virtually around the time of the conference 

PPN Events at the Conference 

In addition to the annual planning meeting, PPNs will also have the opportunity to host networking-focused events during the conference. These may take place in the EXPO or another designated space, with an emphasis on building connections and member interaction rather than presentations. 

Annual Orientation 

ASLA provides annual training for all committee chairs, including PPN Chairs. This typically takes place in the fall after the ASLA conference or in January. The orientation, held virtually, gives members serving the Society as volunteers an overview of responsibilities, resources, and relevant ASLA policies. 

PPN WORKING GROUPS 

If there is consensus amongst a subset of a PPN’s leadership team that they would like to form a distinct working group separate from the overall PPN team, they may do so with approval from the PPN Chair. 

Each working group should be led by a Chair or Co-Chairs. Working Group Chairs: 

• Schedule working group meetings  
• Send and manage the calendar invites  
• Set meeting agendas and take notes 
• Provide the platform (their personal Teams or Zoom link) for their working group meetings.  

Working Group Chairs report to the overall PPN leadership team once per quarter on working group activities. This may take place during a PPN leadership team meeting or may be shared via Basecamp. 

ASLA SUPPORT 

Technical 

• Maintain PPN landing page on ASLA’s website, as well as support proposed additions/changes to each individual PPN page. 
• Manage The Field. 
• Manage LinkedIn groups for each PPN. 

Logistical 

• Schedule ASLA conference events. 
• Schedule PPN leadership meetings. 
• Schedule quarterly PPN member meetups.

Outreach & Coordination 

• Send out communications drafted by PPN leaders via direct emails to PPN members. 
• Update you on the activities of the other PPNs and ASLA.