International Association for Public Participation (IAP2): the gold standard for engagement

IAP2 is an international association of members who seek to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions, and other entities that affect the public interest in nations throughout the world. IAP2 carries out its mission by organizing and conducting activities to:

• Serve the learning needs of members through events, publications, and communication technology;

• Advocate for public participation throughout the world;

• Promote a results-oriented research agenda and use research to support educational and advocacy goals;

• Provide technical assistance to improve public participation. Check out the website for news and events: www.iap2.org

The Wild Rose (Alberta) Chapter of IAP2 currently has some 220 members from western Canada. Check out their website for upcoming events and IAP2 training.

Gabinet & Associates is governed by IAP2's Core Values, Ethics and Spectrum of Participation (click on the IAP2 website) and Lonny won the IAP2 Core Values "Organization of the Year" Award in 2003 as project manager for the City of Calgary's Engage! project. For over a decade she sat on both the International and Wild Rose boards.