[Massplanners] [EXTERNAL] Re: massplanners listserv issues

Tue Apr 22 20:56:11 EDT 2025

To pipe up from the beginnings of CPTC: CPTC was always seen and organized as having to be integrated into the professional planning community with benefits clearly in both directions. The fall workshops, the spring conference, the online core curriculum (is it till there?) and the massplanners listserve belong together. Without the listserve there would not be enough ‘meat’ on the CPTC bone. But Buzz is right, after having been on a small town Planning Board for 20 years I know that the listserve should be better sold to planning board members. At the same time, I get the impression that volunteer board members are sometimes seen as ‘the little cousin we have to take of”….understandable and you may want to talk about how to bridge that gap between the audiences.
Gisela Walker, original CPTC Board member

> On Apr 22, 2025, at 3:29 PM, buzz.constable--- via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
> 
> Alan, et.al. –
>               I urge that the CTPC board continue to support MassPlanners.
>               Many years ago, when CTPC was in rather dire financial shape, the undersigned citizen planner, from the position of a Planning Board Chair and deeply involved in MAPC and MARPA, was involved in collaborating to sustain CTPC.  The services which CTPC successfully provides to the Massachusetts planning community should be complemented (as well as complimented) and enhanced, including the virtual networking which CTPC provides both citizen planners and professionals.  Some of the most timely and important information which citizen planners receive is delivered through observing the many professional dialogues within MassPlanners.  To the extent that the CTPC board is concerned about focusing on its primary constituency, Alan, I suggest that you market the listserve more aggressively so that more citizen planners subscribe to MassPlanners.  Although the citizen planners in my municipality at least know of the CTPC educational programs, the percentage which can participate is much lower, I project, then those who would benefit from reading the listserve.
>               I infer that paying for CTPC activities remains a challenge. Rather than curtailing activities, I am sure you are considering avenues such as increasing financial (in addition to their teaching resource) contributions from the RPAs, soliciting listserve sponsors from among the larger civil engineering and design firms,  and perhaps seeking contributions from those individuals and municipalities who may be in the position to donate financially as well as professionally to CTPS and the larger planning community by means of MassPlanners.
>  
> Buzz Constable
>  
> William G. Constable, Esq. 
> Constable Conservation Consulting
> 17 Old Lexington Rd
> Lincoln, MA 01773
> 617-719-1771
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of webmaster--- via MassPlanners
> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 6:11 AM
> To: Patrice Carson <carsonpl1 at yahoo.com <mailto:carsonpl1 at yahoo.com>>; Mark Archambault <marchambault at shirley-ma.gov <mailto:marchambault at shirley-ma.gov>>; Richard Harris <rhplanner01075 at gmail.com <mailto:rhplanner01075 at gmail.com>>
> Cc: massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
> Subject: Re: [Massplanners] [EXTERNAL] Re: massplanners listserv issues
>  
> HI Patrice,
>  
> Massplanners has been hosted and run by CPTC for about 3 years now. CPTC has been paying for the server space ($150/year) and the mailman platform software has been free. Some of the proposed platforms cost substantially more ($1,200/year). CPTC receives all its funding from its planner workshop and annual conference fees and corporate sponsorships. 
>  
> It's up to the CPTC Board how they wish to proceed. CPTC mission is aimed at training citizen planners. Massplanners appears to be used mostly by professional planners. Of course, well informed professional planners are important to help citizen planners make reasonable decisions. In a sense we're asking that the fees paid for citizen planner training be used to maintain a service primarily for professional planners.
>  
> CPTC is not a membership organization. We would have to develop a membership system if we were to charge individuals for use of massplanners. Doing so would create more expense and work for an all volunteer organization. It's unlikely the board will choose this option. 
>  
> Probably more than you wanted to know. The CPTC board will meet in May and hopefully provide more guidance on the direction we are headed.
>  
> Thanks,
> Alan Pease
> CPTC Board
> citizen planner, Ashby Planning Board
> From: Patrice Carson <carsonpl1 at yahoo.com <mailto:carsonpl1 at yahoo.com>>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 8:52 AM
> To: Mark Archambault <marchambault at shirley-ma.gov <mailto:marchambault at shirley-ma.gov>>; Richard Harris <rhplanner01075 at gmail.com <mailto:rhplanner01075 at gmail.com>>
> Cc: massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org> <massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>>; webmaster at masscptc.org <mailto:webmaster at masscptc.org> <webmaster at masscptc.org <mailto:webmaster at masscptc.org>>
> Subject: Re: [Massplanners] [EXTERNAL] Re: massplanners listserv issues
>  
> I know CT Planners listserve is free to users. I'm guessing we've already looked at how they do it?
> 
> Patrice L. Carson, AICP
> Consultant Planner
> On Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 11:48:43 AM EDT, Richard Harris via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote: 
>  
>  
> There is a 50% tariff on any thing related to planning!
> 
> Thank you 
>  
> Richard Harris, AICP
> PDR, LLC
> Planning Consultant
> 413-335-5012
>  
>  
> On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM Mark Archambault via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:
>> I’ll pay for MassPlanners but NOT the damn Tariffs!
>>  
>> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>>On Behalf Of Jeff Lacy via MassPlanners
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 11:36 AM
>> To: Fiona Coughlan <coughlanf at grafton-ma.gov <mailto:coughlanf at grafton-ma.gov>>
>> Cc: massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>; webmaster at masscptc.org <mailto:webmaster at masscptc.org>
>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [Massplanners] massplanners listserv issues
>>  
>> I’ll pay.
>> Jeff Lacy
>> Rural Planning Associates 
>> (413) 230-9693
>>  
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>  
>> 
>>> On Apr 16, 2025, at 11:19 AM, Fiona Coughlan via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I am also willing to pay!
>>>  
>>> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>>On Behalf Of Elizabeth Hughes via MassPlanners
>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 11:15 AM
>>> To: massplanners at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
>>> Cc: webmaster at masscptc.org <mailto:webmaster at masscptc.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Massplanners] massplanners listserv issues
>>>  
>>> Also willing to pay to have the Massplanners listserv continue!😊
>>>  
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Elizabeth
>>>  
>>> Elizabeth Hughes, Town Planner
>>> Town of Concord
>>> 141 Keyes Road <https://www.google.com/maps/search/141+Keyes+Road+%0D%0A+Concord,+MA+01742?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> Concord, MA 01742 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/141+Keyes+Road+%0D%0A+Concord,+MA+01742?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> 978-318-3290
>>> -- 
>>> MassPlanners mailing list
>>> MassPlanners at masscptc.org <mailto:MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
>>> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org <http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org>
>> -- 
> -- 
> MassPlanners mailing list
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> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org <http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org>
Gisela Walker
24 Windy Hill Road
Shelburne Falls MA 01370
413-625-2401

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