Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/416289
From the APPA Board 12 | november/december 2014 | Facilities Manager from the appa board E veryone is "crazy-busy" these days. With all sorts of demands on our time, we often seek immediate answers to our questions. Thanks to APPA, we now have a wealth of information about educational facili- ties management that is available when we need it. While it is wonderful to have this information on tap for our use, it is even better to be part of the APPA team that focuses on growing and delivering information and research as a resource for APPA members. COMMITTEE TIME For the past eight years, I have been part of the APPA Information and Re- search Committee. I began as a MAPPA representative to the committee. The committee includes one representative from each of the six regions, three at-large members focused on special projects, an APPA staff liaison, and other associated APPA staff members. The regional repre- sentatives function as a go-between for the regions and APPA to promote the growth of information and research, and to spread the word about what is available. I am currently in my last year of my three-year term as APPA's Vice President for Information and Research. For each of the years I have been part of the com- mittee, our work has involved examin- ing, updating, and building on the work of the committee members who came before us. During regularly scheduled conference calls and face-to- face meetings, the committee members use their various backgrounds and expertise to raise questions, test, refine, dis- cuss, and offer advice about the references, tools, and methods of delivery. As we work to grow APPA's collective body of knowledge, we find that the questions and issues we raise and the results of our discussions do double duty. Individually, we have recognized that the process has allowed us to learn and grow. In turn, we are able to add more value to our departments and our institutions. SAVING TIME The work of the Information and Research Committee has resulted in a powerful series of reference materials for APPA members. However, its role is to promote the growth and dissemina- tion of the knowledge we have gained. APPA institutional members, emeritus members, and business partners create the information and research. Due to the involvement of many, each individual can build on what others have discov- ered; this not only saves time, but also lets us grow by adding our experiences to APPA's collective body of knowledge. One part of this collective body of knowledge is the aptly named Body of Knowledge (BOK), APPA's refer- ence manual. It is available online, on demand, anytime, at no cost to anyone at our member institutions. Organized around the same four cores as the APPA Institute, the BOK is the text for the Educational Facilities Professional (EFP) and Certified Educational Facilities Pro- fessional (CEFP) credentialing program. Truly providing a way to have us all on the same page, the BOK is available for use as a reference for our staff members, students, building coordinators, and administrators. The Facilities Manager magazine captures articles about effective prac- tices and new perspectives, and makes them available in print and online. The magazine not only includes a rich array of feature articles and research summa- ries, it also offers regular columns, such as Knowledge Builders, which offers nuggets of information gleaned from various sources, including the Facilities Performance Indicators (FPI). It's About Time By Jeri Ripley King APPA Vice President for Information and Research