PHADA's 2001 Annual Convention and Exhibition is scheduled for May 5-8 in Portland, Oregon at the Portland Marriott Downtown in the city's historic waterfront district. Below are general descriptions of just some of the sessions we're planning for Portland. More agenda details will be provided in the coming weeks.

Harvard's Operating Fund Cost Study. Hear from the experts who are conducting the monumental Public Housing Operating Cost Study. Input from the audience is welcome as the Harvard team develops this comprehensive study that will be used to determine future funding for public housing operating needs.

Developing your Section 8 Homeownership Program. Learn how to take advantage of the promising new program to help your clients become homeowners.

Learning the PHAS Appeals Process. With all the known problems with PHAS, every HA should be prepared for an appeal. Develop your strategy ahead of time so that your appeal is timely and effective and includes all relevant data.

Current Events in the Housing Arena. This session evolves with the changing landscape of public and assisted housing. Likely topics include: PHAS, lead paint, SEMAP, MTCS, HUD appropriations including the rising utility costs, and the latest rules and regulations.

America's Promise (Pointing kids in the right direction). The session explores how HAs can work with America's Promise, an organization recently chaired by U.S. Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, to help fulfill the Five Promises necessary for all children to become successful adults.

Becoming an Entrepreneurial Housing Authority. It may be the buzzword of public housing management, but how many of us have truly reached our potential as entrepreneurial HAs? Learn from a former executive director who put "entrepreneurial" ideas into action and created a model, award-winning HA.

Energy Performance Contracting. With the ever rising fuel costs and related problems in some parts of the country, energy efficiency and savings have never been more important. Learn strategies for tackling this important problem head on.

Hear from Newly-Appointed Officials in the Bush Administration. How will the Department change? How will the new Administration treat current regulations? What are HUD's funding priorities? Will PHAS be revised and/or fixed? These and other questions are likely to be discussed by HUD officials invited to address the convention.

HUD's New Sexual Harassment Rules. Led by attorneys with expertise in this area, the session looks at how the Department's proposed sexual harassment regulation affects housing providers and their relationship with tenants and other clients. HUD's proposed definition of harassment, its standards for evaluating cases and liability will be discussed.

What Works with "Moving-to-Work". Participants in the "Moving to Work" demonstration program will explain some of their strategies for innovative HA management and how these techniques can be applied to your agency.

Violence in the Workplace: Reducing the Risk. Learn the facts about workplace violence and how to recognize the potential for violence in your community. Presenters will help HAs develop specific strategies for reducing the risk to the agency and the people involved and will provide a model for developing a Workplace Violence Prevention Program.

Multicultural and Diversity Appreciation Management. This training session focuses on Multicultural Consumer Service Delivery, which refers to the acknowledgment and understanding that the consumers and the public housing community have needs and expectations that differ due to many diversity-related variables. The session will explain management and organizational practices that HAs can employ to meet the needs of consumers, both individually and collectively.

Liability Issues (Including the 8-Hour Work Requirement). The session will help housing authorities deal with important liability issues that have come about as a result of recent laws and regulations. A special emphasis will be placed on the community service/work requirement for residents.

Exhibition. The convention also includes an exhibit hall filled with companies displaying their goods and services. Past exhibits included: Housing software, consulting services, financing, investment services, appliances, pest control, engineering and inspection services, energy conservation, interior and exterior building products, insurance and retirement plans, and products used for maintenance and repair.

Stephen J. Bollinger Scholarship Award Luncheon. Perhaps the most memorable event at each Annual Convention is the Bollinger Scholarship awards ceremony. Join us this year as we award the 2001 scholarship to a deserving high school student.

To register, please use the Online Registration Form or the PDF Registration Form. Remember, by registering by April 5 you qualify for our "Early Bird" discount rate.

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