With 2010 behind us, AIA Ohio looks forward to the many challenges and opportunities of 2011.  While the organization was able to at least partially address many of the issues presented to us last year, we will again be challenged with new issues and continuing concerns for 2011.  This year, AIA Ohio will be under the leadership of Steve Shinn, AIA who has taken over the helm as president.  Jud Kline, AIA has been elevated to the position of president elect, and Mike Schuster, FAIA will remain as treasurer of the organization.  New to the Executive Committee this year is Elizabeth Murphy, FAIA, who was elected to the position of Board Secretary.  We welcome Elizabeth and look forward to working with her.  Leaving the Executive Board is Paul Hollenbeck, AIA, who served last year as our past president.  We would like to thank Paul for the five years of service on the executive committee and the countless years he had served prior to that on AIA Ohio and as a member of AIA Toledo. Bruce Sekanick, AIA will assume the position of past president and will be the Board representative to the Foundation Board as well as liaison to the Ohio Architects Board.

While the past month was seemingly uneventful, AIA Ohio was busy addressing both new and old issues.  As part of our efforts in advancing advocacy issues, AIA Ohio has been working on several fronts to introduce ourselves to the new administration in Columbus and to create closer ties with a number of the agencies and departments that we, or our members, work with on a sometimes daily basis. We look forward and plan to develop closer ties to departments such as the State Architect’s Office and the Ohio Architect’s Board to help implement and discuss issues that are jointly relevant.  During this past month, AIA Ohio also established a Task Force to develop a response to the proposed BIM Protocol recently released by the State Architect’s Office.  While there are concerns on a number of issues within the proposed requirements, AIA Ohio and the State Architect’s Office plan to work together to develop a standard that is both fair and effective.

AIA Ohio looks forward to the opportunities of 2011 and we welcome the comments, concerns and input of the membership.