AIA Ohio C.A.R.E.S.
Earlier this year, the AIA Ohio Board of Directors adopted a program that is geared toward helping ARE Candidates meet one of the challenges in taking the registration exam. Through a program that is titled AIA Ohio Cares (Catalyst for Architectural Registration Exam Scholarship), AIA Ohio is making available grants to help economically challenged eligible graduates complete their ARE testing. This program is open to all Ohio residents who are eligible to take the ARE and the funds may be used for either the cost of testing or for other associated costs, including study material. The fund established by the board permits members and non-members alike to apply for funding. AIA Ohio Associate members may qualify for a grant of up to $200, while non-members are limited to $100 grants. Grants are limited to one per year and funds available for this program are limited so awards will be made on a first come, first serve basis. To apply for the grant click here to complete an application form.
Happy 4th and Congratulations Ohio Valley
Bruce Sekanick AIA OAA, AIA National Board of Directors
AIA Ohio wishes everyone a very happy 4th of July and hope everyone has the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends as we celebrate our nations independance. Our independance did not, as we know, come without a cost. Many sacrificed their lives and fortunes as advocates for the citizens of our new country and as we celebrate all that we gained, we need to remember those who put so much at risk to take the helm of leadership.
It is important for us as members of the AIA to step up and become advocactes for our profession, just as the founding members of the Second Continental Congress did when they signed the Declaration of Independance. I want to express my sincere thanks and congratulations to the members of AIA Ohio and the Ohio Valley Region who stepped up to contribute to ArchiPAC, the federal PAC of the AIA. Today, we reached our 2013 goal as a region and our leadership is helping to set the pace for others to follow and aspire to. While we still look for contributors to meet our donor goal, on this 4th of July we should take the time to celebrate this achievement with pride in the knowledge that we are making a difference and our efforts will help define the future of our profession.
ArchiPAC 2013
The AIA National ArchiPAC Steering Committee released the Spring ArchiPAC Newsletter to correspond with AIA National Convention in Denver this past week. Contributions during the conference went over the halfway point as the efforts move into the second half of the year to meet our 2013 goal of $201,300 (2013). As most members know, ArchiPAC compliments the effort at the state PAC to address issues that are at the national level that have far reaching effects on the overall profession. The AIA has continuously worked to improve our advocacy efforts and the way that we can support those members of Congress that help us in our in making sure the needs of the profession have a voice at the legislative table. Please review the newsletter and consider a contribution. It does not have to be large and participation is as equally important as the contribution.
The AIA Ohio PAC will be kicking off our effort in July and we hope everyone can take a little time to review the information we will be sending out to the chapters. The PAC is one way that we can as members can help in our state effort to advance the role of the architect and help our communities realize the important of architecture in their day-to-day lives. When asked, please consider contributing to the AIA Ohio PAC.
AIA National Issues Tool for The Business and Practice of Architecture
Bruce W. Sekanick AIA OAA, AIA National Board of Directors
The AIA, in conjunction with the National Convention in Denver this past week, issued the AIA Foresight Report witch is intended to be a tool for practicing architects in advancing the business of architecture. The report, free to members of the AIA, is a 32 page document that covers a wide range of information on significant trends on practice, diversity, the recovery and leadership. This report is has been created by the Greenway Group and it is intended to give AIA members a better understanding of the environement in which we parctice.
This document has been created to provide you with information for use today. Future issues will be provided by the AIA to keep you up to date with the most current trends to help you in your practice as a firm principal, designer, or emergining professional or associate who wants to better understand the business of architecture. Broken down into key sections of practice, including Firm Strategies, Professional Practice, Leadership, and Evolution and Change, the booklet provides focused information to help AIA members stay ahead of trends and to become leaders in the profession and in their communities.
This document is a mbmeber service and is free for members to download. Non-members can get this report, but not without first paying a fee that reflects the benefits of AIA membership. As a member, you can down load this report by loggin to the the AIA national website and by going to www.aia.org/press/releases/AIAB099362 and then clicking on the link on the lower half of the page. Please note that you will need to be signed in on the site as an AIA member.
We hope this document is helpful in repositioning your practice in todays environment and we look forward to your comments and feedback.
National Board Takes Decisive Actions
The AIA National Board of Directors took decisive action on a number of issues this past week. As part of the boards action on Tuesday, the board voted down an automatic dues increase of 1.9%, leaving the dues for 2014 the same as 2013. Additionally, the Board decided to also change the Gold Medal critieria that will now permit either an individual, or two persons who have demonstrated a singular boady of distinguisher work over their careers, to recieve the gold medal. Two Board sponsored resolutions also passed during the general session of the annual business meeting. These included allowing Associate Members to serve as officers within a component and, a second resolution will now permit Allied Members to use the phrase “member, American Institute of Architects”. These resolutions were critical in permitting the Institute better serve the members.
The Board of Directors dedicated much of their tiem and effort in continuing to push the repositioning on the institute forward. With action planned to be developed for the December Board meeting, the board is looking at the governance and rsulting implications to members, components and management at all levels. As we continue our conversation and implement our first changes, we hope you provide us with you thoughts and concenrs. Contact our regional board members Martha Tarrant AIA or Bruce Sekanick AIA for more information.
AIA Ohio and OVR Members Attend National Convention
Bruce W. Sekanick AIA OAA, AIA National Board of Directors
AIA Ohio and the Ohio Valley Region was well represented at this year’s national conference in Denver. The conference, which was built around the theme of Building Leaders was chaired by AIA Cincinnati member and new Fellow John Rogers FAIA.
Beginning early in the week with an Executive Committee Meeting and a Meeting of the National Board of Directors, the conference kicked off on Thursday with a full schedule of presentations, tours, seminars, meetings, and dinners. With keynotes presentations by General Colin Powell, Tom’s Shoes Founder Blake Mycoski and the founder of Architecture for Humanity Cameron Sinclair, members were provided with example a of the many different ways that architecture can make a difference.
Working with the Emerging Professionals, a new emerging professionals town square was provided as a way to listen to and hear from the future leaders of our professionals. AIA continues to move forward with repositioning through Koster International as our change consultants to help us move forward. There is a lot going on and the Institute will continue to change as we move forward to become member focused. Adam Palmer of Indianapolis was named a repositioning ambassador, in addition to OVR directors and national board members Martha Tarrant AIA and Bruce Sekanick AIA.
The organization is a visionary service organization that works to provide advocacy and leadership. Part of that advocacy effort is the contributions to the AIA PAC, ArchiPAC. At the conference, ArchiPAC reached our half year goal of 100,650. The AIA Ohio Valley is well on our way to meeting our goal but continues to need your support. At ArchiPAC, we look forward to meeting both our dollar goal AND our participation goal. Thank you to those who have contributed and we hope the rest of you will consider contributing. You can contribute by going to www.archipac.org. With Advocacy as one of our top goals, it is important that we make every effort to strenghthen the PAC and to elevate our efforts.
The election of officers occured during the conference. The results were announced on Friday with a runoff for the presidency occurring on Saturday between Elizabeth Chu Richter and AIA Indianapolis member and Current Vice President Deb Kunce FAIA. The results of the election included John Grounds FAIA, Treasurer, Jim Rains FAIA and Tom Vonier FAIA, Vice Presidents, and Elizabeth Chu Richter FAIA, First Vice President, President-Elect. AIA Ohio congratulates all of the candidates for their time, energy, and commitment to the profession.
The AIA National Board of Directors took several important steps earlier in the week at their board meeting, including changes in the Gold Medal and Dues. The Board voted to waiver the automatic dues increase of 1.9% for 2014, leaving national dues the same as charged in 2013. The board did note however that national dues is in most cases, a small part of the overall dues charged as part of the three tier system, and it is their hope that this action will encourage state and local boards to take a close look at their membership dues as well. The board also voted to change the Gold Medal award to include the opportunity for two individuals who work together and who have developed a singular body of distinguished work, to be honored with a Gold Medal. This is something that has been called for by some in the profession for years and the board took action to provide this opportunity to those deserving dyads of our professional membership.
AIA Ohio Schools of Architecture Competition Charrette
This spring, AIA Ohio sponsored the first Schools of Architecture Competition Charrette. The goals included:
· increasing interaction between the 4 schools of architecture and the profession by engaging students, professors and professionals in the charrette and jury process and
· increasing interaction between the students of local school programs by promoting team submissions that foster collaboration.
The competition was for an “Architectural Congress of Ohio Pavilion” in Cincinnati for inter-institutional collaboration between the State’s schools of architecture, its professional design organizations, and the spaces they collectively influence. The site was in close proximity to the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning with a 15,000 sf program with work space, resource space and exhibition space.
Design Awards Program Call for Entries now open
You are invited to enter the 2013 AIA Ohio Design Awards Program.
This program honors Ohio architects and their clients, who have distinguished themselves by their accomplishments.
The design awards program will promote and focus attention on quality design, high performance design, and AIA’s 10 principles of livable communities. The jury will evaluate all projects based on the aesthetic, functional, contextual and social characteristics of the design. The jury will also evaluate submissions in categories 1-4 based on their successful response to one or more of AIA’s 10 principles of livable communities.
Ohio Leaders Convey the AIA Legislative Agenda to Senator Rob Portman
Seen here left to right, Dave Robar, AIA; Jonathan Barnes, AIA; Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, FAIA; Bruce Sekanick, AIA; Senator Rob Portman; Mike Schuster, FAIA; Patrick Hillier, AIA
AIA Ohio officers and component presidents-elect met with the offices of Ohio’s two Senators in Washington on Thursday, March 21, to convey AIA’s legislative agenda. Senator Sherrod Brown’s office was especially receptive to AIA’s request for small business tax reform. Senator Rob Portman met with leadership and discussed energy retrofits and the energy-efficient commercial building tax deduction. For more information on AIA’s legislative agenda, click here.