Beginning in 2002, the AIA is offering members free access to all the professional interest areas (PIAs), removing the $50 fee of the past. All you need to do is identify your primary choice of a PIA on your 2002 membership renewal form and add additional PIAs if you wish to receive information in those particular areas.

The 22 PIAs are:
• Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) improves health-care facilities through architect and client education; works on regulatory issues and industry links.
• Building Codes & Standards (BCS) focuses on technology and performance/regulatory issues; seeks to simplify and improve model building codes and standards.
• Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) explores changing educational needs; promotes design excellence for educational facilities and cultural spaces.
• Committee on Architecture for Justice (CAJ) develops resources to enhance the quality of planning and design for courthouses, police stations, prisons, and jails.
• Committee on Design (COD) advocates excellence, leadership, and partnership in architectural and urban design through AIA award nominations and many other outreach efforts.
• Committee on the Environment (COTE) promotes environmental leadership among architects; seeks to make environmental considerations and sustainable design integral to the practice of architecture.
• Construction Management (CM) provides information, education, and support for architects to lead the project delivery process, increase market share and profitability, and understand risks.
• Corporate Architects (CA) increases the performance and public awareness of AIA members who work as or with client architects within organizations.
• Design/Build (DB) assists architects in leading the design, construction, and management of the built environment through information, professional networks, and successful practice trends.
• Educators & Practitioners Net (EPN) strengthens and improves the ties between architectural education and practice through the future Practice Education Council and Practice Education Net.
• Facility Management (FM) furthers client understanding of facility management, enhances professional performance, cultivates interaction, and expands architect opportunities.
• Historic Resources Committee (HRC) monitors and manages issues of preserving the built environment; works with government and allied preservation programs.
• Housing Committee (HSG) focuses on critical design, development, market issues, and trends in housing.
• Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art & Architecture (IFRAA) offers a forum for the exchange of information on the planning, design, construction, arts, and crafts related to all places of worship.
• Interiors Committee (INT) monitors the major issues and evolving markets of interiors practice through forums and information exchange.
• International Committee (INT'L) educates members; promotes excellence in international marketing and practice; and advocates for international political and trade issues.
• Practice Management (PM) develops substantive information on business practices and trends in firm organization and operation and risk management within the profession.
• Public Architects (PA) advances the architect's position in public administration, management, design, and construction at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Regional & Urban Design (RUDC) promotes livable communities, surface transportation, and disaster assistance through design assistance teams and other educational and outreach programs.
• Small Projects Forum (SPF) develops information and tactics on small-project issues from marketing through project delivery for sole practitioners and large firms.
• Specifications & Building Technology (SBT) promotes specification technology, particularly for graphic and written instruments; explores dynamic links between the two.
• Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) addresses computer systems in architecture firms, including applications for management, design and modeling, finance, and communication.

To find out more about the PIAs, click here.

Three invoice mail dates
Another change for AIA invoicing this year is that members will receive invoices in the mail in three phases: September 17–28, October 15–26, and November 19–30. The phases are determined by the local component, based mostly on when the local component meets to determine its dues structure for the coming year. As of September 1, the components have chosen the September 17–28 mailing:
• AIA Alabama Council
• AIA Arkansas
• AIA Arizona
• AIA Washington, D.C.
• AIA Delaware
• AIA Continental Europe
• AIA Florida
• AIA Georgia
• AIA Idaho
• AIA Illinois
• AIA Indiana
• AIA Maryland
• AIA Maine
• AIA Michigan
• AIA Montana
• AIA North Dakota
• AIA Nebraska
• AIA New Hampshire
• AIA Nevada
• AIA Ohio
• Architects Council of Oregon
• AIA Pennsylvania
• AIA South Dakota
• AIA Vermont
• AIA Washington Council
• AIA Wisconsin
• AIA Wyoming.

If you have questions about your individual membership renewal cycle, please call your local component. (For a list of contact information, click here.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.