“It is my privilege
and great pleasure to roll out the red carpet for the AIA’s annual
grassroots leadership and legislative conference” said AIA Executive
Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, setting a tone of warm welcome
that introduced the theme of “Sharing Learning Leading” for
the opening session of the 2003 Grassroots Leadership conference. On Wednesday
evening, March 5, in Washington, D.C., Koonce went on to give a brief
history of the 40 years of Grassroots, and explained, “The idea
was to increase the power of ‘family’ by bringing everyone
to one place—the state and local leadership, the AIA board, and
members of the national component staff. Names became faces; people became
friends.”
“Tonight,
we’re here to prime the pump of grassroots with a big helping of
fellowship, and lots of applause for those leaders—volunteer and
professional staff—who this past year have been living examples
of excellence,” echoed AIA President Thompson E. Penney, FAIA. “Grassroots
is about learning. We’re here to sharpen our knowledge. Knowledge
is our agenda, and sharing will be the way we work. Grassroots is also
about developing the self-confidence to be effective leaders.”
“We live in a fragile time; our minds are filled with the fear
of war and the constant threat of terrorism. We represent and are advocates
for something quite different,” Penney reminded the audience. “Our
language is about life, vision, beauty, and building up. We are the trusted
advisors for all those who dream of elevating and enriching the human
experience.” He challenged the attendees to use the conference to
arm themselves with knowledge and understanding and make a renewed commitment
to be “soldiers of light.”
For
jobs well done
“In the days ahead, you’re going to hear a lot of talk about
sharing, and the synergy that comes from sharing,” predicted national
AIA President-elect and Grassroots Chair Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA. “Architecture
is a team sport. It doesn’t happen until we work together to become
the whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”
Hopkins chose the honor of introducing the award programs and recipients,
the large number of which indicates the mutual respect, gratitude, and
admiration shared within the group. This year’s awards recipients
are:
Component
Excellence Awards
• AIA Pittsburgh, for a Single Government Affairs Initiative: preserving
Pennsylvania’s scenic views by collaborating with the state department
of transportation and the governor’s office to improve the Pennsylvania
Bridge Barrier Project
• Miguel A. Rodriguez, AIA, AIA Florida,for an Outstanding Individual
Contribution to Government Affairs: his resolve in working with Florida
state legislators to privatize the Florida Board of Architecture and advance
the practice of architecture
• William Beyer, FAIA, AIA Minnesota, for an Outstanding Individual
Contribution to Government Affairs: his long-range commitments and achievements
in leveraging AIA Minnesota as a resource and partner in the legislative
and regulatory process
• William Dikis, FAIA, AIA Iowa, for an Outstanding Individual Contribution
to Government Affairs: seeing the “big picture” and working
with outside groups to promote the interests of Iowa’s architects
and its government affairs program
• AIA Colorado South, AIA Colorado West, AIA Colorado North, and
AIA Denver, for a Single Public Affairs Initiative: an innovative and
comprehensive media training program that teaches component leaders how
to communicate effectively and deliver a consistent, unified message
•
AIA Colorado, For a Single Public Affairs Initiative: “The 2001
Host Chapter Convention Report,” a comprehensive guide to implementing
a successful national convention
• AIA Detroit, for a Single Public Affairs Initiative: maximizing
an opportunity to publish a series of articles in Destination
Detroit magazine on the important role of architects in planning
and designing livable communities
• Texas Society of Architects, for a Single Public Affairs Initiative:
its use of the “Shape of Texas” radio program to enhance the
public’s awareness of the role the built environment plays in shaping
the heritage of Texas
• Michael Mosley, AIA, AIA Michigan for an Outstanding Individual
Contribution to Public Affairs: countless hours designing and managing
WWW.AIAMI.COM, a graphically stimulating and user-friendly portal that
increases the value of AIA membership
• AIA California Council, for a Public Affairs and Communications
Overall Program: a communications strategy that truly embodies the best
qualities of a membership organization—asking what members need
and providing it
• AIA Southern New York, for a Component Outreach Communications
Overall Program: a well-thought-out and effective awareness program that
educates young people about architecture
• James Dunn, Assoc. AIA, for an Outstanding Individual Contribution
to Membership: his achievements in fostering inclusiveness at the Boston
Society of Architects by creating innovative membership opportunities.
National Service Awards
• Mary Mauerman, CAE, Washington Society of AIA, for her leadership
and service in the political arena on behalf of the architecture profession
in the state of Washington
• Patricia Daugherty, AIA Cincinnati, for her commitment and dedication
to ensuring the smooth transition and implementation of the EF Contract
Documents
• Michael Waldinger, AIA Illinois, for his political insight and
enthusiastic service on the State Government Network, the Government Affairs
Advisory Committee, the Interior Design Visioning Task Force, and other
component committees.
AIA
National Staff Awards
Turn-about is fair play, so 2003 CACE President David Lancaster, executive
director, AIA, presented this year’s AIA National Staff Award to
the entire AIA national component staff. It reads: “In recognition
for our collective sense of partnership and responsibility, and a shared
commitment to provide the highest quality member service, as evidenced
through mutual assistance, cooperative spirit, and collaborative efforts.”
Membership Pilot Programs
Announcement of the inaugural Membership Pilot Programs also played a
role in the evening’s celebration. Hopkins announced the selected
programs designed to foster innovative methods for increasing and retaining
membership:
• AIA Seattle, for affiliated member recruitment
• AIA Baltimore, for faculty recruitment
• AIA Wilmington, for associate member recruitment
• The Facility Management Knowledge Community (PIA), for reciprocal
membership with the International Facility Management Association
• AIA Santa Clara Valley, for a “local chapter only”
effort to recruit pre-professionals and those in nontraditional career
settings
• AIA California Council, for a nontraditional service model
• AIA Pennsylvania, for multiple tracks recruitment strategies
• USACE/AIA, for broadening membership to be more inclusive of government,
corporate, and academic architects
• AIA Baltimore, for government architect recruitment.
(Click here to read more about the individual
programs.)
Building
relationships
Continuing the awards celebration, Hopkins presented the CES Awards for
Excellence, honoring CES Providers and their commitment to an overall
system of quality programming. The award, provided this year with generous
support from W.P. Hickman Systems, Inc., belongs to:
• Large Firm—Over 100 Employees Category: Gresham, Smith &
Partners, Nashville
• Professional Organization Category: Energy Center of Wisconsin,
Madison
• Stakeholder—Commercial Category: Ron Blank & Associates,
San Antonio.
Lastly, Hopkins introduced CNA/Victor O. Schinnerer’s Construction
Senior Vice President Lorna Parsons, and AIA Trust Chair L. Duane Grieve,
FAIA, who spoke about the CNA/Schinnerer/AIA Trust Component Grants Program.
Hopkins expressed the Institute’s gratitude not only for the companies’
programs of continued support for AIA architects, but also for hosting
the evening’s reception, which immediately followed.
—Stephanie Stubbs, Assoc. AIA
Copyright 2003 The American Institute of Architects.
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