New technology in the form of individual electronic response calculators allowed Grassroots Leadership Conference participants to express their opinions on 44 different issues in two hours during the annual Issues Forum, March 10, in Washington, D.C. AIA President-elect and Grassroots Chair Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA, led the group of more than 350 through the exercise, covering issues in six categories—architecture education, financial alignment, the profession, communications, knowledge, and membership. Participants then amplified their opinions via an “open mike” forum when the polling for each category was completed.

Use of the equipment proved to be a successful trial run for possibly instituting electronic voting at the AIA’s annual business meeting on May 10 at the national convention in San Diego. Fully 80 percent of the participants “strongly agreed” and 18 percent “agreed” that the interactive Issues Forum process is an effective means for receiving input from the AIA leadership. One participant thanked the AIA executive committee for responding quickly to members’ request for a more accurate means of polling at business meetings.

Highlights of forum questionnaire

Architecture education
Opportunities for architecture students to “gain practical experience in conjunction with their formal degree education” was high on the list of almost all participants: 73 percent strongly agreed and 25 percent agreed with this concept. Sixty-five percent of participants said they would devote a few hours a month to mentorship in the profession; 20 percent said they would devote 10 hours or more a month. Respondents were evenly split in their responses to whether structured time in design studios should be lessened in favor of more traditional liberal arts studies and business education. (See full questions and answers on the AIA Web site.)

Financial alignment
The majority of participants, who make up the leadership of the AIA, strongly agreed (15 percent) or agreed (47 percent) that members receive appropriate value for their dues. Twenty-nine percent disagreed, 3 percent strongly disagreed, and 6 percent had no opinion. In response to the question, “I would most support the following AIA dues model,” 55 percent would keep the existing three-tiered structure, 11 percent would favor a single flat fee for all three levels, while 34 percent would support a lower flat fee with à la carte charges for additional services.

The profession
When asked “Which of the following perceptions of the AIA would have the greatest value to the society we serve?,” 16 percent chose “a source of trends in design and construction,” 40 percent opted for “commitment to higher standards of professionalism,” and 44 picked “responsiveness to client and public needs.” Participants also indicated whether the current national AIA Honor Awards program appropriately reflects the values that should be promoted to the public: 7 percent strongly agreed, 38 percent agreed, 30 percent disagreed, 9 percent strongly disagreed, and 16 percent said they had no opinion. Participants also offered their opinion on whether they would support a national architectural license: 70 percent said yes.

“What is the most important resource that the AIA national component can provide to empower and enable members to become involved in their local communities?” formed another question put before the candidates. Fourteen percent selected “mentorship program,” 42 chose “leadership institute,” 32 percent said “case studies in community activism,” and 11 percent voted for “publications on livable communities.”

Communications
The national advertising campaign proved to be another hot topic: 66 percent said it was “very important to continue it after its December 2004 completion date” and 24 percent said it’s “somewhat important.” In answer to a question posed from the floor and added to the process, 78% of respondents supported the idea of a special assessment program to fund the advertising/public-relations campaign beyond 2004. For providing timely member news, 70 percent found electronic newsletters most effective, 11 percent preferred the AIA Web site, while 10 percent chose printed publications. For sharing Best Practices information, 29 percent chose electronic newsletters as most effective, 27 percent chose the AIA Web site, 21 percent opted for print publications, 17 percent preferred local component programs, and 7 percent chose convention programs.

Knowledge
Sustainability earned the highest response (52%), followed by Livable Communities (35%) and Security (13%), when participants chose which of the three required the most additional knowledge. When asked, “Which of the current priority areas should the AIA give more focus to?” 7 percent responded “scholarly research,” 44 percent chose “best practices,” 27 percent said “programs developed for and delivered by AIA components,” and 21 percent said “topic- or market-specific knowledge communities.” Another area for engaging debate came under the question, “What would be most effective in demonstrating the value of architects to clients and the general public? Fifty-eight percent responded “research demonstrating the impact of design,” 7 percent chose “national recognition through awards programs,” and 35 percent said “opportunities for knowledge-sharing among architects and clients about specific building types.”

Membership
A strong majority (74 percent) of participants believe that “the current benefits and services of AIA membership have the greatest value for” established professionals, 22 percent believe they are most valuable for young architects, 3 percent said intern architects, and 1 percent said architects in alternative careers. In terms of to whom the most significant increase in enhancing AIA benefits and services should be applied, 55 percent said young architects, 25 percent said intern architects, 14 percent chose established professionals, and 7 percent said architects in alternative careers.

Participants urged that findings of the e-forum be made readily available to membership, with the hope that the questions and answers would spur greater grassroots involvement in the National Conversation. Any reactions should be conveyed to local leadership as part of the dialogue.

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