by Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA
AIA President

A fair number of chapter newsletters and magazines come across my desk every month. I try to stay on top of them—not to mention the e-zines—by at least scanning the table of contents.

But the simple act of scanning raises its own problems. Inevitably, my eye catches something I’ve just got to read, and before you know it, I’m hooked. With little spare time available from work, AIA chores, and family—yes, I do have a family—I inevitably give up an hour or two of sleep per night.

Take the May/June issue of AIA Houston’s Perspective. The lead headline on the cover was “Sandcastle Competition.” Okay, that should be a quick read. Wrong. I was a victim of false advertising: When I looked inside, there were the chapter’s Honor and Merit Awards. (Had to look at that.) And there were stories about the chapter’s 2004 Firm Award (Kendall/Heaton Associates, Inc., Architects and Planners), a newly minted Fellow (Diane Osan, FAIA—congratulations!), and this year’s recipient of the Ben Brewer Young Architect Award (Brian Malarkey, AIA—ditto!). (Yeah, had to read those, too.)

Members of the chapter know I was reading this issue of Perspective from back to front. It was pushing midnight when I reached page 2, which carried the “President’s Letter,” written by Martha Seng, AIA. Who says that architects aren’t good communicators? Martha’s piece was, by turns, witty (generational differences, i.e., wooden rulers vs. computers), insightful (her observation that mentoring is a two-way street), and inspirational (the well-deserved praise she gave to the late AIA national President Ben Brewer, FAIA).

Right across from Martha Seng, on page three, there was the Executive Director’s letter from the other Martha, Martha Murphree, Hon. AIA. This Martha was reporting on a Special Session of the Texas Legislature (on school finance) and urging AIA Houston members to get involved: “Legislative success is directly proportional to the involvement of Texas architects in the political process.” Or this: “If you care about your business future, now is the time to add your voice to those of your colleagues across the state.”

So there you have it—exhortation, inspiration, celebration, and innovation—all in the 20 pages of a crisp, well-written, and informative newsletter. It’s the same story in the newsletters, magazines, and e-zines carefully written and published by AIA chapters all across the country—exhortation, inspiration, celebration, innovation, and much more.

As I finally take off my glasses, fold up this newsletter, and add it to the pile of reading material by my bed (Boston, New York, Seattle, Maine, North Carolina . . . I’m reminded of what may well be the most telling (not to mention obvious) conclusion of the AIA’s brand study program: that the local AIA component is where members are most creatively and passionately involved in this organization. It’s where the issues are identified and discussed, leadership developed, and networking carried on—facilitated and nurtured in each case by the teamwork of dedicated volunteer and professional men and women driven by a commitment to give back to a profession that has given and is giving so much to them and to our communities.

On the third and final day of our recent National Convention in Chicago, the emphasis fell not on “Learn” (which was Day One) or “Celebrate” (Day Two), but “Dream.” The placement of that emphasis was deliberate; it’s what we wanted attendees to carry back with them as they packed for home. Home is where we build our businesses and reputations. Home is where we make a difference in the lives of young professionals whom we mentor and in the lives of our neighbors to the degree we engage with our communities. Home is where the AIA is, where it puts down roots and gets its sustenance.

AIA Houston’s newsletter is aptly titled. You could say that “Perspective” is a metaphor for a way of looking at things that calls attention to the source of our vitality and renewal as an organization—our grassroots. That’s the correct end of the telescope to grab hold of as we look to our profession and out to the world. That’s where, at the grassroots level, we leverage the sort of dreams that will make a positive difference and fulfill the promise of our creativity and training.

Yes, before I folded the newsletter, I finally turned to Board Treasurer Peter Justl’s story on the sandcastle competition (page 15), which was titled: “Sandcastle Competition: Seven Steps to Salvation.” I wasn’t disappointed by the vigor and imagination I discovered in his words. They were worth dreaming about as I turned out the lights.

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