by Pamela Day, Hon. AIA

The AIA Convention and Design Exposition is a multi-faceted affair, featuring educational sessions, opportunities to establish and renew connections with colleagues, an enormous exposition of the latest architectural products and services, internationally renowned speakers, and—especially for accredited delegates—a chance to shape the future of the profession.

Toward that last goal, AIA Secretary pro tem Lawrence R. Livergood, AIA, mailed delegate cards for the AIA 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition on April 28 to the executive of each staffed component and president of each unstaffed component. The AIA Bylaws designate the number of delegates for each chapter based on chapter membership. In addition, state organizations and statewide chapters are entitled to one state delegate each.

Past presidents of the Institute and current members of the AIA Board of Directors are delegates-at-large, although they also may be accredited as member delegates from their assigned components.

The duties of a delegate
Each component’s leaders decide who will cast their votes for AIA officers (first vice president, two vice presidents, and secretary this year) and for or against convention resolutions and Bylaws amendments that reach the floor of the convention business meeting. Delegates have the responsibility of getting accredited, listening to and questioning candidates, attending the business sessions, and, of course, voting.

Delegates (up to the number allocated to your chapter) may be:

• Elected by the members at a chapter meeting
• Appointed by the chapter president or executive committee
• Selected by lot or some other method from among those planning to attend the convention.

However a component selects delegates, the component secretary or executive is responsible for ensuring that each authorized delegate has one delegate card signed by the component president or secretary. Note that all of a component’s votes will be lost unless at least one of its architect members or an approved proxy is accredited to vote and actually casts the component’s votes.

Accreditation and voting hours
Accreditation and voting must both be completed before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2006.

In the event of a runoff election, voting for the runoff candidates only will take place on Saturday, June 10, 2006, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The accreditation desk will be open for accreditation and voting:
Thursday, June 8
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, June 9
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(runoff voting only; no accreditation)
Saturday, June 10
9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Accreditation and voting hours will be strictly observed. No exceptions can be made.

Voting
AIA officers are elected by “weighted vote” of the accredited delegates. This means that the total number of votes allocated to your chapter will be divided equally among the delegates accredited to represent your chapter. For example, if your chapter is entitled to nine votes and only three Architect members accredit, each delegate's vote will be counted as three votes.

To vote for officers, each delegate must appear in person in the voting area in the Member Services Center for the balloting. Votes will be lost (not cast) if a delegate accredits but does not vote in the election of officers.

Bylaws amendments and resolutions are debated and put to a vote at the annual business session to be held Saturday, June 10, from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Business session voting is usually by voice vote, although a roll call vote may also be taken. If fewer than all of your component’s delegates attend the Saturday morning session, the votes of the missing delegates will ordinarily be reapportioned among the delegates who are present. Note, however, that unless your component is represented at this meeting by at least one accredited delegate who is an Architect member or by an authorized proxy, all of your component’s votes at that session will be lost.

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