Summary: The National Associates Committee posed five questions this year to the candidates for AIA office. Candidates were free to address issues raised by the questionnaire in whatever form they found most appropriate, without necessarily answering each question separately—within a word-count limit of 1,000 words. Following are the questions and the candidates’ responses, as they submitted them via e-mail to the AIA by April 20.

1. The AIA and the United States Conference of Mayors are working together to encourage city leaders to take a strong stance in favor of promoting integrated and high-performance building design with a goal of reaching a 50 percent fossil fuel reduction by 2010 and carbon neutral buildings by 2030. What are your plans to support this initiative and to implement the AIA's positions on the environment? More specifically, what role do you see the Associate AIA members playing now and in the future in furthering these objectives?

2. Where do you see opportunities for architecture students, emerging professionals, and recently licensed professionals to make the greatest contribution to our profession?

3. Some statistics have suggested the rate of attrition among architects is steadily increasing. What initiatives do you suggest/support that will encourage younger members to remain in the field and also to become registered?

4. As technology advances and new software is developed, at least some members of the public (including potential clients) seem to believe that it is becoming easier for any “Average Joe” to “design” a building. How do you propose we, leaders of the architecture profession, promote an architect’s value to society? Additionally, how do you see the role of the architect changing as technology advances?

5. How is the Intern process handled in your firm/office? Would you consider it to be "Intern Friendly"? What would you propose to help make the profession more "Intern Friendly"?

Click on a candidate’s name to view his response:

First Vice President/President-elect

• Michael Broshar, FAIA (AIA Iowa)
• Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA (AIA North Carolina)

Vice President

• Peter J. Arsenault, AIA (AIA Central New York)
• David J. Brotman FAIA (AIA Los Angeles)
• Clark D. Manus, FAIA (AIA San Francisco)

Treasurer

• Hal Munger, FAIA (AIA Toledo).