Summary: As we begin the AIA membership renewal cycle, we thought we’d point out the value that your participation in your professional association brings to the membership collectively and individually, especially as the news is filled with stories of a volatile stock market, a tight credit market for the time being, a slowing economy, and predictions that shipping shortfalls and rising worldwide demand for commodities will continue to increase the cost of construction materials. It’s times like these that make people worry.

And it’s times like these that make your involvement in a strong professional association all the more important. So we encourage you not only to renew your membership but also to renew your involvement with your colleagues at the local, state, and national level.

The benefits:

• Through local meetings, you stay aware of market trends, share insights with professionals who face the same difficulties and see possibilities that will open your eyes to opportunities you might otherwise have missed.
• Through state involvement, you will bring the collective force of your membership to legislative and regulatory issued of tremendous importance to your practice and the health, safety, and welfare of your clients and communities. For instance, in Florida, AIA members together with fellow professional organizations were able to convince the Florida Supreme Court to rule against a state constitutional amendment proposal that likely would have led to a state sales tax on professional services.
• And, at the national level, there are knowledge communities that bring like-minded architects together to discuss technical, practice, and design concepts that drive the profession forward into the future.
• There are also national programs to help members face timely issues such as disaster preparedness and, most recently, navigating the current economic challenges.

Streamlining the renewal process
This year, for the first time, electronic renewal is the primary means for AIA membership renewal. (Although the Membership Team will continue to support mail renewal if that is what you personally prefer.) To address one of the most commonly asked questions we get—“How do I log into the system?”—we offer this quick tip.

How can I log in to pay online or access my member invoice?
When prompted, log in with your user name and password. Your user name is your primary e-mail address on record. If you do not remember your password, the default is your last name, capitalized appropriately. Our Login Tips are available, if necessary. If you need further assistance, please call 800-242-3837.