Summary: When the AIA component presidents, presidents-elect, and executives come to the nation’s capital in the coming week, the main purpose is to lobby Congress on issues of paramount importance to community infrastructure development, energy conservation, tax abatement, and historic preservation. There is also the opportunity to interact for more effective outreach opportunities to you the member on navigating the economy and developing stronger intra- and inter-professional ties. At the same time, it is an opportunity to honor the recipients of the Institute’s highest honors, the AIA Gold Medal, AIA Firm Award, Twenty-five Year Award, and the American Architectural Foundation Keystone Award.

For the Grassroots business sessions, your representatives will want to know your positions on issues of paramount importance as identified to the Board Advocacy Committee. For more information on that, link to the advocacy site on AIA.org. To add your insights, contact amelis@aia.org.

And if you will be in the D.C. area on Friday, February 6, and would like a chance to be a part of the 20th Annual Accent on Architecture Gala black tie event at the DAR Constitution Hall, contact the AAF Web site. 2009 Gold Medalist Glenn Murcutt has also agreed to an open interview with Architectural Record Editor-in-Chief Robert Ivy, FAIA, during a dessert open to the public after the gala. If you have questions you’d like to direct to Murcutt, go to the AIArchitect blog and add it to the content box.