Component Leaders Take Rebuild and Renew to Capitol Hill
Green infrastructure panel presents views of architects, landscape architects, and planners
More than 300 AIA component presidents, presidents-elect, and executives gathered February 5 to take the AIA Rebuild and Renew message to their representatives and senators in Washington, D.C. Conferees gathered at 7:30 a.m. for inspiration from Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Hon. AIA (D-Ore.); Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers, AIA; President Marvin Malecha, FAIA; First Vice President/Grassroots Chair George Miller, FAIA; and a panel of AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Chris McEntee, American Society of Landscape Architects EVP/CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. AIA, and American Planning Association Executive Director/CEO Paul Farmer.

New, Pending HR Rules May Affect Your Workplace
New federal laws, proposed bills, and notable revisions to existing federal measures will widen protections for workers under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), among others. The scope of these changes, says an employment lawyer, will impact managers and executives beyond human resources broadly, and may particularly affect the many smaller and midsize architecture firms where the owner serves double duty as the HR manager.

Four Surefire Steps to Recession-Proof Your Firm
When the economy falls off a cliff like it did in September 2008, is your firm going to survive or even thrive? Most firms reacted to the downturn by cutting the usual costs: training, travel, raises, bonuses, headcount, and 401(k) matching contributions. The bad news is these kinds of cuts also put employees in a funk that crushes productivity by one-third or more. Let business consultant Jay Arthur show you a better way.

Financial Planning Webinar Program Now Available on AIA’s Navigating the Economy Web Site
2008 was by any measurement a wildly tumultuous year on Wall Street. And while the volatility and uncertainty of the nation's economy has affected many AIA members professionally, we cannot forget that there is a corresponding impact on personal finance as well. Do you have a financial plan? Have you made adjustments to your plan in recent months? The ”Designing a Financial Plan in Uncertain Times” Web seminar will describe how to build a financial plan for the various stages of life, when to review your plan, and when to make changes. At the conclusion of this seminar, you will have the building blocks to build or fine-tune your financial plan.