Summary: “This past year, AIA members have been building on and extending the AIA’s reputation and the reputation of architects by their knowledge, their achievement, and their engagement with their communities, whether the opportunity for such engagement is a civic initiative to improve the quality of life of their neighbors or a response to disaster,” noted AIA President Marvin Malecha, FAIA, as he opened the awards program of the AIA Grassroots Legislative and Leadership Conference on February 5. “Each year the components and knowledge communities are invited to submit work they are especially proud of. These submissions are reviewed by a jury. Their task is to evaluate the submissions for their impact and value as best practice case studies, studies from which all of us can learn.”

AIA First Vice President/President-elect George H. Miller, FAIA, joined Malecha on the stage to honor this year’s outstanding components and individuals and the good work they bring to the Institute.

Public Affairs and Communications

• Outstanding Individual Contribution: AIA Boston Society, for the project “Mass Impact: Cities and Climate Change Symposium,” a model event that led to passage of a Green Communities and Global Warming Solutions Act. Jim Batchelor, FAIA, accepted the award.

Component Outreach/Communications

• Overall Program for an all-volunteer component: AIA Greenville, S.C., for “Architecture Month,” a community-oriented program that engaged the public and promoted the profession through innovative initiatives. Bo Garland, AIA, accepted the award.
• Overall Program: AIA Louisiana, for their “IDP Forum 2008,” which enabled the voices of emerging professionals to engage in dialogue about meeting the needs of the next generation. Will Tregre, II, AIA; Marsha Cuddeback, AIA; and Lynn Robertson accepted the award.

Government Affairs

• Outstanding Single Program: AIA Florida, for “To Kill a Service Tax,” a successful campaign to eliminate a sales tax on services that would have an adverse effect on architecture practices. Accepting this award were Steve Jernigan, AIA, LEED-AP; Mickey Jacob, FAIA; Vicki Long, CAE; and Michele Straw.
  

Continuing Education

• Single Program: AIA San Antonio, for their “The Professional Practice Leadership Program (2PLP),” a successful, 10-month continuing education initiative that enhances the leadership skills of a diverse audience of architects. Steve Patmon, AIA; Rebecca Schenker, AIA; and Bob Wise Jr., AIA, accepted the award.
• Overall Program: AIA North Carolina, for their “Continuing Education Academy project,” for renewing and revitalizing this member-driven academy. David Crawford, Hon. AIA; Michael Cox, AIA; Ann Collier, AIA; and Heather Vance accepted this award.

Increasing Organizational Performance

• Individual: Michael F. Malinowski, FAIA, president of AIA Central Valley, for his visionary leadership of “Streamlining Improvement of Process,” which introduced innovations that include virtual chapter meetings and electronic voting. Accepting this award for Michael Malinowski were Carl Lubawy, AIA; Matthew Shigihara, AIA; and Brian Crilly, Assoc. AIA.

Knowledge Community Outreach, Communications

• Overall program: The AIA Academy of Architecture for Health for The Fourth Factor: An Historical Perspective on Architecture and Medicine, a book that illustrates the relationship between medicine and quality design in health care. Accepting for this award on behalf of the Academy of Architecture for Health were John Michael Currie, AIA, FRSH; Peter Bardwell, FAIA, FACHA; Dr. Ray Pentecost, II, AIA, ACHA; and E. Tobey, FAIA, FACHA.

Crawford receives National Service Award
“The National Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions by state and local component staff that advance national-level programs and initiatives,” said AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Christine McEntee. “This award underscores the importance of the creative partnership between the national component and our local, state, and international colleagues who serve our members and the communities in which they practice.”

Welcoming Crawford to the stage, McEntee read his citation:

“The American Institute of Architects
Is privileged to confer this
Distinguished service award
Upon David Crawford, Hon. AIA
AIA North Carolina

In recognition of his vision that sparked
The creation of the service networks,
Which represent six core component service areas
That will enhance member value.
Generous with his time, advice, and knowledge,
He championed this concept,
Bringing the AIA closer to the goal of providing a consistent level of service to members
That meets, anticipates, and exceeds their needs.”

Dreiling honored with CACE Distinguished Service Award
“The CACE Distinguished Service Award was created to acknowledge, celebrate, and encourage a quality of collaboration whose real winners are AIA members,” noted CACE President William Babcock, Hon, AIA. “This year, I’m pleased to announce on behalf of CACE that after carefully combing through a roster of highly qualified candidates, we have identified an individual who shines especially brightly in a galaxy of stars This year’s recipient is a friend of long standing, a brilliant burst of sunlight wherever she appears—Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA.”

Babcock invited Dreiling to join him on the stage while he read the citation to the group:

“The American Institute of Architects
Council of Architectural Component Executives
Is pleased to confer this
Distinguished Service Award
Upon Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, Hon. SDA.
Architect, member, and a local, state,
And national volunteer leader,
As well as a member of the AIA national staff.

Helene embodies such core AIA values as
“Authoritative source,” “credible voice,”
And “increasing member value.”
An effective advocate for the positive impact
Architecture has on people and their lives,
And the value that components bring to their members,
She has worked tirelessly to enhance the capacity
Of components to work collaboratively
As a sharing community in both meeting and exceeding
The expectations of the members.”