Sean:
I understand it is easy to be cynical, but I believe this should be taken on its face value. Knowing many staff members personally, I believe that your reflection on them is way off-base. Many of the staff understands that the AIA should be a member driven organization.
Let me relate a story of a committee I was a part of for three years, Component Partnerships. That committee was comprised of members and component executives. Part of our charge was to look to develop products and services that would be of value to our members. Not all would be free, but those that weren't would be significantly discounted to members.
One idea that was brought forward and run by a similar focus group was to partner with an "asset management" service, better known as a collection agency. Personally, getting stiffed on fees is a big thing to me, but the focus group came back and told us they didn't want that kind of service. They didn't want anyone hassling their (deadbeat) clients. So, the idea was dropped.
I am confident these products and services have come forward because some member has asked for it. Let's give them the benefit of seeing where this lands.
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Walter Hainsfurther FAIA
Kurtz Associates Architects
Des Plaines IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2015 19:07
From: Sean Catherall
Subject: Volunteers Needed for Focus Group
For those who wonder why some AIA members doubt the organization's intentions, this should clarify why: "The AIA...is assessing a number of products and services...as new offerings to AIA members..." The organization's support staff does not see the AIA as an association of members created to assist one another; they see it as a market to be tapped. This also explains the AIA's historically poor results in advancing the profession and the interest of its members. Did the AIA members ask for these products? Why is there secrecy in their development? Will they be offered as a benefit of membership or as a profit center to build the bureaucracy?
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Sean Catherall AIA
Senior Project Manager
DAVE ROBINSON ARCHITECTS
Salt Lake City UT
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2015 15:59
From: Maan Hashem
Subject: Volunteers Needed for Focus Group
Colleagues,
The AIA Global Innovation / New Business Development team is assessing a number of products and services to determine their suitability for launch as new offerings to AIA members and customers.
To advise AIA staff on the suitability of these products and services, the AIA is asking for volunteers for an ad hoc focus group to provide feedback on potential products and services. This feedback supplements other vetting steps that AIA staff will perform as part of a comprehensive due diligence review for each new product or service.
Feedback is expected to cover a wide range of areas, and can include overall quality of the offering, suggestions to improve it, as well as ideas for what support would be necessary to make the offering more compelling.
The Focus group will do all its work virtually through webinars. The typical session will begin with an introduction to the product, work through a demonstration, and then be asked a series of questions in person, and online through a follow up sessions.
In 2015, the Focus Group is expected to meet 4 times, and is seeking approximately 20 members. The first focus group session is scheduled to review a product in March.
Focus group members must be willing to keep all information provided to them in confidence and sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Focus group members are also encouraged to suggest new ideas for AIA products.
If you are interested, please reply directly back to me, or send me an email at mhashem@aia.org.
Regards,
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Maan Hashem PMP, CAE
Managing Director, AIA Global Innovation
New Business Development
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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