Housing and Community Development

Re: D. Vernon

I am also considering dropping AIA membership and even the title of "Architect".
I agree that the best thing the AIA has done for most of us is open a blog.
Which anybody with half a brain can do.
So this is no real help.
The main problem is that we pay dues to an organization that has leadership. 
For years the leadership has been run by the suits in big corporate firms.
They are not interested in single family residential.
Which is why I do not participate in the social club and CEU funtions they offer.
If any yahoo can open shop and design houses then I see no real incentive, need or requirement to be called an 'architect' in order to do what anyone can.  Literally anyone .....who can get an engineer's stamp at least.
I have a Master in Architecture degree.  I can advertise that.
What has the AIA leadership done to protect us or to plead our case to the government.
I may have missed something.
Now of course the suits are worried because commercial activity is slowing to a halt as well.
They will be busier than ever now.
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John Henry
John Henry Design International, Inc.
Orlando Florida
www.dreamhomedesignusa.com
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John Henry,

Now is not the time to sit in our offices and blog about how bad the AIA is. Or, at worst, consider throwing away our title as Architect. I don't know about the rest of you but I worked damn hard to earn my M. Arch and ultimately my architectural license + practice.

I believe that one of our Charleston CRAN-AIA members will be attending the AIA Small Firm Roundtable in Dallas. We would also be glad to share information with any groups or individuals about what we are working on and some things we have done in effort to get a local CRAN group started.

Bill:

You are correct.  I am the CRAN National representative on the Small Firm Round Table Board.  We are going to have our committee this coming weekend in Dallas, Texas.   Jeffrey Rosenblum who Chairs this committee is very interested input from the residential architects.   Since I serve both on the National CRAN board and the SMRT I can make sure each committee is helping residential architects without duplication.  Each committee can concentrate on an aspect of practice to really affect changes.   CRAN National is finalizing a survey that we have received financial help not from the AIA but from CEDIA.   We wanted this to be independent so we can clearly see these issues residential architects are facing.  All of our firms have been hit by this recession and since the majority of the AIA membership do residential it has been sort of taxation without representation .. until CRAN can along.   This survey will be also forum for us all to let our voices be heard.

If anyone has specific input for the survey, please post your comments on the CRAN forum.

Thanks.

Chris

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Christopher Rose AIA
President
Christopher Rose Architects, P.A.
Johns Island SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2011 17:16
From: William Huey
Subject: AIA Membership

I believe that one of our Charleston CRAN-AIA members will be attending the AIA Small Firm Roundtable in Dallas. We would also be glad to share information with any groups or individuals about what we are working on and some things we have done in effort to get a local CRAN group started.

Collectively, we have found strong interest from both local and national sponsors (we actually have a waiting list). Our dues are very modest, and we assess no dues for interns and recent graduates. We are compiling a list of displaced, out of work interns with their individual talents listed so that we may at least be able to give them some work, albeit on a contract basis, NCARB hours, and exposure to local firms (for hopefully gainful employment as soon as possible). We will have annual local public service projects and have established a scholarship initiative for local students who will attend Architecture school. We are scheduling social networking and informational meetings with our local Home Builders Association. We have topic driven monthly meetings with guest speakers such as construction attorneys, building officials, trade resource providers, etc. - plus are working on fully sponsored 6 hour CEU events. Our local AIA chapter appreciates and fully supports efforts relevant to the residential practice.

Our 40+ member group started last summer with one local Residential Architect calling six others to have a few beers and discuss forming a group. It only took some initiative on behalf of a few people, and a bit of getting past ourselves, to form an active Network.

Notice I wrote the word "local" several times, that is the key. Orlando Residential Architects (and anywhere else), call each other! Keep the focus local. This could be one of those opportunities Ryan Young mentioned.

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William Huey
Bill Huey + Associates
Charleston SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2011 12:38
From: Ryan Young
Subject: AIA Membership


Now is not the time to sit in our offices and blog about how bad the AIA is. Or, at worst, consider throwing away our title as Architect. I don't know about the rest of you but I worked damn hard to earn my M. Arch and ultimately my architectural license + practice.

We all have been affected by the economic downturn. Now is the time to step up, be creative and find new sources of work. This is a Country founded on the ideals of making something from nothing. There needs to be a major paradigm shift in the way we think and how we conduct business. We can't wait around for the AIA to send out a pamphlet explaining why the general public should hire an architect to design their house. Opportunity is always around us. Granted, it may be overshadowed by the dust cloud from the past 3 years, but I assure you it's there. It's time to be creative + explore new opportunities.

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Ryan Young, AIA ' LEED AP
Interstruct, Inc.
Orlando FL
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The AIA has started a Small Firm Round Table to focus on the needs of firms with less than 10 members. Our initial round table meeting is next week in Dallas. Representatives from each region will be attending. Contact your state chapter to find out who your representative is and let them know what issues you would like the SFRT to address. We are also having a SFRT meeting at the national convention in New Orleans.
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Linna Frederick AIA
Principal
Frederick & Frederick Architects
Beaufort SC
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