Mr. Ferger:
In your recent post you "complain" that you "didn't expect to become a loobyist in mid-career." Perhaps that is part of the problem here. As an architect, haven't you been a lobbyist your entire career? Haven't you spoken to others about the value architects bring to their lives? Haven't you told your clients why architects are not just "a necessary evil", but someone who can take their asperational goals for their projects and make them take shape?
Well if you've done that, then you are a lobbyist. You have advocated for what you believe in to the public. All a "lobbyist" does is address those same points to a specific group, namely the legislature. And why would we entruct these important messages to someone other than ourselves.
Yesterday I joined over 100 colleagues at our state capitol to meet directly with our legislators to insure that our voices were heard. They were very receptive. Also at the capitol were students from Charter Schools, the Sierra Club, EMS technicians and Police Chiefs. They aren't afraid to speak about their beliefs, why would we be.
I see lots of complaining on these posts. People want someone else to do what they are best capable of. If we are passionate about our profession, then we, not a faceless organization or a hired gun, need to speak up and explain the value proposition that architects provide.
The AIA's role is to provide a structure to this. To make sure that when we do speak up, the voices of 75,000 members speak with us. This is our professsion and our organization and we need to get involved so that it reflects our values and our needs.
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Walter Hainsfurther FAIA
Kurtz Associates Architects
Des Plaines IL
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