Housing and Community Development

I just read your posting about the Bank of America credit card, and how tone-deaf the markting is; I have similar misgivings related to the marketing efforts of the AIA Trust. 

I have always been annoyed by the Trust's relentless junk mail, but was incensed to receive two fake plastic credit-type cards in a recent mailing.  I sent them to Bob Ivy, with a note questioning whether we should be consigning 80,000 (160,000?  I received two) useless pieces of plastic to the landfill, while simultantously trying to promote architect as leaders of sustainibility. 

I don't know whether Mr. Ivy ever saw my note, but I did receive an emailed response from the AIA Trust assuring me that fake cards are proven to increase the response rate and that that no member dues were used in producing the cards.  Huh?

Clearly there is a disconnect between the way AIA portrays architects to the public (sustainability leaders) and how perceives its own members (mindless consumers).


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Scott Rappe LEED AP AIA
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
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Hi Scott,
Thanks for the post.  I agree with you, and will contact the staff about it too should they persist.

I learned today that the AIA's association with Bank of America extends to "other banking services" as well. We need to encourage the AIA to move our money to an institution that creates value for our communities and therefore for our profession, rather than destroys it.

Best Regards,
Don

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Donald Argus AIA
Seattle WA
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