Committee on Design

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on Design and Residential Knowledge Community .
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I am allowing my AIA membership to expire.  I am a sole practitioner specializing in remodel and new home construction.  I have been practicing since 1971 and been a AIA member for most of those years.  I have completed 194 projects, and did design-build for 17 years, personally constructing 65 projects.  In 2008 I averaged 100 billable hours per month.  Last month I billed 19 hours.  In 2008 there were 200,000 residential building permits issued in California.  In 2010, there were 40,000. I have been reading the AIA news and blogs for months, and there has been a lot discussion regarding the economy, but few suggestions regarding constructive and effective action.  I have also read about the "end of architecture" as a profession. Here in Marin County, California, I am experiencing a culture of fear and a willingness to create mediocrity in the built environment. This seems like "the end of architecture" for me. 

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David Ayers AIA
D. Guy Ayers, Architect
Los Altos Hills CA
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David-

Although I am also a sole practitioner in a similar financial plight, I am writing this response letter in part to talk myself into not joining you in quitting the AIA. 

While I agree that most continuing education classes are shallow and superficial, especially regarding the engineering and craft of building, I get the feeling if you are willing to do the documentation, the AIA will accept more in-depth self-directed study, as long as it's above and beyond your current day-to-day practice.

Along the same lines, the AIA is probably only as good as what you put into it, and the membership fees are only a small part- a lot of members donate a lot of time as well, and the only way things will get any better is with more volunteers.  Maybe you could teach some building craft classes in your "early retirement"?

Thanks,
Guy Ayers

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Faris Haddad Intl. Assoc. AIA
G Manager, Chief Architect
Pella Engineering Consulting
Amman

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Me also a sole practitioner at the other end of the world, Jordan, and a agree with you David for the participants role to support the AIA and the invitation for all experianced architects to participate in educating the new generation

thanks
faris





Original Message:
Sent: 12-13-2010 02:09
From: David Ayers
Subject: Allowing my AIA membership to expire



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David Ayers AIA
D. Guy Ayers, Architect
Los Altos Hills CA
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David-

Although I am also a sole practitioner in a similar financial plight, I am writing this response letter in part to talk myself into not joining you in quitting the AIA. 

While I agree that most continuing education classes are shallow and superficial, especially regarding the engineering and craft of building, I get the feeling if you are willing to do the documentation, the AIA will accept more in-depth self-directed study, as long as it's above and beyond your current day-to-day practice.

Along the same lines, the AIA is probably only as good as what you put into it, and the membership fees are only a small part- a lot of members donate a lot of time as well, and the only way things will get any better is with more volunteers.  Maybe you could teach some building craft classes in your "early retirement"?

Thanks,
Guy Ayers

I, as a sole pratictioner too, will renew because AIA Continental Europe works very well.
We have usefull conferences with building sites visits, and our is a good community.

David you're right, if AIA gives you nothing, it's better to quit.
But I think the meaning of the Association is not to give answers to everything, or to find solutions no one else is able to find: I'm here because it gives me the possibility to meet other architects and to discuss, and to confront, and eventually find solutions.
Sometime the solution comes from you, sometime comes from someone else, but often it comes easier if you're not alone and you can talk.

Personally, I don't think we as architects have in this moment the possibility to solve the economic crisis: it's a political matter, and not a professional one...and also to survive is becoming a political matter in USA as it is yet in Italy, and from more years...and I mean not a specific matter about architects and architecture, but the way the global politic influences economy in general.



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Giuliana Barbano Intl. Assoc. AIA
Architect
Torino

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Original Message:
Sent: 12-13-2010 02:09
From: David Ayers
Subject: Allowing my AIA membership to expire



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David Ayers AIA
D. Guy Ayers, Architect
Los Altos Hills CA
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David-

Although I am also a sole practitioner in a similar financial plight, I am writing this response letter in part to talk myself into not joining you in quitting the AIA. 

While I agree that most continuing education classes are shallow and superficial, especially regarding the engineering and craft of building, I get the feeling if you are willing to do the documentation, the AIA will accept more in-depth self-directed study, as long as it's above and beyond your current day-to-day practice.

Along the same lines, the AIA is probably only as good as what you put into it, and the membership fees are only a small part- a lot of members donate a lot of time as well, and the only way things will get any better is with more volunteers.  Maybe you could teach some building craft classes in your "early retirement"?

Thanks,
Guy Ayers

I think you have hit the nail on the head. The organization is really out of touch.

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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