Issues & AdvocacyIssues & Advocacy

AIA Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meeting

The Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meeting is a time to share key items that impact you – AIA members – as well as share action items and next steps. AIA members and representatives of components have the opportunity to share their stories and successes, as well as ask questions and share ideas. In addition, each month we have a central discussion topic, presented by guest speakers.

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Upcoming Virtual Advocacy Meetings

The Role of Emerging Professionals in Advocating for the Profession

Thursday, April 19, 2012 – 4 PM EDT

Quick Link: Instructions to Join this month’s Meeting

In April, in addition to an AIA advocacy recap, our feature topic will be “Supporting Emerging Professionals. Representatives of the AIA Young Architects Forum, the AIA National Associates Committee, and the American Institute of Architecture Students will discuss their views on why the next generation of architects needs to engage in advocacy and share their experiences advocating for their profession.

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Instructions for joining the upcoming Virtual Advocacy Meeting

To access the on-line portion of this briefing, go to:
https://aiaevents.webex.com/aiaevents/onstage/g.php?d=667239139&t=a

Event number: 660 736 329

Event password: Welcome11

(If you have issues with this link or the event number, please go directly to https://aiaevents.webex.com and select this event to participate.)

To join the teleconference only
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Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4490
Access code: 660 736 329

**If you have any problems, please email us at amelis@aia.org.

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Questions for our special guest: We will do our best to get as many of AIA members’ questions in front of our guest as possible. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions during the call, but you may also submit them ahead of time by emailing the AIA Government Relations team.

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As a reminder, these meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month, at 4 pm ET. They are open to all AIA members. As such, please forward to anyone you feel may be interested in participating.

There will be visual aids online using WebEx (information below). However, you can join us solely via phone if you are unable to join the online portion of the meeting.

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Recent Virtual Advocacy Meetings

March 2012 (powerpoint available here) – Joe Simonetta, CAE, Executive Director of AIA New Jersey joined the call to talk about adoption opportunities and possible roadblocks with the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). This teleconference provided information for component leaders and staff who are looking ahead to what the IgCC will mean in their states.
Recording: March 2012 Virtual Advocacy Meeting: IGCC

FEBRUARY 2012 (powerpoint available here) – AIA Staff conducted an issue briefing on our Capitol Hill agenda for the 2012 Grassroots Conference. (Original speaker, Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, was not able to attend. The AIA is working on rescheduling this opportunity.)
Recording: 2012 AIA Grassroots Conference: Capitol Hill Day Issue Briefing

JANUARY 2012 (powerpoint available here) – U.S. Small Business Administration staff joined AIA members to discuss the resources the SBA has available, including contracting opportunities, counseling & training, business loans & grants for small businesses. The SBA’s programs can help you start a business, get government loans and plan for future business prospects domestically and abroad. In the conversation, the SBA outlined ways to help your business or resources you can pass on to your component members.

3DECEMBER 2011 – No Virtual Advocacy Meeting.

NOVEMBER 2011 (powerpoint available here) – November’s monthly call focused on the International Green Construction Codes (IgCC), which had just passed the final action hearings earlier in the month. AIA-member volunteers working on the IgCC discussed the outcomes of the hearings, as well as what happens next, and what chapters can do to prepare for advocating on behalf of the IgCC when it is released in 2012. The call featured:

Chris Green, AIA – AIA Codes Committee

Don Brown, FAIA – AIA Codes Committee

Jessyca Henderson, AIA, AIA Managing Director, Policy & Community Relations

OCTOBER 2011 (powerpoint available here) – Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO-3) joined the AIA for the first-ever “Connect with Congress” teleconference. Congressman Carnahan discussed the current political climate, two soon-to-be introduced bills with a direct impact on the building and construction industry, and the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus that he helped found and co-chairs. He answered member inquiries about talking to legislators, upcoming congressional races, and much more (recording forthcoming).

SEPTEMBER 2011 (powerpoint available here) – Discussion on the AIA's Stalled Projects Initiative, an effort to identify projects that are currently not moving forward past the design phase due to a lack of access to credit complimented by an attempt to identify potential methods of alternative finance. It has garnered a good deal of interest from the press, within the industry, and with several potential real estate investment sources. The call featured:

• Kermit Baker, Chief Economist, AIA & Senior Research Fellow, Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies

• James Chu, AIA Director, Market Research

AUGUST 2011 (powerpoint available here) – The AIA team discusses resources available to AIA members in building relationships with members of Congress and other legislators. Featured tools include specific steps every AIA member can take to further AIA positions and build bridges with our elected leaders.

JULY 2011 (powerpoint available here) – Discussion of the current status of state financing, and a review of AIA resources, featuring:

• Arturo Pérez, Director, Fiscal Affairs Program, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL):
State budget and tax update: A review of the budget gap states are currently facing and an overview of projected revenue shortfalls for 2012 and 2013.

• SGN Steering Committee: Peter Heimbach, AIA (AIA Tennessee); Ben Tiseo, FAIA (AIA Michigan); Dan Kirby, AIA (AIA Florida); Stan Bowman, Hon. AIA | WA (AIA Washington); Rick Bright, AIA (AIA Arizona); and Caroline Boyce (AIA Pennsylvania):
A review of 2011 AIA state advocacy successes, emerging trends and issues, AIA resource development, and other topics AIA state chapters are facing on the legislative front.

JUNE 2011 (powerpoint available here) - Discussion of the AIA’s volunteer Disaster Assistance Program with AIA Disaster Assistance Task Force Chair Rachel Minnery, AIA, and Task Force member and current AIA Florida President Michael Lingerfelt, AIA. In this call, Minnery and Lingerfelt discussed:

• An overview of the AIA volunteer Disaster Assistance Program with perspectives from Disaster Assistance Task Force members from Florida and Washington

• An update on AIA responses to recent disasters, particularly in Alabama, Missouri, and Kansas

• Advocacy strategies to encourage and protect architects involved in disaster assistance going forward.

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Questions? Contact Adam Melis at amelis@aia.org or (202) 626-7383.