Issues & AdvocacyState

Close Relations

Inside AIA National’s State Relations Team

July 14, 2011

Welcome to this week’s edition of Close Relations.

Note: AIA Components are encouraged to send legislative and advocacy news to Close Relations Editor Zachary Hart at zacharyhart@aia.org for inclusion in future editions of Close Relations.

STATE LEGISLATURES MEETING THIS WEEK: 7

California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Ohio

HOT ISSUES:

• The AIA Board Advocacy Committee has completed their review of the AIA Public Policies and Position Statements. The BAC is seeking public comment from the State Government Network regarding a revision to the Sustainable Architecture Practice Position Statement. Contact Angie Taylor, Director, State Relations for more information at angietaylor@aia.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• July Virtual Advocacy Briefing Call will feature an update on AIA state level advocacy. The call will feature an update from the AIA State Relations team, updates from components on advocacy efforts across the country, and a presentation on state legislatures from a representative of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Date and Time: July 21, 2011 4:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 669 331 610
Event password: Welcome11
Event address for attendees: https://aiaevents.webex.com/aiaevents/onstage/g.php?d=669331610&t=a

• July SGN Open Call – titled The ABCs of PAC – will feature Adam Melis, Director, Advocacy Outreach and Hannah Wesolowski, Manager, Political Programs discussing best practices on how to maximize the effectiveness of State PACs with limited resources. The call will be worth one Continuing Education credit.

Among other things, they will discuss:

• PAC management best practices to streamline your process and be more efficient – Why PAC boards, bylaws, contribution criteria, and disbursement strategies can ease your resource allocation and increase transparency.

• Eye-catching solicitations – What messages resonate with AIA membership? How do we educate our members on the importance of PACs and create a culture of giving?

• Successful reward and recognition techniques – How you can utilize incentive clubs/giving levels and revamp your recognition approach to align with member priorities and manage costs.

• Communications that build awareness and excitement – Ways you can motivate non-donors with meetings, websites, newsletters, annual reports, and sharing your success stories.

PAC administrators, AIA member volunteers interested in government affairs, and anyone interested in learning more about PACs are encouraged to participate.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 3:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)

Call-in Number: 1-866-669-3239

Event number: 665 237 557

Event password: Welcome11

Event address for attendees: https://aiaevents.webex.com/aiaevents/onstage/g.php?d=665237557&t=a

AROUND THE HORN:

• Illinois Supreme Court upheld a law that created a $31 billion statewide construction program, known as Illinois Jobs Now! For more information, contact AIA Illinois Executive Vice President Mike Waldinger at mwaldinger@aiail.org.
• Florida reports that Governor Rick Scott signed a law that extends public records and public meetings exemptions for competitive solicitations and bids for public commodities and contractual services. For more information, contact AIA Florida Executive Vice President Vicki Long at vlong@aiafla.org.
• New Jersey posted two pieces on unlicensed practice to its blog. One by members of the AIA New Jersey Legislative and Government Affairs Committee on how to report instances of unlicensed practice, and one by AIA New Jersey Regional Director Jerry Eben, AIA on his efforts to address long delays by the New Jersey State Board of Architects in investigating complaints of unlicensed practice.
• Governor Martin O’Malley introduced FastTrack, a new tool to expedite permitting for projects in priority development areas. FastTrack is part of Maryland Made Easy, a wider initiative to lessen bureaucratic requirements on Maryland businesses.

RESOURCES:

• The next generation of AIA Contract Documents will be cloud-based, meaning they will be available online so that users will have access to the AIA Contract Document Library and all drafts and final documents anytime. To see a preview video of the new Contract Documents, which will be available in early 2012, click here.
• AIA Indiana has created the AIA Indiana Pipeline, a pre-bid reporting service that provide project information to contractors and vendors, generating revenue for AIA Indiana and saving architects significant time in fielding calls. To learn more about the service, contact AIA Indiana Executive Director Jason Shelley at jshelley@aiaindiana.org.

THIS WEEK IN STATE RELATIONS:

• SGN Advisory Panels: No advisory panels met this week. Relevant documents for each Panel will be posted to Sharepoint: Click here, then “SGN Advisory Panels.” Contact Chris Merriam if you’re interested in joining one of the Panels.
• SGN Listserv threads: AIA National asked components to describe their methods of tracking state legislation. All SGN Listserv threads are archived on Sharepoint; click here, then “SGN Listserv Threads.”

*             *             *

Past editions of Close Relations can be found here.

Connect with AIA’s State Affairs team:

• Angie Taylor (Director, State Relations): 202.626.7543 or angietaylor@aia.org
• Chris Merriam (Manager, State Issues and Programs): 202.626.7417 or chrismerriam@aia.org
• Zachary Hart (State and Local Relations Consultant, Close Relations Editor): 202.626.7354 or zacharyhart@aia.org
• Twitter: @AIA_StRelations