Issues & AdvocacyState

Close Relations

Inside AIA National’s State Relations Team

August 4, 2011

Welcome to this week’s edition of Close Relations. For more government advocacy news, please see today’s edition of the ANGLE.

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: 3

Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

HOT ISSUES:

Now that the debt ceiling deal has passed, states are trying to figure out how the deal will affect them. Here are some interesting pieces on the issue:

• From the New York Times: “States and Cities Brace for Less Federal Money”
• Stateside Associates: “State Answers to Federal Debt Questions”
• the Christian Science Monitor: “How the Debt Deal Could Hit States Hardest”
• infographic shows just how much states depend on federal spending.
• a quick reminder that Congress is scheduled to be on break and members will be back in their districts from August 8 – September 5. All Architect-Advocates, even those who focus primarily on State and Local issues are encouraged to schedule meetings with their representatives. Please note that the Congressional schedule could change at a moment’s notice (i.e. if they come back to DC to vote on FAA reauthorization), so always confirm with a legislator’s office prior to a meeting in case things change.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• delegation of AIA national staff and members will host a booth at the 2011 Legislative Summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures from August 8 – 11. Components and members are encouraged to invite their own state legislators to visit the AIA booth. For more information, contact Zachary Hart, State and Local Relations Consultant at zacharyhart@aia.org.
• State Relations Director Angie Taylor will facilitate two panels at the CACE Annual Meeting in Philadelphia August 10 – 13. The panels will cover government relations resources available to components and strategic planning for government affairs. For more information, contact Angie Taylor, Director State Relations at angietaylor@aia.org.
• SGN Open Call: Media Relations for Architects & Advocates August 31, 3:30-4:30 pm

Public advocacy is an important but often overlooked aspect of the profession of architecture. In today’s political environment, any legislation that appears to save public money – even at the expense of core values like Health, Safety, and Welfare – can have seductive appeal. Architects must enter the political arena to defend the profession against shortsighted, panicked legislation.

This call, led by John Schneidawind (Director, Public Affairs & Media Relations) and Scott Frank (Director, Media Relations) will teach the basics of media relations, e.g. giving interviews; discuss approaches to generating media coverage favorable to AIA positions on legislative issues; spotlight best practices in states like Hawaii and Florida; and teach members about AIA’s model op-ed program.

Topic: SGN Monthly Open Call
Date and Time: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 664 781 270
Event password: Welcome11
Event address for attendees: https://aiaevents.webex.com/aiaevents/onstage/g.php?d=664781270&t=a
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-699-3239

AROUND THE HORN:

• York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law which allows municipal governments to create land banks which take control of abandoned and vacant properties and develop them into productive use. AIA New York State and AIA New York were part of a coalition advocating for the legislation. The recommendation of the creation of land banks by the AIA 2007 Albany SDAT team was directly cited by supporters of the bill. For more information, contact AIA New York Executive Director Edward Farrell at efarrell@aianys.org.

RESOURCES:

• National Endowment of the Arts is offering grants from $10,000 to $200,000 for media projects that highlight architecture, urban planning and design, universal design, and historic preservation. The grant application is due September 1, 2011.
• slides and audio from July’s SGN Open Call, “The ABCs of PAC,” are available via FTP. Use the following login information:

Server: ftp://ftp.aia.org

Username: SGNMember

Password: dhrhq3gl

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: Many SGN members weighed in on a discussion of the administrative rules used by the states for interns taking the ARE while enrolled in IDP. All SGN Listserv threads are archived on Sharepoint; click here, then “SGN Listserv Threads.”

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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