“What does AIA Ohio do for me?”
As the Columbus Director to AIA Ohio, I frequently get asked “What does AIA Ohio do for me?” Obviously, one thing we do not do well is communicate the activities and benefits of AIA Ohio to our membership. Hopefully, this article will start to answer this question.
AIA Ohio Mission Statement and Board
Composition
The AIA Ohio Mission Statement states, “AIA Ohio, a society of the American Institute of Architects, representing more than 2,000 licensed architects and architectural interns, is at the forefront of influencing statewide public policy through its government affairs program. AIA Ohio’s award winning program concentrates on helping to produce positive legislative and governmental agency rule changes for the architectural profession by addressing such issues as professional liability, building codes, preservation, energy and environmental concerns, economic development, architect/engineer selection procedures, licensing requirements, construction appropriations and professional service taxation.”
The AIA Ohio board consists of 17 members with a structure similar to the AIA Columbus board. Four of the current members are from AIA Columbus. Joe Sullivan is Treasurer, Robert Livesey is the Schools Director, Tracey Dukarich is the Associate Director and I serve as the Columbus Director. AIA Columbus is well represented and very active at the state level.
Government Affairs Program
Our state component focuses much of its time on the government affairs program. Much of the effort is documented on the AIA Ohio web site (aiaohio.org). The site has extensive information on current news at the state level as it pertains to the field of architecture, including a legislative outlook section that is updated weekly concerning bills in the Ohio General Assembly.
The state has also developed a Political Action Committee (PAC) which developed the “Triple Play” program under which a member’s $50 political contribution to a candidate for state office can be matched by an AIA Ohio contribution. This past winter, the extremely active AIA Columbus Legislative Committee exceeded its goal and raised $4,840 for the program. The PAC is also supporting AIA Ohio President, Chris Widener, FAIA, who has announced his candidacy for an Ohio House seat in a newly formed district.
Continuing Education
AIA Ohio is committed to continuing education. Last year’s annual AIA Ohio Convention was a regional event held in Cincinnati in cooperation with AIA Kentucky and AIA Indiana. Over 500 people attended the 3 day event. This year, the Ohio Convention “Bridging Challenges – Building Success” will be held in Toledo October 10-12. Over 28 learning units will be offered through seminars and tours. Several AIA Columbus members will be conducting seminars and two local members will be honored during the Friday awards program. Friedl Bohm, FAIA, will receive the 2002 AIA Ohio Gold Medal Award and Robert Loversidge, FAIA, will receive the 2002 AIA Ohio Public Service Award.
This year, AIA Ohio, in a joint effort with AIA Columbus, is providing eight ARE seminars for our associate members. The sold out classes will be held at Columbus State and they will cover all sections of the registration exam.
Communication and Outreach
Communication and outreach to members and the public occurs through a variety of media. The AIA Ohio web site has a calendar of state events including the convention, a listing of job opportunities, and local chapters and industry links. It also has information for the public on “Why an Architect” and a search engine for locating an architect. The AIA Ohio ArchiTypes newsletter is mailed to members quarterly. Each year, AIA Ohio prints a Directory of Architects. The document lists members, member firms, and local and state design awards. The 2002 Directory is expected out soon.
Although many of AIA Ohio’s activities may not be obvious to the membership, the state components’ efforts are essential in developing and guiding policy, legislation and continuing education as they impact our profession at the state level. Fortunately, AIA Ohio benefits from the active involvement of AIA Columbus members. Our continued participation at the state level helps us and the profession locally and regionally.
Now, my question for you is “What can you do for AIA Ohio?” Please call me if you have any other questions.
Steven Shinn, AIA Ohio Director
Phillip Markwood Architects, Inc.
614-461-8300