Board Member Report
Making a Difference – Professional Affairs
by Andy Cupples, AIA
Professional Affairs |
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What is Professional Affairs?
The Orange County AIA defines this board position as being responsible for “ . . . raising the level of the Profession, Business Ethics, and incorporating Government concerns into the Chapter. . . .speaking back to the community to raise the awareness of the profession . . . and representing the Chapter at State Legislature Day and Washington Grassroots Conference . . .” Quite a charge!!
Of special note today are the issues of the participation of our profession in shaping policy decisions that affect our practice and our environment. While we all deal with the impact of these decisions every day in our business, our clients and our design vision, we often find ourselves grumbling after the fact rather than taking the opportunity to shape the environment in which we work.
Which brings me to the subject of this month’s column.
National, State and your local Chapter can be the voice of the profession to surface and address your concerns. National Grassroots is just around the corner – March 3 – 6, 2004 in Washington DC. Key issues defined for the agenda include:
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Business growth and tax issues for A/E firms
- Sustainability and energy efficiency in the built environment
- Enhancing community development through transportation funding that promotes planned development in lieu of increased sprawl.
Following close on the heels of Grassroots will be AIA California Council Day at the Legislature, March 16 –18, 2004 in Sacramento. The agenda will mirror national concerns but also include issues of particular concern to California architects.
In addition to seminars and meetings, members of AIA will be visiting with our elected representatives to discuss these and other issues. I would like to encourage all of our members to attend Grassroots, or at minimum to contact me or the Chapter office with any concerns that you think should be raised – particularly those specific to business, environment and design in Orange County. This is our opportunity to at least surface key issues and provide leadership both for the profession and the community that we serve.
Finally, on a local level, I would like to start a dialogue on critical issues of local concern that we can address at the county and local government level. AIA Orange County is a diverse chapter and will have diverse views, but within this framework, I know that there are issues of common concerns relative to our environment, affordable housing, infrastructure, development, approvals process etc. If you are interested in serving on a committee to help realize the vision for professional practice, including an increased awareness of the value we bring as architects and advocacy for public policy, please contact me directly or the chapter office.
It is our profession and we need to be involved – either directly through participation or at a minimum by supporting the National AIA and California Political Action Committees . Support for these initiatives allows us to get noticed and to advance an agenda that promotes both the profession and in a broader sense our responsibility to the community we serve.
Consider our ability to have an impact. Consider volunteering to serve on a committee to advance the mission of professional practice. Send us your thoughts of issues to be raised at the national, state and local level. Think about your ability to invest on our future and the future of your community by supporting the National and California AIA PAC. Campaign forms will be included in our next issue – let’s be a voice for the profession!!!
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