This has been a busy and exciting year for AIA Arkansas!

 

In February, part of the AIA board went to AIA National's Grassroots Training. Two of our section Chairs, Patty Opitz from Polk Stanley Wilcox and Jim Little from Little & Associates, and our Emerging Professionals Director, Adam Day from AMR Architects accompanied our AIA Executive Director, Brent Stevenson to Detroit where they gained valuable knowledge on leadership training.

At the end of April, the 2016 Board of Directors invited back association management strategist, Bob Harris to conduct another strategic planning session with AIA Arkansas. I want acknowledge the work performed by the board that created the last strategic plan five years ago and to also thank Jerry Brackett's and Bob's leadership during that time. They laid extensive groundwork that was very successful for the past five years and made our job a lot easier this time around. I also want to thank our current board for their hard work and willingness to take time out of their schedules to conduct this update and plan for the future. I am happy to report that we met most of our goals from the previous session and are excited to share the new strategies, goals, and focus points for the next three-five years for AIA Arkansas. With that being said, our Executive Director, Brent Stevenson and I will be traveling the state this summer to meet with each section to give them an overview of the new strategic plan and what part they can play in making sure our organization is successful again at carrying this through. At our July board meeting, the board of directors will meet again to formally approve and adopt the strategic plan.

Earlier this month, The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design held their Honors Recognition Reception and Ceremony where they honored 78 students. Many AIA Arkansas members and sections are involved in this event and help raise scholarship money throughout the year for the FJSOA+D. We are so proud of the work the students are doing and seeing these men and women excel in our field is a huge encouragement for the future of the architectural profession.

Last, I want to touch on an upcoming event the executive committee will be attending this summer. In July, I, along with Travis Bartlett, Vice President; Randy Palculict, Treasurer; and Lori Yazwinski Santa-Rita, Secretary, will be traveling to Washington D.C. for the Speak Up Advocacy and Action event. While there, we will gain useful training and insight on how to advocate for our profession, make our issues heard with legislators at the state and national level, and how to motivate our membership to affect change with our local governments. I am excited to attend and meet with our own Arkansas congressional members.

 

I look forward to seeing many of you this summer at the section meetings and I thank you for allowing me to continue to serve you.