AIA Michigan 
November  2017


Champion the profession. Nurture our chapters. Build Michigan better. 
President's Message

I was fortunate to participate in the 2017 AIA Leadership Institute last week, which was provided by the AIA National Center for Civic Leadership in partnership with four local chapters, including AIA Detroit.  Thank you, Detroit, for your leadership with this program, and for doing a great job of hosting and contributing excellent local content.

One of the keynote sessions featured Sally Blount, Dean of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  The focus of her talk was on communication skills for leaders, and the difference between leading and managing.  For those who were not in attendance, I thought her message was worth sharing briefly here as it applies to all of us, whether we are officially serving in a designated "leadership" role or not.

Essentially her main points boiled down to this:
  • Leaders, as opposed to managers, prepare their organizations for change and then help them cope with that change.
  • To do that requires some vision, which entails:
    1. Seeing potential for how the organization can be different in meaningful ways.
    2. Finding pathways and identify the human resource changes needed to enable #1.
    3. Focusing on face-to-face conversations with the right people to get everyone to buy in to #2.
  • Conversations (#3) come in three sizes:
    1. Large groups - where your task is to explain the vision with both stories (narrative) and data.
    2. Small groups - where you refine the plan and set goals to empower your team.
    3. One-on-one - where you ask questions, listen, and reflect back what you have heard for doubters who may stand in the way.
Since we all work on teams every day and move in and out of leadership roles with our day jobs, our AIA work, and other community support roles, I thought this would be helpful as a refresher for all of us.
 
AIA Michigan President
Will Wittig, AIA

Executive Director's Message
 
Cathy Headshot
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  Now that the holiday season has arrived, did you know you can donate to the Michigan Architectural Foundation with your purchases at Amazon.com?
It's easy.  Just go to www.smile.amazon.com and choose the Michigan Architectural Foundation as your charity (MAF). To find out more about the Foundation, visit www.michiganarchitecturalfoundation.org.
AIA 2018 Conference on Architecture - New York City
It's not too early to secure your room for the 2018 convention. AIAMI has secured a block of rooms at the Hilton Midtown which is the AIA headquarters hotel. More here about the hotel. If you are interested in reserving a room with the AIAMI block follow this link. You will be asked to enter your information. You are responsible for making your reservation, updating and cancelations. The rate is $389 per night. There are other rooms available on the 2018 convention site here.
Save the Federal Historic Tax Credit - Act Now!
As the debate rages around reforming our nation's tax code there is a little known but critically important ramification of the pending tax reform legislation that could have a dire impact on the design and construction sector, one of the biggest job catalysts in the American economy.
 
The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) has made an enormous difference in communities across the country, bringing with it economic revitalization, good design and the protection and restoration of some of our most treasured works of architecture.   But unless Congress hears about its impact, the HTC could be gone forever.
That's why it's imperative that you call your members of Congress and let them know that the Historic Tax Credit is a vital resource with a proven economic track record that helps communities of all sizes.
 
The Senate will be voting on a tax reform bill any day now - time is of the essence! Please contact your Senator ASAP and let them know that the HTC is vital resource with a proven economic track record that is helping your community.to support the Historic Tax Credit.
 
Note, if sending an email to your Senator - you may edit the text of the email if you wish to include local examples of the HTC at work.

Emerging Professionals Corner
Samantha Szeszulski, Associate AIA
The winter holidays are upon us, and that means the new year is right around the corner. With a new year come reflections, and a New Year's goals and resolutions to take us into 2018.
 
As the Associate Director, and an associate member myself, 2018 is going to be the year of ARE 5.0. That's means at the state level, we're going to be working to bring back ARE support, now that the majority of testers have transitioned to the new test. What that looks like exactly is under discussion, so you tell us! What would be the most valuable ARE support for you? As for those of you still testing in ARE 4.0 - don't fret! As we all know, the material on the two sets of tests is largely the same, just arranged differently. So, whatever we come up with to support those testing, it should be valuable to you as well!
 
In addition to ARE support, we'd love to develop a few other events centered around Associates members in the next year, and we're constantly working to make our existing events more valuable to Emerging Professionals. The board could work to do this in a vacuum, but we all know collaboration produces the best results! So, we want to hear from you: tell us, what are your 2018 goals as an AIA Associate Member? What would you like to see come out of AIA Michigan in 2018?  Share your ideas with us! Email me at sszeszulski@gmail.com.

New Members!
 
Members who joined, rejoined or transferred to AIA Michigan!

October

Lath Abhinand, Assoc. AIA
Kevin R. Koets, AIA
Peter Lichomski, AIA
Elizabeth Stanfel, Assoc. AIA
Ajae M. Whittaker, Assoc. AIA
Louis N. DesRosiers AIA
Mr. Travis M. Sage, AIA
Ms. Anna E. Kindt, AIA

Welcome to AIA Michigan and we look forward to meeting you at future events!!
In This Issue
AIAU is a place for architects to learn and earn continuing education credits.
Upcoming Events!

Holiday Open House 
December 14, 2017 - More Information
 
Contact the Staff

Cathy Mosley, Hon. Aff. AIAMI
Executive Director of AIA Michigan: 
Events and Programming, Finances, Communications, Membership, Government Affairs, Sponsorship
 
Evelyn Dougherty, Hon. Aff. AIAMI
Operations Director: Event Planning and Registration, Documents, 
Continuing Education, Membership, Job Board
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