2013 Letter from the President                                                                                                                      

2012 has been an exciting but trying year for all of us, and 2013 appears to be more of the same.  There are wonderful opportunities for us to pursue, but we must do so in the framework of an economy that is still not supportive of the architectural community.  In this challenging environment, our AIA Chapter is prepared to make a positive impact for AIA members, our sponsors, and the community at large.

Our primary engine is YOU, the Architect.  We greatly encourage you to become involved in our Chapter.  We have committees that do great work for our chapter, as well as the community at large.  This is a great way to get to know your colleagues, and I think you will find there is a lot of fun and satisfaction in working with your fellow AIA members to make a difference in our community.  We are also in the midst of a membership campaign.  I encourage you to talk to fellow architects about joining and becoming involved in the AIA.

We recognize the economy is creating a difficult situation for many architects.  We are still committed to helping unemployed and underemployed architects find work.  If you are looking for work, or if need to hire someone, please contact us.  We are available to help firms get in contact with those looking for work.

We also recognize the value of being in the public eye. Toward this end, we are creating a public relations committee that will establish contacts at local and regional websites, publications, etc., and find stories from AIA, individual firms, or individual architects to feed to these publications. 

An exciting new venture for us in 2013 is the Center for Architecture.   We will be renovating our space so it can be used for public events, conferences, and other uses.  This has great potential, and will help us increase our exposure in the community.

2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Chapter of the AIA.  In 2013 we will begin planning for this important occasion.  If you are interested in helping, please let us know.  We would love to have you involved.

One reason our Chapter is so strong and involved is our Sponsors.  Without their support, we could not do many of the activities that make our Chapter great.  Please take some time to thank our current sponsors, and also tell other companies about the AIA.

I am looking forward to serving as your President in 2013.  I think we can make great strides forward this year, and I want you to help us get there.  Please contact us and let us know you are interested in getting involved.  There are many opportunities out there, and I promise you will enjoy working with us on our many endeavors.  I look forward to seeing you all at our Chapter meetings, special events, and other functions throughout the year.

Regards,

Robert Thompson AIA
2013 AIA Birmingham President