THE AIA NEW ORLEANS MISSION & SUPPORTING COMMITTEES
ABOUT THE MISSION:
Coordinates efforts to legislation, ordinances, and codes at all levels of government.
Periodically reviews by-laws of organization and make recommendations of modifications required.
Oversees efforts to grow membership, invigorate existing members and retention, track relevant statistics and demographics, and recruit attendees to programming.
Carries through board-directed special fundraising efforts, sponsorships, and/or networking relationships while conducting secure, transparent, and timely financial practices.
Oversees all educational programming committees and content with a focus on developing and executing new programming with AIA New Orleans staff.
ABOUT THE COMMITTEES
2030 Committee
Goal:
- Create a peer-to-peer network for shared knowledge on energy efficiency, sustainability, and reduced carbon emissions in design.
- Encourage local AIA Membership firms to sign up for the AIA 2030 Commitment.
- Assist current, local AIA 2030 signatories to start or continue reporting to the DDx.
- Provide resources to make the goals of the 2030 Commitment accessible to firms of all sizes.
- Host 2021 RISING Symposium for Climate and Equity to encourage cross-disciplinary discussion and teaming. See last year’s event information here: https://2030.aianeworleans.org/
Desired Membership Size: 10-12 members with various levels of involvement.
We are looking to increase membership engagement with:
- Social media outreach & website up keep
- Event planning
- Cross-disciplinary discussion and outreach (MEP firms, engineers, and design/builders)
Time Commitment: 2-8+ hours a month, depending on tasks and engagement
- Minimum 1 hour monthly committee meeting
- Minimum 1 hour monthly events (not including Symposium)
Chair/Primary Contact:
Kelsey Wotila, EskewDumezRipple (kwotila@eskewdumezripple.com)
TASKS:
- Monthly meeting, 1 hour – all committee members.
- Peer to peer networking, a few emails/phone calls a month to friends/colleagues, coworkers – all committee members.
- Social media posts, 1-2 per week (looking for a member or two to help with this)
- AIA Calendar Events linked to our 2030 website
- 2030 website upkeep
- Event planning and speaker outreach, 2+ hours/month – planning team/task forces. You could help plan just one event a year, and manage your time commitment that way.
- Events and happy hour attendance – every other month, 1-2 hours, as desired.
- Mentoring/peer networks, 1-2 hours a month as needed
(we’re looking for more mentors)- Need a task force to plan structure and format (ie google docs or group, dropbox, website, other)
Programming / Events:
- Monthly 2030 discussions
- Social sign-up events
- 2030 Symposium
Advocacy Committee
Goal:
Advocacy is an integral part of our mission – to promote architects and architecture in New Orleans through legislative action at the National, State and local levels.
AIA New Orleans’ Advocacy Committee focuses on three core areas: representing members in professional matters within our local community; forwarding AIA National’s advocacy agenda; and helping architects contribute to our city’s quality of life.
Desired Membership Size: 5-7 members
Time Commitment: 2-5 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contact:
CONTACT: Jason Richards, Studio West Design, jason@studiowest.design
Tasks:
- 6 meetings per year—
- Expand our Influence with local governments; Promote AIA Architects as Experts
- Foster partnerships and engage with the broader community
- Environment – focus needs to be defined
- Monitor relevant local and national policy, Engage the media
Programming / Events:
- Town Hall
- Environment – focus needs to be defined
- Municipality – President shall establish relationship with Mayor
- Policy Statement (annual focus)
- Affordable Housing
Design Awards Committee
Goal:
Organizes the annual AIA New Orleans Design Awards Program and supports the production of the affiliated awards ceremony and party.
Each year, a distinguished jury of design thought leaders and prominent practitioners presents the awards to projects submitted by local architecture, interiors and landscape firms. The Design Awards recognize excellence in architecture and design as submitted by AIA members for projects either in the New Orleans area or designed by members of AIA New chapter regardless of project location.
Desired Membership Size: 9-11 members
Time Commitment: 4-8 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contact:Terri Dreyer, NANO Architecture; nano1@nanollc.net
Tasks:
- Coordinate and plan Annual Design Awards Gala in conjunction with AIA New Orleans
- Attend weekly meetings to monitor progress
- Attend annual Gala
Programming / Events: Annual Design Awards Gala
Design Practice Exchange
Goal:
Design + Practice Exchange (DPE) is a symposium of compelling conversations and design presentations, centering the voices of women in architecture.
This program seeks to advance and promote women leaders of all racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds in architecture and the allied design/building industries.Architects, designers and policy makers from various cities collaborate to provide perspective and context across communities
Desired Membership Size: 5-11 members
Time Commitment: 3 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contacts: Regina Davis, TrapolinPeer; rdavis@trapolinpeer.com
Cassidy Rosen; wia.neworleans@gmail.com
Tasks:
- Provide professional development opportunities
- Cordinate and plan annual symposium in conjunction with AIA New Orleans
- Solicit sponsorship opportunities
Programming / Events: Annual Design Practice Award Practice Exchange Symposium
Associated Task Force: Women in Architecture
Emerging Professionals Committee
Goal: By promoting excellence, providing information and leadership, fostering inclusiveness, and encouraging individual, community, and professional development, the EP Committee will strive to serve: architecture students, design professionals, and young architects licensed less than 10 years, with the mission of integrating them to the profession as a strong voice within the Institute.
Desired Membership Size: 5-10 members
Time Commitment: 30-45 Minutes (1 meeting per month)
Chair/Primary Contact: Javier Marcano, EskewDumezRipple; jmarcano@eskewdumezripple.com
Tasks:
- Monthly committee meeting
- Programming as needed
Programming / Events:
- YAF x FAIA – Mentorship Dinner
- AIAS x YAF – Mentorship Dinner
Associated Task Force:
- Emerging Professional Scholarship
- ARE Study Groups
Golf Tournament Committee
Goal: Organizes and promotes the chapter’s annual golf outing.
Desired Membership Size: 5-7 members
Time Commitment: 2 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contact: Kevin Morris, Holly & Smith Architecture; k.mo@hollyandsmith.com
Tasks:
- Provide professional networking opportunities
- Attend Golf Tournament
- Attend committee meetings
- Solicit sponsorship opportunities
Programming / Events: Golf Tournament
Governance Committee
Goal: Reviews all policies of the AIANO Board and the AIANO Bylaws at appropriate intervals and assembles a slate/s of candidates for each office and directorship of the AIANO Chapter as needed. Also provides oversight of Chapter governing documents, exempt status, and operations.
Desired Membership Size: 3-5 members
Time Commitment: 1 hour per month
Chair/Primary Contact: Julie Babin, studioWTA; julie@studiowta.com
Tasks:
- Coordinate and facilitate changes to By-Laws
- View programming through JEDI lens
- Champion Board of Directors and Committees to align with strategic plan
Programming / Events: Annual membership meeting
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee
Goal: Works to create a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive design community in New Orleans at the individual, firm, and public levels.
The cornerstones of equitable practice—moral, business, ethical, professional, and societal—all rely on strengthening practices that embrace differences and are equitable in approach, process, and effect. The JEDI Committee will explore practices that foster diversity, equality and inclusion in the architecture our region’s profession. The committee’s work is guided by the AIA National’s Guides for Equitable Practice.
Desired Membership Size: 9-11 members
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contact: Javier Marcano, EskewDumezRipple; jmarcano@eskewdumezripple.com
Hannah Kenyon, EskewDumezRipple; hkneyon@eskewdumezripple.com
Tasks:
- Review chapter committees and make recommendations for greater inclusivity
- Coordinate monthly meetings
- Coordinate programming
Programming / Events: Monthly committee meeting
Small Firm Exchange (SFx)
Goal: Advances the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. The SFx advocates and promotes the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public. It also curates and distributes useful resources and information that benefit small and single-practitioner firms.
Desired Membership Size: 3-5 members
Time Commitment: 2 hours per month
Chair/Primary Contact: Jessica Walker, workshopWDXL; walker@workshopwdxl.com
Colin Van Wingen, GOATstudio; colin@nolagoat.com
Tasks:
- Provide professional development opportunities
- Provide professional networking opportunities
- Coordinate monthly exchange for all small firm members
Programming / Events: Monthly exchange
Women in Architecture
Goal:
The Women in Architecture Committee of AIA New Orleans Chapter promotes women leaders within the architecture profession and the allied design and building industries with a focus on mentorship, licensure, and professional development.
Who We Are:
We are Committee of AIA New Orleans started in December 2012. We had an exciting and overwhelming response at the beginning of our organization and continue to garner interest in our events even after operating for several years. We aim to hold one large event each quarter (focused on our principals of either Professional Development, Community Engagement, Social and Networking, or our flagship “Mentor Dinner”), as well as monthly “Grassroots” meetings to discuss event planning as well as to meet and connect with other members.
Desired Membership Size: 3-5 members 3 available Committee spots (incoming chair/co-chair, secretary, and treasurer)
Time Commitment:
- Members: 1-1.5 hrs for meetings/presentations/events,
- Committee Members: Varies per event prep and size of event. Small events: 3-4 hrs per month, large events: 10+ hrs per month
Chair/Primary Contact:
Cassidy Rosen + Regina Davis, Co-chairs
Contact: wia.neworleans@gmail.com; rdavis@trapolinpeer.com
What We Do:
We provide opportunities for networking, mentorship, licensure, and professional development; we provide a way for women in New Orleans to connect and discuss career development and what it means to be a woman in architecture, design and allied professions. We welcome members from all design disciplines who support our goals and want to be part of the conversation. Sponsors are also valued partners of the organization, because their support helps us grow the organization and success of the profession.
Tasks: Monthly lecture series
Associated Task Force: Design + Practice Exchange