September 7, 2023

As summer gives way to fall, I am really impressed with all the Chapter activities that have taken place. Many of our Chapters have been very active in various advocacy roles with the community and State leaders. Here are just a few examples that I saw firsthand:

1. AIA Santa Barbara had a chapter meeting that included discussions with City Planning leaders regarding re-imagining State Street, the major retail area in mid-town Santa Barbara.
2. AIA San Diego, as part of the Design Awards program, recognized Community leaders
3. AIA Pasadena & Foothill invited Congresswoman Judi Chu to address the chapter at its 75^th anniversary kick-off party.
4. AIA San Fernando had representatives from the State Legislature at their Design Awards celebration.

These types of connections with members and community leaders and lawmakers are the cornerstone to having our voices heard on key issues such as climate action, housing, and public facilities. I look forward to hearing about more connections as I visit forthcoming Chapter events.

At the Board level, we have been working on exploring updates to our governance model to be more effective in member representation and align with the Strategic Plan values that were adopted last year. Our current model has been in place for over 50 years. Much has changed about our profession and our individual businesses so it is appropriate that we take a good look at how we can better serve our members, now that we are in the third decade of the 21^st century. Look for more information later this year; I’m excited about the opportunities that change may afford.

In a couple of weeks, I will be visiting the Orange County, Golden Empire, and Central Coast Chapters for various member events. I look forward to hearing from you when we meet.

Best,

Scott