Central Washington AIA Homepage

President’s Message – 2007

Hello all Central Washington AIA members and welcome to the AIA’s 150th birthday year, also known as a sesquicentennial. That’s right, our esteemed organization has been around for 150 years; that is longer than most professional associations in existence today. This is a big year for the AIA as we are also kicking off the “Blueprint for America,” the goal of which is not only to enlighten the public regarding the possibilities brought about by working with architects, but also to show that we are members of the community and wish to better our communities in any way we can.

Many components across the country have already begun their initiatives to work with their communities or are beginning the process on long range projects they have planned. Our component is currently looking into a project that we hope will show our communities, both Yakima and the Tri-Cities, how much we are devoted to making them a more enjoyable place to live.

The year began with our annual “After Christmas” party at the Birchfield Manor in Yakima. Prior to dinner, we were guided on a tour of the recently remodeled ‘Ohana Mammography Center, previously an orthopedics clinic, by Rod Knipper. It was a night of good architecture, good food, and good company had by all. Hopefully, next year we will be able to have an even higher turn out than we did this year.

Dennis Dean, our president-elect, and myself attended the annual Grassroots conference in Washington, D.C. in February and both learned a great deal that we hope to be able to use in beginning activities and policies to help make our component more valuable each year. That can only truly be accomplished with participation by all members on at least some level.

Another major occurrence this year will be the Northwest/Pacific Regional Conference to be held in Spokane. Last year, it was held in Hong Kong and from all reports it was a huge success. With it being a little closer to home this year, I hope at least a few of our members will be able to go and meet other regional architects and learn of the activities occurring across this unique region of ours.

There are a number of you whom I have yet to meet and I hope that this AIA birthday year will also mark a turning point and fresh start for our component as we move forward and begin to grow in the coming years.

Thank you and see you at the meetings!

Mike Corbin President-AIA Central Washington, 2007

9/05/2002

AIA Central Washington Chapter Vice President Jim Dillman chatting about architecture with world-famous Canadian architect Mr. Arthur Erickson at the August Regional Conference in Tacoma. Attending the conference is a great chance to meet and converse with such famous architects. Click here to see Jim and Arthur