Small Firms Ideas Exchange

I posted this blog on 5/19/08: http://blog.aia.org/smallfirms/2008/05/a_challenge_to_the_aia.html

It was an open challenge to the AIA. “Be more to the current members than you presently are.” Apparently they weren’t reading or there was a particular cranial obstruction in a sanitary line which caused limited comprehension. It seems like there may still be somewhat of a mismatch between what the AIA wants and what members want.

I’d like to thank Adam H. of Henderson, Colo., for the following insight. He received a spam/e-mail from the AIA on 4/30/09 on “Affordable Healthcare for All Americans." He expressed extreme concern over the action the AIA was encouraging for its members.

In the coming months, Congress will debate legislation that would dramatically reform our nation’s health-care system. The AIA is currently analyzing numerous proposals to assess which policies will best serve our members. Although we do not support a particular bill at this time, we believe that any successful health-care reform policy must accomplish two goals: reduce health-care costs and increase access to quality health care.

I therefore urge you to contact your federal representatives in Washington and ask them to work quickly to debate and pass health-care reform legislation.  At this point, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach that will benefit all members of the Institute equally. However, it is critical that Congress hears the voice of America’s architects and understands that health-care costs are spiraling out of control and are impeding our ability as design professionals to create healthy, safe, and sustainable buildings and communities.

Adam was moved by the e-mail and contacted the AIA, inquiring how the AIA could advocate for more governmental control on individual responsibilities?
Tell legislators to work quickly and reform (to what, something worse?)
stating that health-care costs are out of control and architects can’t design. 

As of yet, I do not believe that Adam received a response. I wonder how I missed this gem of an e-mail from the AIA; I was at the convention (on my own nickel) presenting a seminar. So I’m wondering

• did you see the 4/30/09 e-mail?
• what did you do? 
• how are your health-care costs?  Spiraling out of control? 
• does that cost keep you from creating?

What are Adam and I missing here?

I am so very proud of my friend Laura Montllor, AIA, of Port Washington, N.Y., and the success she’s had with a brainchild of hers—Home Free Home (HFH) http://www.homefreehome.org/. Laura tells a wonderful story of how she was lamenting with an architect-friend of hers from architecture school; the closets she designs for her clients are larger than her bedroom. And how she really wanted more “meaning” in what she does. She describes how when we’re in school, we have wonderful “save the world” ideals that slowly get beaten out of us when we start to “practice architecture” (After all, you do know why we call it a “practice” don’t you?  We’re still practicing! HaHaHa).  Anyway, Laura told her friend that she wanted to so some good things for people who really needed and/or wanted help. Why not form a group of volunteer architects who will help folks redesign small portions of their homes to accommodate a physical need or disability so they can begin to live their lives to a fuller capacity? Laura’s concept is not only designing to meet the need, but rather helping out with all aspects (fund-raising, grant requests, yard sales, donated materials and construction labor, etc.)  Last week, HFH completed its first project, a handicap ramp for Glorianna.

Jim and Lisa with daughter Glorianna

I live in Dunwoody, Ga. It is a small community (an unincorporated area of DeKalb County) which is a part of “Metro Atlanta.” Actually Metro Atlanta is 15 some-odd counties which are loosely held together by our infamous I-285 highway. I believe it is the only interstate highway in the county that runs east, south, west, and north… at the same time (AKA “The Perimeter”).