2018 Directory

14 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .18 | www.aia-wyoming.org G rassroots 2018 was held in San Diego, CA, March 12-14, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. rassroots 2018 is an exclusive event for our leaders. The agenda emphasizes component leadership and workshops designed to help component officers become more effective chapter and civic leaders. AIA Wyoming was able to send Clint Taylor, AIA, AIA Wyoming President-elect, Rachel Delventhal, AIA, AIA Wyoming Secretary, and Susan Menghini, AIA Wyoming Executive Director. The conference opened doors and provided opportunities for us to share knowledge, ex- periences, and challenges. The premise of this year’s Grassroots theme “Leading Through Influence,” is to demonstrate the impact of influence in improving chapter and firm effec- tiveness, communities, and the lives of others. Empowering attendees to best serve their chapters, communities and the profession is an integral part of the experience. A message William J. Bates, FAIA AIA First Vice President and Grassroots 2018 Chair: “As the world’s technology, climate, eco- nomics, policies, and governance priorities change, so do demands on the built environ- ment. Given architects’ legacy as vanguards of that built environment, our ability to creatively influence these changes is essential to the relevance of our profession. Influence is about demonstrating the value of architects – and architecture – to society and enhancing quality of life for future for generations. Design thinking is more critical today than ever. Whether challenges are about social, economic or environmental equity, sustain- ability, resilience or mobility, to name a few, architects provide visionary leadership beyond the property lines of any single building. We must redefine our role so we’re not taking project orders, after the major decisions are made. Instead, we must have a voice and seat at the table where concep- tual thinking and ideas originate. Society’s challenges stretch across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Architects must collaborate with allied professionals to problem solve and help local communities address policies, organizational frameworks, and development practices that have become outdated and ineffective as a result of the recent seismic shifts in federal support. Grassroots 2018 will explore the possibilities of expanding the architect’s role in design- ing a preferred future. Our goal must be to strengthen AIA’s collective resources and power at the local level. I’m convinced that this year’s exceptional speakers will inspire each of us. We will leave here with a clear vision and defined strategies for our chap- ters in their mission to achieve grassroots influence.” 2018 AIA Grassroots & Leadership Conference BY SUSAN MENGHINI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RACHEL DELVENTHAL, AIA, AND CLINT TAYLOR, AIA Monday afternoon pre-event optional sessions included: Building a Respectful and Harass- ment Free Workplace, Crucial Negotiation Skills: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High in Your Component, Developing Partnership Between the Board of Directors and Com- ponent Staff, and the Disaster Assistance Handbook LIVE. Following the pre-event sessions were the regional meetings. Our Western Mountain Region business meeting consisting of about 40 people with a full agenda and a report from AIA State Government Network (SGN) Anne Law, Esq., Director and Counsel, State and Local Policy and Michael Winn, AIA. Ending the day was the Opening reception held at the Headquarters at Seaport, an out- door facility, and dinner on your own. The second day of the conference began with the opening plenary session consisting of the welcome by Carl Elefante, FAIA, 2018 AIA President and Kevin Faulconer, Mayor of San Diego. William Bates, FAIA provided introductions with Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, AIA Secretary announcing the 2018 candi- dates for office. We heard a short campaign speech from each candidate. Followed by the Component Excellence Awards presenta- tions, a Conversation about AIA Leadership by Carl Elefante, the Whitney M. Young Jr. 50th Anniversary presentation, and a plenary panel about the Architect’s Role in Building Communities. Lunch was provided with the keynote speaker Jonathan F. P. Rose, Hon. AIA, Real Estate Developer, Urban Developer, and Author: New York – Environmental, social, and economic solutions to urban development issues facing us today. Jonathan F.P. Rose’s business, public policy and not-for-profit work focus on creating a more environmentally, socially and econom- ically responsible world. In 1989, Mr. Rose