OT - Professional Organizations

[phansford]

Since the frequent users of this forum are architects and architectural technologists, I thought I post my questions here.

I am President Elect for the local chapter of CSI and I have been planning our monthly meetings for the last two years. I have tried to make them of interest and value to all of our members. In case you don't know CSI is a multi-disciplinary professional organization (Archtects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturer reps) and there is no classifications - you are either a full member or not. Personally speaking - it has been a great networking organization for me and put me in touch with people who can support my practice and my projects - unlike my days in the local AIA chapter.

I have scheduled what I think would be a timely speaker - someone from the State Architect's office whose topic will be three-fold:

1. How to get work with the State and other government agencies
2. Construction Reform in Ohio (big issue here)
3. What the federal stimulus package means to Ohio

FWIW - The speaker has just been as Vice President of CSI - National and past President of AIA Columbus. AND the meeting will have CEU's attached to it.

We (the Board of CSI) opened the meeting to be a joint meeting with AIA, CSI, and AGC - feeling it was an important topic that should be shared with our peers in the other groups. These groups typically work together. And each group advertised it to their full membership the last two weeks.

Okay - we have 20 people registered for tonight's meeting, which is probably 15 - 20 people less than I expected. This is frustrating and I am wondering the following:

A. Are you a member of a professional organization(s)? If so which ones? If not - why?

B. Do you attend the meetings on a regular basis? Why or what makes you want to attend the meetings?

C. What topics are important to you for monthly meetings? Are CEU's important? Fellowship? Networking? Free Food and Beer?

FWIW - I try not to have speakers be manuf. reps who just give their "box lunch" CEU program. And I don't need to hear anymore about concrete sealer or roofing

[phansford]

Well - looks like we are up to 30 plus attendees. One of the organizations didn't inform me of their numbers until this morning.

Still - What are you looking for from your professional organization?

[Peter Severin Carlsen]

Getting people to come is always difficult. It is something that I confronted years ago as president of the local AIA chapter. At the end of my year I think I figured it out. There are just a lot of demand on people's time. You are doing well to get 30.

I think continuing education credits are a big lure for attendance. Free food is another. It costs roughly $600 a year to belong to the AIA and they keep wanting to run the organization as a profit making enterprise charging more for everything they offer. Shouldn't you get something for all that money?

The AIA conventions have seen a boom with the advent of continuing ed. It is the AIA's magic goose laying golden eggs. I wonder how much longer they will count other peoples' credits, but until then figure out how you too can offer the health safety type credits

It sounds like you are doing a good job. Congratulations

[phansford]

Thanks for the comments Peter.

We ended up with about 35 people registered - turned out well and the Speaker was excellent.

The subject of attendance at professional meetings was a discussion at dinner. All agreed that our best attended meetings seem to be lunch meeting and the local AIA has had a few well-attended breakfast meetings.

The biggest concern I have (or perceive) is the lack of interest in the profession by our peers. As one of my former employers said "If you are going to consider yourself a professional, then you have to be involved in the betterment of the profession." Hence the company paid for all memberships if you were active. (Attending meetings at a minimum)

My concern is amplified by the lack of response to this thread..... I thought for sure the Matt may have some input knowing his interest in the profession - particularly licensure.

[patrickm]

I'll admit that I don't attend too many work related meetings. I have a busy life, work is one aspect of that life and I frequently feel that I need a break from work outside of work hours. I am a solo practicing architect and a civil engineer (doing structural engineering). I belong to the AIA and SEAOC (structural engineers association of california). My AIA meeting attendance mainly involves attending lunch and learn CES presentations. My SEAOC meeting attendance mainly involves meetings with structural learning opportunities. Both of these organizations feel like "clubs" to me and I feel like an outsider at their meetings.

With all the knowledge and external stimuli that I need to process (obtaining CES units, keeping up on code updates, keeping up on ever changing structural requirements and loads, keeping up on new materials, green design, etc, making sure I remember to send bills to clients, researching insurance, etc) I generally feel that I need to turn my brain off after hours and have some down time.

What would encourage me to attend meetings are discussion topics of relevance to my practice and quest for information, and an open inviting atmosphere. I generally don't need a meal and don't really need a drink at the meetings. I get turned off by the meetings that cost $25 or more due to the location and food provided. I'd prefer free and shorter duration with no food.

I do admire people that have the time and initiative to get involved. So far that just hasn't applied to me.

(Prior to moving to Santa Barbara, I lived in Orange County, CA. My old boss and I had a rule that we'd only attend AIA meetings where we could get CES units and get one free beer per CES unit -- it was a pretty good rule.)

regards,
patrick

[phansford]

[Peter Severin Carlsen]

My main point is that many of us now need continuing education credits to continue being an architect or engineer or contractor. So I can go to a convention and spend a lot of money or collect them a few at a time.

I attend many AIA events in order to earn continuing education credits. If you can find out how you can qualify to be a provider and offer them, I bet many more people will come out of the wood work.

It is particularly important to earn the HSW or health safety welfare type of credits. That's the type my state registration board wants to see. And now the AIA has made earning 4 "green" credits mandatory to continue membership.

I don't think it is particularly complicated to offer AIA continuing education credits and since those apply and are counted toward the state requirement, that's where we get them.

And a free drink now and then doesn't hurt.

[phansford]

We are a certified AIA CEU provider - which most CSI chapters are. CSI and AIA have a long-standing relationship since a lot of architects are in both. I am not - but I would say 75% of our professional members are in both orgs.

CEU's will bring some people - but I am not looking for getting non-members to our events.... while that is a good way to build membership. I am concerned about getting members to the events period.

Also - CSI has its own CEU program. Here in Ohio, CSI is recognized as a source for CEU's for state requirements by the State Board. It not all AIA driven.

[Rob C]

I belong to AIA. I go to meetings, mostly Small Firms Round Table and seminars for CES credits. I used to work on the Education Commission, but once I got a family, it was too much for me to do. As a sole practitioner, it's a way for me to have contact with other architects. The social/human aspect is as important to me as the technical stuff.

[phansford]

[John Cruet]

[phansford]

I think continuing education requirements for licensure has helped membership. CEU's seem to be an important issue - I'm not sure it brings people to individual meetings. (Does that make sense )

And with the economy what it is.... you have to limit your membership. We can't belong to everything. Of course, we have to be members to some organizations for marketing/networking purposes.

I do worry about the younger members of the profession/industry not getting actively involved in a professional organization.

[Rob C]