Rich Varda, FAIA
2010 President of AIA Minnesota
AIA Minnesota Recovery Task Force Status, June 2010
The 2010 Recovery Task Force has been meeting monthly since last fall. The Task Force has reviewed and discussed our purpose and work plan. We have worked with a team from the Carlson School of Management to examine the current status and future opportunities for our profession. A Town Hall Forum, attended by Chris McIntee, AIA national CEO, was held to review the AIA Minnesota Strategic Plan and the AIA National Strategic Plan, review the results of the Carlson School report, and to hear from our members their thoughts and ideas regarding the future of our profession.
We plan to complete the Task Force Report by October and present our observations in a panel discussion at the AIA MN Convention in November. Task Force ideas will then be forwarded to the appropriate standing committees of AIA Minnesota for review and action. Ideas for national consideration will be drafted and forwarded to the appropriate contact person or committee at AIA national.
AIA Minnesota Recovery Task Force Purpose Statement
Purpose: To assist AIA members with information and ideas that can help reduce expenses, expand services and obtain work during the recovery from this severe economic downturn. The task force will collect and refine ideas and information in these areas:
- Economic Information – Obtain and organize historic and current information on economic recoveries in the design and construction industries.
- Resources – Consolidate information on resources within the AIA and other sources that can assist individuals and firms overcome economic distress and return to growth.
- Promotion – Articulate the unique value of architects, and the AIA, to our corporations, communities and institutions in the context of economic recovery.
Recovery Task Force Observations as of June 2010 (pdf)
Carlson School Report (PowerPoint):
Carlson School Report:
Summary of Points from Carson School Report (pdf)
Town Hall Forum Summary:
Town Hall Summary (pdf) of observations and ideas from roundtable discussions at the Town Hall Forum
Reports from Sources Outside AIA Minnesota
Congressional Research Service Report on Available Energy Incentives Nationwide (pdf) This report contains numerous web links to all the important publications regarding incentives
EcoTrends (pdf) This report contains specific pages of detailed data and trends for construction industry sectors (pages 14-19)
IBIS Report on the Architectural Industry (pdf), This was identified by the Recovery Task Force as a valuable report to share with AIA members
Memos to the Membership