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By Arin Resnicke, AIA
Outlying Board Director
“It never fails to amaze me how much “exercise” and “extra fries” sound alike”
– Anonymous
There is a bullet-point on the AIACV webpage that states: “Attend events, activities, and network through your state and local AIA components—demonstrate leadership skills and raise the visibility of the profession in your community.”
However, as a member residing in the northern portion of California (where we define northern as beginning North of Sacramento!), opportunities to participate in live and in-person events sponsored by the AIA are very rare. Thus, for those of us in Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Plumas, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Sierra, , Amador, and Alpine counties ( “outlying” counties of the AIA Central Valley Chapter), it can be difficult to attend non-virtual chapter mixers, lunch meetings, board meetings, etc. As one who has typically been involved in chapter activities (primarily the Golden Empire Chapter) since joining the AIA in 1986, I wondered whether my prior activity level could remain once I relocated to the proverbial “nether” regions of our state several years ago.
With this question in mind, I broached the subject with a fellow architect to get another take on the issue. Though surprising and at the same time expected, the response was akin to, “Why belong to the AIA? What can they do for us up here? We are too far removed to have any effect or level of participation…” I mention, “expected” as I had very similar thoughts when I moved here (Redding) and wondered if anyone knew what AIA stood for once outside the Sacramento and nearby area.
Ultimately, it comes down to the initial reasons we each collectively chose to become AIA members, but also to engage as active participants. If “we” don’t do it, if “we” do not CHOOSE to get involved, then who will? I humbly and respectfully request that each and every person make a conscientious decision to increase your involvement this year, particularly as we have witnessed the last couple years of lockdowns and virtual meetings…who else has ”zoomed” to a “virtual” death?!? It is past time to get together for lunches, tour jobsites and enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of like-minded folks.
That stated, please join us for the first outlying event of 2022 in Chico at the campus of CSU Chico on Friday, April 29th. Please write, e-mail, telephone, send smoke signals or a message by Pony Express with your thoughts on future activities, lunch and learns, jobsite tours, etc. that wein the “north” state can produce for the benefit of not only architects, but also the general public who all too often do not know what architects do on a daily basis.
P.S.: Be on the lookout for a future announcement regarding a tour of the new Shasta County Courthouse opening Fall, 2022!
By the way, I’d like a side of extra fries with that….