By Ida Antoniolli Clair, AIA
Chapter President
The pandemic gave us a lot to think about while we were in our cocoons. As spring approached, I found myself feeling like the flowers… ready to burst into bloom, and excited to resume a “normal” existence and to engage with the world beyond the virtual screen. How about you?
As our first in-person event approaches, my apprehension that the pandemic would once again thwart another AIACV celebration has begun to ebb. It’s really happening! This Friday, April 29th we will finally gather to do what architects do best: engage and inspire others at the CSU Chico Outlying Event.
As we emerge from our pandemic cocoon, we can also emerge from our cocoon of Sacramento to engage with our outlying members in Chico, to tour how architecture transforms a campus, to witness the power of collaboration in rebuilding the Paradise community, and to mentor future designers. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase our new AIA Here for You operating model as we take the AIA Central Valley Chapter on the road.
Our event in Chico is also an opportunity to revive engagement by and with our outlying members to share what active membership has to offer. As the pandemic made us all a bit more comfortable with virtual programming, our offering of events will be varied moving forward with both in-person and virtual events, so we can offer more to our members.
If you haven’t yet done so, please take a minute to renew your membership. It’s your continued commitment to the AIA that challenges us to bring value to your membership and the value of architects to the public as we take AIACV on the road. The Chapter’s Board will be reaching out to offer assistance and check-in with members. We look forward to connecting with you.
We are actively programming events for the rest of the year. Please reach out to the Chapter office today if you have space to host an event. An event in your office, or one of your firm’s projects, affords you a unique experience: the ease of attending an event without the use of a computer or a car. What can be better?
It’s time for us to shed our cocoon and spread our wings….see you in Chico!