John Flynn, AIA
AIA Oregon President

Hello Colleagues –Fellows Members,

Today I’m writing with a simple message: PARTICIPATE.

There’s a small, very low-key election happening next week, and, while you’ve probably missed it (because nobody is talking about it anywhere), there are some very key issues at play that could affect practice for architects, engineers, contractors – really business owners of all kinds. We might do well to at least know what’s going on. I don’t know who to attribute the quote to, but as the saying goes in politics, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

Does that mean listening to debates, rhetoric, and other conversations not fit for dinner parties or family gatherings? Yes. Does that mean regulating your emotions and instead diving into tough conversations with people you’ve maybe never met before to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to participate in a democratic process earnestly? It could!

I see tremendous possibility in that last question. This is a place where AIA excels – holding space for tough conversations around things we agree we care about. We take our non-partisan stance to the state legislature here in Oregon and federally when we lobby through the AIA Leadership Summit, visiting our elected representatives in the House and Senate. Within our state, we also participate through the continued conversations our CEO / EVP has helped to initiate between ACEC Oregon (engineers) AGC Oregon (general contractors) and PLSO (Land Surveyors of Oregon.) This group, called the Industry Leaders Forum, meets quarterly and AIA Oregon members are encouraged to reach out to Heather directly to learn more about attending.

Some of our members participate in the Urban Design Panel, where we bring together Landscape Architects (ASLA), Planners (APA), and AIA Architects for monthly conversations that are sometimes focused on education, and sometimes advocacy. It is a mix of passionate individuals working together to improve the built environment and address issues where our members live, work, and play.

Many of our members participate in activities AFO (Architecture Foundation of Oregon) manages, like Architects in Schools. The 2024 AFO Honored Citizen is our own Evon Calabrese, Associate AIA, who also serves as our national NAC (National Associates Committee) representative to AIA. We have a deep capacity, it seems, for showing up for each other in service to society, and I am very grateful to lead such a passionate group of professionals. It is truly an honor.

We are unfortunately, but certainly, going to see failures in our ability to hold safe space, manage civil discourse, and protect people’s rights to participate in the democratic process. It is my sincere hope that none of our AIA Oregon members will be involved in any activity that would jeopardize anyone’s ability to exercise free speech, not to mention your own ability to maintain membership. We foster a community that is open, curious, creative, and kind.

So however you choose to vote, please VOTE! Help hold the space for the democratic process and everyone who would like to participate in it by being a part of it yourself. And no matter the result, AIA Oregon will still be advocating for our shared values through our committees, our leaders, and our community.

Links:
AIA: 2024 Presidential Debate.pdf

Sincerely,

John Flynn, AIAO President