Newsletter | December 2016

Dear Colleagues,

Holiday greetings! During this magical time of the year, I hope that prosperity and happiness enters your businesses and homes! It’s been a memorable year for the AIA El Paso Chapter, full of accomplishments, we:

•Completed the grueling application process for Chapter accreditation

•Received a 3 year Chapter accreditation from AIA National!

•Filled positions for Executive Director and Associates Director

•Reinstated Chapter Committees

•Began ‘Donuts & Design’ to provide additional CEU’s

•Had representation at the Grassroots, National and State Conventions

•United to represent our profession prior to YISD bond

•Had great sponsors and CEU presentations at our monthly meetings

•Have valuable relationships with our Professional Affiliates

•Updated our new website and included social media outlets

•Sponsored various architectural educational events

•Collaborated with various entities for Archtober events

•Planned a successful golf tournament to assist the EPAF in providing architectural scholarships

•Organized a Chapter Banquet. Congratulations to the three firms who received design awards.

•Began collaboration dialogue with TTU El Paso and UACJ AIAS Chapters

•Completed the Strategic Plan for 2017-2019 (the last one was done in 2008!)

I’m very proud to have been a part of these achievements! It’s been a pleasure being President and being a part of the Executive Committee for the last six years. It’s been a privilege to have worked with some great architects who are dedicated and do a fantastic job representing our profession. While being out during my two back surgeries this year, Rene Melendez has already gotten his feet wet as President and has proved that he will do great with this role. I have confidence that next year Rene, along with the Executive Committee will be dedicated to our Chapter, their efforts will bring great success and growth to our Chapter.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Sending you best wishes for a fantastic 2017!

Madam President signing off ...

Mary J Stills, AIA

2016 Chapter President

Newsletter | November 2016

DOWNLOAD THE NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Dear Colleagues,

I hope most of you had the opportunity to attend the Archtober events. Our appreciation goes out to Jorge Loya and Paulina Lagos for their time and efforts to plan the events, thank you!

I trust that each member that attended the TxA Convention found it insightful and beneficial. Already looking forward to next year’s.

This week several members of the executive committee will be meeting with the Texas Tech and UACJ AIAS chapters. Our chapter is looking forward to engaging with these students to support them with their endeavors and to collaborate for the benefit of architecture. We look forward to planning joint events with them next year.

Special wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family and friends. Thank you for all you do for our profession.

Best Regards,

Mary J Stills, AIA

2016 Chapter President

Newsletter | October 2016

Download the October Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

We ended September and started October with a bang!  The golf tournament proved to be yet another successful event this year, thanks to Jorge Loya, his great golf committee and all the volunteers.  We are appreciative of all our sponsors and players.  We’re already looking forward to next year. 

Thanks to Renee Jimenez for organizing the Design Awards Banquet.  Our head judge and speaker, Bradley Hightower was engaging with his presentation on Courthouses, his humor added to the evening.  We valued his comments regarding the project submissions.  The Chapter congratulates this year’s award winners!

Honors Award: Parkhill Smith & Cooper for Johnston Elementary School Merit Award: PhiloWilke Partnership for MCA Cardwell Collaborative

Merit Award: Alvidrez Architecture for Sun Metro Operations

Merit Award – Interiors: PhiloWilke Partnership for Memorial Hermann Pearland

Honorable Mention Award: Alvidrez Architecture, San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated ISD Administration Center

Pictures of these projects are included in the body of the newsletter.

We’re in the midst of Archtober!  Chalk the Block, Lego-Bricks Build-a-Thon and Pecha Kucha Night all took place this past weekend.  I hope you were able to attend and support these events.  Still coming up are various lectures, tours, and events, please make plans to attend.

The Texas Society of Architects Convention is nearing.  Convergence, the 77th Annual Convention and Design Expo will take place on November 3 - 5, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. We have 19 members attending so far, don't miss out and make plans to attend.

Best Regards,

Mary J Stills, 2016 Chapter President

 

Newsletter | August 2016

Download the August Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Happy August! It was a pleasure seeing many of you at the July Chapter meeting. Our Chapter hosted Mr. Paul Dennehy, AIA, TxA President Elect and Mr. James Perry, TxA Executive VP/CEO. Mr. Dennehy gave a great presentation and provided us with one continuing education hour. He spoke to us about his experiences as an architect and the value of working with our communities. He also reminded us of the importance of contributing to TAC to support the advocacy efforts on behalf of architects and architecture. Our Chapter has not met its yearly goal of $2,500 and I am therefore providing you with the link so that you can contribute on-line as soon as possible.

https://texasarchitects.org/v/tac-donation

The time has come to register for the Texas Society of Architects Convention. Convergence, the 77th Annual Convention and Design Expo will take place on November 3 – 5, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.

Our yearly golf tournament is taking place next month! The El Paso Architectural Foundation and the AIA El Paso Chapter will be hosting the 19th annual golf tournament on September 16, 2016 at the Butterfield Trail Golf Course. We are grateful to our Silver Sponsor; Robins and Morton, our Bronze Sponsors; Stubbs Engineering and Tandus Centiva, our Golf Ball Sponsor; Resource Lighting and finally our Hole Sign Sponsors; Bath Engineering, MNK Architects, PhiloWilke, Carl Daniel Architects, APCO, JOBE and Aguilar Engineering!

Please assist Jorge Loya in continuing to seek sponsors and players. Remember that this event will raise money for the Chapter’s Architectural Scholarship and Education Fund. Please join the great golf Fiesta on 16 de Septiembre! 

On Friday August 26th, the Chapter will be sponsoring the second presentation of Donuts and Design to provide Chapter members a continuing education hour, this particular one will provide an ADA Credit!

Don’t forget to RSVP, details for all these events are included in the newsletter. I invite you to participate!

Best Regards,

Mary Stills, AIA 2016 AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | June 2016

Download the June Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this newsletter finds your well. It is with great sadness that I write this month’s Presidents letter just learning of the passing of Mr. Linsday Holt. In our industry there are so many pieces that need to fit together to complete a project successfully. As architects, we call on so many people to collaborate with and assure that we are doing everything possible to select and specify quality equipment and materials. Calling on Lindsay for his assistance was always a positive experience. He was a very intelligent, caring and supportive individual.

I want to thank every single professional affiliate, product representative, client, consultant, and contractor who are part of our team. Your hard work and dedication assists us in having a fulfilling profession.

Our deepest condolences to the Holt family. A sympathy bouquet and card have been sent on behalf of our Chapter to let them know how much we appreciated Lindsay and how much he will be missed. I look forward to seeing all of you at the June Chapter meeting.

Mary Stills, AIA 2016 AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | May 2016

Dear Colleagues,

I am very excited to inform you that AIA National recently accredited our Chapter for 3 years! It was a tedious process to collect the information that was requested, but it was so worth it, to receive confirmation that our Chapter provides its members the required core services. It is very gratifying to have a certificate that accredits our Chapter until May 1st of 2019.

If any of you have any ideas on how we can further improve our Chapter, please contact me or the members of the Executive Committee. We are open to listening to your suggestions and look forward to working together to keep this momentum going.

Due to my recent back surgery, I am unable to travel to Philadelphia for the National Convention. We will have great representation with Rene Melendez and Renee Jimenez. If there are other members attending please let Rene or Renee know. Our Chapter needs delegates to vote for the National Officers.

My apologies for missing this month’s meeting; due to the recovery period after the surgery I am unable to attend. I look forward to seeing you at our June meeting.

Best Regards,

Mary Stills, AIA, CNU-A

AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | April 2016

Download the April Newsletter

Colleagues,

I was pleased to see a lot of architects and students at the Thom Mayne lecture. His words were very inspiring, his projects utterly eccentric, and his message about architecture was authentic. Thanks to Emmanuel Moreno and the EPCC Architectural Society from hosting such a dynamic architect.

I am very happy to announce that our Chapter has a new Associates Director and a new Executive Director. Marcella Attolini will serve as Associates Director and Madeleine Sara will be the Executive Director. Both ladies met the qualifications for these positions, they are both Associate Members of the Chapter and are eager to assist in the Chapters endeavors. In case you weren’t aware, the Executive Director position had been vacant for 3 years, so we are elated to have Madeline fill that role. Welcome Marcella and Madeleine to the Executive Committee!

We are pleased to announce a new program: “Donuts and Design”, intended to provide additional CEU’s for you, our Chapter members. Rene Melendez has been hard at work coordinating the programs and locations. He will soon give us details on proposed dates and morning times for these continuing education opportunities.

Our Chapter Committees are busy at work! There is still opportunity for you to join in and make a difference on our: Awareness & Advocacy, Fellowship, El Paso Chapter History, Golf Tournament, Archtober, Design Awards & Banquet, and Membership committees. Armando Jimarez and Eugenio Mesta from our Awareness & Advocacy Committee, represented our Chapter at the 2 day City’s Civic Design Lab workshop. We appreciate your time and commitment.

Next month on May 19th-21st is the National AIA Convention in Philadelphia. Voting for new candidates for National office will take place at the Convention. Please let me know if you will be attending the convention, we need 6 delegates to vote on behalf of our Chapter.

A quick update on our Chapter Accreditation. National AIA provided some comments regarding our application submittal from February. They required some additional information and documents were submitted by the new deadline, which was April 12th.

Because of all the hard work that many of our members are doing, we were able to fulfill many of the core service requirements. We will find out soon if our Chapter gets accredited for 1 year or 3 years, stay tuned.

Please continue to promote our profession by keeping your work inspiring and authentic.   

Best Regards,

Mary Stills, AIA, CNU-A

AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | March 2016

Colleagues,

Springing forward reminds me how fast this year is moving. Did you know that the practice of daylight savings time came about in the early 1900’s to make better use of daylight by adding one hour of standard time to the day and therefore conserve energy? This reduces the need for artificial lighting during evening hours and positively affects our built environment.

Our appreciation goes out to Coronado Stone & Tile for their generosity in sponsoring our February Chapter meeting. It’s my understanding that many chapter members were present and the presentation was very informative.

Rene Melendez and I unfortunately missed the Chapter meeting due to our attendance at AIA Grassroots. Despite the 30 degree weather, snow, and 2 hour difference of Detroit to El Paso, we both agreed that having the event in such an interesting city was a good move from the usual Washington scene. Detroit is a city that has been faced with many challenges. Recently, architects were inspired by the rich history, they met meeting urban challenges and made positive changes that have transformed the City.

Although there was so much to this event, of particular interest were the keynote speakers that enlightened us with talks of what 21st century cities need from architects, how to design waterfront cities (something atypical for us!), how to invent and innovate, and how to work with communities to create positive change with our built environment.

During the event, we received a list of the 2016 Declared Candidates for National office. Many were present during the wrap-up session to state their viewpoints. A person for each position will be elected at the 2016 AIA National Convention, we will have the opportunity to vote at the Convention.

    2017-2018 Secretary

    Julia A. Donoho, Esq., AIA, LEED AP (AIA Redwood Empire)

    Burton L. Roslyn, FAIA Emeritus (AIA New York)

    Bruce W. Sekanick, AIA (AIA Eastern Ohio)

    2017-2019 At Large Directors (one will be elected)

    Peter J. Exley, FAIA (AIA Chicago)

    2017 First Vice President/ 2018 President-Elect

    Brian P. Dougherty, FAIA (AIA Orange County)

    Carl Elefante, FAIA (AIA Potomac Valley)

    Ellis L. “Lanny” McIntosh, AIA (AIA Eastern Oklahoma)

The AIA National Convention will be held in Philadelphia on May 19-21. Also mark your calendars for the TxA Convention which will be held in San Antonio on November 3-5.

I hope you make great use of your ‘extra hour’, conserve energy and continue to March forward. I Look forward to seeing you at the March Chapter meeting. Please continue to promote our profession by forwarding #ilookup to all your contacts and let them know that architects are creating a better world.

Best Regards,

Mary J Stills, AIA, CNU-A

2016 AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | February 2016

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

It was a pleasure seeing you at the January Chapter Meeting. What a terrific turnout! Thank you to John Ziegler for a great presentation and to Mitsubishi Electric for sponsoring our meeting. It is always challenging to find a Sponsor for the January meeting, and John really came through when we called on him just a week prior to the meeting. Our first CEU of the year, more to come.

The Executive Committee is also very grateful to all of you who signed up to be a part of the Chapter Committees. Please see page 3 of the newsletter for a list of the Committees. It is early in the year and there is still opportunity for you to sign up.  Please contact me or the committee chair. A few Chair positons are still vacant, we welcome your leadership for these roles. I’m excited about the launching of these committees and look forward to the benefits that will arise from your efforts.

Please remember that a Chapter is only as strong as the individual commitment that we contribute to. We currently seek two individuals to fill the important positions of Executive Director and Associates Director. The descriptions for these positions are included on pages 6 and 7 of the newsletter. If you know somebody that would be ideal for either of these positions, please inform them of how indispensable their role will be to our Chapter and encourage them to apply.

Special recognition to BPSI, DWS Building Supply, Facilities Connection, and New Era Foam Spray for becoming the first Professional Affiliates of the year! We reach out to all our product representatives, experts that we call on daily, we hope that you too will join our Chapter as Professional Affiliates.

Next week Rene Melendez and I will travel to Detroit to attend Grassroots 2016, the AIA’s 42nd annual leadership event. Unfortunately we’ll miss the February Chapter meeting but we’ll report on the Grassroots event upon our return. We look forward to collaborating with fellow architects from around the Nation and share with them details about the Chapter we have the privilege to lead.

Best Regards,

Mary J Stills, AIA, CNU-A

2016 AIA El Paso Chapter President

Newsletter | January 2016

Download - January Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Dear Colleagues,

With a new year comes new hope, new challenges and new promises.

We're off to a great start with a terrific Executive Committee.  Our Chapter leadership will continue to work hard to make our AIA El Paso Chapter even stronger.  With their assistance, the planning process has begun for this coming year.  This year we hope to; increase membership, collaborate with the student chapter and the Associates, assist the El Paso Architectural Foundation in scholarship fundraising, plan educational events, increase the number of CEU's offered, and update the strategic plan which was last updated in 2008.

The first step undertaken as your Chapter President is the application for the Accreditation of our Chapter.  AIA National has requested that all state and local components focus on seven core member services; membership communications, education, advocacy, elevate public awareness, governance, finance and general operations, and membership.  After AIA National reviews our application, they will offer assistance in areas that require improvement.  While in the process of preparing the required documentation for the application, I am reminded of what a strong Chapter we are and how much work has been done by so many architects to make it what it is today.  My appreciation goes out to all of you who have made that commitment to our profession and our community.

With that said, let's take aim to support our fellow architects, to take advantage of our Chapter resources and to become better advocates for our profession.  My request to each of you is to engage; volunteer, attend programs and support events, your participation will become its own reward!

Wishing you a successful year in your personal and professional lives.  Onward and upward!

Mary J Stills, AIA, CNU-A

2016 AIA El Paso Chapter President