AIA Louisiana Members Attend Snowy 41st Annual Grassroots in Washington DC
This exclusive event, for AIA leaders only, gives volunteers the opportunity to gainĀ information and knowledge through workshops designed to help participants in their leadership and advocacy roles.
Representing AIA Louisiana were Ron Martinez, President Elect, AIA Louisiana, Paula Peer and Nick Marshall, New Orleans, Rachel James, Shreveport, Kendal Broussard, South Louisiana, Jimmy Hebert, Baton Rouge, Elizabeth Galan, Southwest Louisiana, Stephen Arceneaux, Coastal, and Steve Maher, National Board Member representing AIA Louisiana.
Guided by a vision for the future of the profession, the conference provided AIA leaders with tools to influence and pursue action that will strengthen their components, firms, communities and society at large. There were opportunities for creative dialogue through general sessions, workshops, networking and peer to peer connections. Leaders exchanged information and ideas, provided input on AIA initiatives and advocated the AIA’s federal agenda to members of Congress, working collectively toward a better future for architects. The agenda emphasized component leadership and included a dynamic legislative conference and workshops designed to help component officers and aspiring leaders become effective chapter and civic leaders.
Issues of national interest which were discussed with the Louisiana Congressional delegation included protection and enhancement of the federal historic tax credit (HTC), and
the Safe Building Code Incentive Act, which encourages states to voluntarily adopt and enforce nationally recognized model building codes for residential and commercial structures in order to qualify for additional post-disaster FEMA grants. Also National Design Services Act, which extends to architecture graduates student debt relief in exchange for work inĀ under-servedĀ communities.