FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT As I noted in our January Newsletter, and as my year as 2022 Chapter President for Westchester + Hudson Valley comes to an end, I want to again take this opportunity to thank you for your continued membership with the American Institute of Architects, and in particular your support of our Chapter’s efforts to advocate on your behalf. My goals for the past year were basically summarized into three categories: - Transition our activities in a post-Covid-19 world to include more live activities, especially north of Westchester as our Chapter also represents Duchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.
- Continue to bring attention to the existential need for climate action, not just in our profession but universally. As was noted at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt in November, 2015-2022 are likely to be the eight warmest years on record. As we saw late this month with unprecedented storms and cold weather, our “Pale Blue Dot” - the earth, needs our collective attention.
- Highlight the value and importance of a profession for all and to support the National AIA’s stated goals of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in our profession.
I am proud to that with the help of you and our volunteer Board of Directors, we made substantial progress on all three areas, in addition to our more traditional activities. This past year we had a very successful annual golf outing, September annual Member meeting, and in April we sponsored a unique and virtual Greenposium, a full day event dedicated to presentations by a wide-range of experts in the Sustainability field. This year we had several unique gatherings in the Hudson Valley including a trip in May to Seminary Hill Orchard and Cidery to learn about the world’s first Passive House compliance Cidery. In August we had the opportunity to celebrate with the City of Beacon and it’s historic Howland Cultural Center the 150th Anniversary of the building’s dedication which was designed by AIA National founder and noted New York architect Richard Morris Hunt. Our culminating event in December at the Ossining Public Library was a major success that brought attention to two of my goals. “Equity & the Environment: The Challenges for AIA & NOMA in 2023 & Beyond” As noted in the event’s promotion: “Climate Action and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the profession have been formally adopted as national goals of the American Institute of Architects. However, the two goals are often advocated for and discussed separately within our profession. The mission of this symposium is to better understand the urgency of climate action for humanity's future and its interconnectedness with equity in our profession.” Please see some of the highlight photos below from that evening which brought national leaders of the AIA and NOMA, the National Organization of Minority Architects to our Chapter. Live and virtual, we had over 100 attendees and with the sponsorship of many, including NYSERDA, we will be producing a edited video for our archives. With best wishes for a productive and healthy 2023, I thank you again for your service as architects and designers of our fragile built environment. As Carl Sagan reminded us in 1994, the earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. As humans we have a responsibility to preserve and cherish our Pale Blue Dot, the only home we’ve ever known. Thank you. |
