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1.  Message from AIAMI President Harry Terpstra, AIA

After what seems like a very long winter, everyone I’ve talked to is thrilled that spring is finally here. It has been great to be able to go for a walk without many layers of clothes and even to be able to work in the yard again. The difficult part is sitting in my office and hearing the “ting” of golf clubs, knowing that I really shouldn’t go out and join them yet). Spring also reminds me how fast this year is going. This past week we had our third AIA Michigan Board

meeting of the year in the original home of GM, the Durant-Dort Carriage Company Headquarters in Flint. We appreciate the efforts of Ron Campbell and the Flint Chapter in arranging for us to meet in a place with so much history.  Many things are in the works for AIA Michigan. Dennis King (AIAMI Treasurer) has completed the review of our Bylaws, which he started last year. As you can imagine, this was a tedious task and we appreciate the work done by Dennis and our AIAMI staff. The Board has approved the corrections and the proposed changes. Once AIA National finishes their review, the changes will presented for a vote at our annual meeting at the Mid-Summer Conference.

As a follow up to our planning sessions in January four committees have been established to develop specific plans. These are the Mentoring Task Force, which is chaired by Bob Daverman, and working with Tom Mathison to assure that this important program is continued and even expanded. Dennis King has agreed to chair two new committees. The first will begin the planning for our celebration of the AIA Sesquicentennial and the second will be reviewing our web site and related issues. The forth committee is Communities by Design and is chaired by Randy Case with Celeste Novak. If you have an interest in any of the areas, please contact the committee chairs with your ideas, concerns or even if you wish to participate, I know your thoughts will be appreciated.

10 years ago, an AIA Michigan committee looked at our organization and prepared a lengthy report of recommendations. You might recognize the names of the committee members: Graham Dickens, Tom Lucas, Tom Mathison, Steve Vogel and Gene Hopkins. Many of their suggestions were adopted, such as refinancing the Beaubien House. Some things we do today are also a result of their planning and include establishment of a reserve fund and programmatic budgeting. I think they paved the way for our organization to operate in a more business like fashion and to be more fiscally responsible. This year, Gary Skog, chair of our Finance committee will be leading the development plan for additional actions which should help us to be even better stewards of our organization and give us more financial flexibility.

In March, we meet with our AELC partners at the annual Legislative Day in Lansing. This is always a great opportunity for us to meet with our Representatives and Senators through visits to their offices and at a reception hosted by Kelly/Cawthorne. The event was well organized and successful. Our Legislators want to meet people from their Districts and to hear their concerns. We are given suggested talking points, a visit schedule and a briefing before the visits so it is much easier and effective than you might imagine. I would encourage each of you to consider participating in this very important event next year.

Finally, I am looking forward to a very special event, our AIA Michigan Honor Awards, to be held on Friday, April 29 at the new Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan. This great hotel was designed by one of our members, Victor Saroki & Associates. We will have a new format this year, which we hope will make it an even more enjoyable event for everyone. I hope you will join us for an evening of honoring the accomplishments of our members and celebrating the best of our AIA Michigan Designs.

2. Mid Summer Conference Update from Harry Terpstra, AIA

The Annual Mid Summer Conference is the longest running event on the AIA Michigan Calendar and one of its most successful. For sometime the board has been looking for ways to strengthen our ties to the rest of the construction industry. Thus, our 62 year old forum for fun, one-on-one contact with industry leaders, and information sharing has two new partners: Michigan Chapter Associated General Contractors and AGC Greater Detroit Chapter.

It is all about making CONNECTIONS. The conference has always been open to all in the construction industry and many of our friends in the design/build community have participated. This new arrangement will insure that all three groups will share in the planning of this stellar event.

The planning process is well underway. The Grand Hotel has been reserved for August 4-5-6 and the committee is formed. We are now looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost and the expanded format gives us many more opportunities.

We are excited about this newly configured Mid Summer Conference. The times demand that we strengthen our bonds of trust and this is a wonderful place for the human contact that is required to forge the relationships that we will all need in the future. We hope that you agree. We welcome your comments and suggestions, please send them to us at aiami@aiami.com or call me at the Beaubien House at 313-965-4100 for further details.

3.  LTU Creates New Urban Forest From Old Trees

In what is believed to be the largest commitment ever to create an urban forest cloned from the nation’s oldest, most historic, and often, largest trees, LTU President Charles Chambers announced plans to plant some 30 to 70 such trees in and around the University’s redeveloped central academic quadrangle and elsewhere on its 120-acre campus. The trees include some planted by the founders and presidents of the nation. LTU, with assistance of HarleyEllis, is partnering with the Champion Tree Project International. Read more.

4. Opportunities

Call for Presentations – Presentations are sought for the 2005 Michigan Rehabilitation Conference, Nov. 8-10, in Grand Rapids. Proposals due by May 13. For details including a list of possible presentation topics, call 517-484-5411.

Detroit Home Design Awards – Entries sought in nearly 60 categories for 2005 competition sponsored by Detroit Home Magazine. All entries must be postmarked by April 28, 2005. For an entry packet, visit www.hourdetroit.com.

Call for Entries – Entries sought for Vetter Windows & Doors Vetter Inspired Project (VIP) Awards. Eligible projects started after Jan. 1, 2002 and are completed by June 30, 2005. Entry deadline is July 1, 2005. No entry fee. Download the entry form and information.

Calling Best Engineering Firm – CE News and Structural Engineer magazines seek  entries for the Best Civil (or Structural) Engineering Firm to Work For Contest. Entries must be postmarked by May 16, 2005. Visit this website to download the entry form, which is used for either competition.

5. Get the Word Out: Advertise with AIA Michigan

6. Obituary

7. Firm News

New Positions

HarleyEllis: David Herjeczki, AIA to the design team…Hobbs+Block Associates: Jonathan Botorowicz to associate; Elizabeth Wagner to senior associate …Progressive AE: Matthew Slagle, AIA as architect.

Awards, Recongnitions

O’Boyle Cowell Blalock: Outstanding Landscape Design Award from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association for the Millennium Park, Recreation Core in Kent County …TMP Associates, Inc.: the following architects earned LEED accreditation: Jeffrey Boes, AIA, Eric Sassak, AIA, Dave Warren, AIA, James Derks, AIA and Margaret Matta, AIA.

8. Grapevine

AIAMI Past President Celeste Novak, AIA authored an article entitled “Plan a Hobby: Become an Engaged Member of Your Community.” The article appears in How Architects Can Become Advocates for Livable Communities, a guide published recently by the AIA … Associated General Contractors elected new officers and board members including Chairman James Cole, Jr., Vice Chairman Odell Jones II, and Treasurer Paul Hatcher. Elected to the board were Katherine Banicki, Todd Doenitz, Ronald Hausmann, Clifford Kazmierczak, James Like, Douglas Maibach and Andrew Shmina …The Giffels Associates name will be back, after the sale of the Southfield design practice by Arcadis NV to Ingenium Group Inc. of Toronto. Ingenium is the parent company of a group of businesses that grew from the Canadian branch of Giffels …The 2006 election cycle is underway, with a full ballot of state level contests including four constitutional officers; 38 state senators; and 110 state representatives, plus two Supreme Court Justices …Gerald Belian, PE, vp at Soil and Materials Engineers was named the 2005 Outstanding Professional Engineer in Construction from the ACEC/Michigan and MSPE …Congratulations to Daniel Redstone, FAIA, who has been appointed to a one-year term as an observer to the 2005 AIA Codes and Standards Committee …Cranbrook Academy of Art appointed William Massie as new Architect-in-Residence and head of the architecture department. Currently associate professor of architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Massey is a past LTU teacher …

9. Free Glazing Code Interpretation Manual

Call the Glazing Contractors Association to receive a free copy of their recently published manual, The Rules, which provides an interpretation of codes and standards for safety glazing. The Rules is designed for use by architects, code specifiers, glazing contractors, plan checkers and building inspectors. It consolidates all substantive references to glass, glazing and glazing products from the Michigan Building Code 2003 into one reference guide. Call the Glazing Contractors Association at 248-972-1132.

10. Classified Advertising

Associate Dean ­– Lawrence Technological University is seeking to fill the position of Associate Dean in the College of Architecture. The position is two-thirds administrative and one-third teaching. A terminal degree in architecture or related disciplines, strong administrative skills and instructional experience are required. Contact Interim Dean Veryser at veryser@ltu.edu for more details.

11. Mark Your Calendar

Highlights of Upcoming AIA Michigan & Chapter Events

Be sure to mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

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Call 313 965-4100 for information