Every spring, AIA hosts the Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington DC. 

Grassroots is an annual opportunity for AIA members around the country to gather together for three days just steps from Capitol Hill and explore how architects can connect, engage, lead and innovate – not un-coincidentally the four priorities of AIA’s Repositioning Initiative – and Grassroots 2014 was no exception.

This year, Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA and incoming 2015 AIA President, welcomed 700 architects from the U.S. and abroad to the nation’s capital to:

  • connect with colleagues and develop new contacts that will seed the supportive network essential to our success,
  • engage the ideas and trends transforming the architecture profession, and the AIA,
  • lead the AIA’s advocacy effort in shaping a regulatory environment in which members and their communities can prosper by design, and
  • combine our resources to innovate and expand our knowledge and relevance.

The AIA South Carolina delegation, including representatives from the state’s local sections, attends keynotes and sessions on advocacy and leadership and visits with our Congressmen and Senators on Capitol Hill.

The 2014 SC Delegation included:

  • Emma Souder, AIA – AIASC President
  • Tripp Riley, AIA – AIASC Vice President/President-Elect
  • Steve Goggans, AIA – AIASC Government Affairs Director
  • Justin Patterson, Assoc. AIA – AIASC Emerging Professionals Director
  • Lynn Craig, FAIA, RIBA – AIASC Clemson University Liaison
  • Jenna Beth Walker, AIA – AIA Greenville President
  • Burgess Metcalf, AIA – AIA Greenville Vice President/President-Elect
  • Jonathan Garvin, AIA – AIA Greenville Government Affairs Director
  • John Powell, AIA – AIA Columbia President
  • Robyn Fisher, AIA – AIA Columbia  Vice President/President-Elect
  • Tim Probst, AIA – AIA Hilton Head Island Vice President/President-Elect
  • Andy Clark, AIA – AIA Charleston President
  • Jennifer Charzewski, AIA – AIA Charleston Vice President/President-Elect
  • Jane Frederick, FAIA – SAR Regional Director
  • Michael Atkinson, Assoc. AIA – SAR Regional Associate Director
  • Brad Benjamin, AIA – AIA Young Architects Forum Past Chair
  • Adrienne Montare, AIA – AIASC Executive Director

Click here for more information on the 2014 AIA National legislative agenda and the message we took to Capitol Hill this year: http://www.aia.org/advocacy/federal/AIAS078578

 

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Lynn Craig, FAIA,RIBA holding the award

“AIA South Carolina worked closely with the Children’s Museums and Clemson University to develop a workshop series for children. The program engaged school children at a statewide level. The impact of this program will be seen for years to come. Kudos, AIA South Carolina! – 2014 Public Affairs & Communications Awards Jury