HIGHLIGHTS:
Upcoming awards submission opportunities
Summer awards celebration
Upcoming volunteer opportunities

Column from AIA Minnesota President Phillip Koski, AIA

“Of all the things your dues pay for—government advocacy, educational programs, awards and recognition, tours, leadership training, social events—perhaps the most valuable thing you get with AIA membership is access to volunteer opportunities. When attending my first summit for AIA component leaders in Washington, D.C., one of the keynote speakers put it this way (I’m paraphrasing here): ‘Joining the AIA and then not getting involved in a board or committee is like going to Disney World and not going on any of the rides.’

Yes, this might challenge what many of us consider to be the definition of ‘a good time,’ but the deeper truth is that when you join a board or task force or volunteer to do the work of a committee, you are doing so with like-minded architects and emerging professionals who share your values and interests. That kind of comradery is a dwindling commodity in a world of remote work and weakened social institutions disrupted by COVID and fragmenting social media algorithms. 

Whether your passion is debating interpretations of the building code, learning about new sustainability strategies, or generating a list of potential jurors for the annual honor awards, these kinds of volunteer activities connect us with each other and deepen our engagement with the broader architectural profession. Along the way, volunteering provides side benefits that can accelerate your own growth as a professional and as an engaged citizen. In my case, it honed my writing and speaking abilities, taught me how to run an effective meeting, connected me to people who opened doors to new career opportunities, and made me unafraid to walk into a congressional office and ask to be heard.”