Tag: political action committee

AIA Central Virginia has pulled ahead in the “Rumble in the Jungle” for the AIA Virginia Political Action Committee Award

With less than a month remaining in the challenge, AIA Central Virginia has surged ahead of AIA Hampton Roads! AIA Central Virginia now has 70 points and AIA Hampton Roads has 60 points. AIA Blue Ridge and AIA Richmond are tied for third with 30 points each. AIA Northern Virginia has not yet scored any points (come on Northern Virginia!) AIA Central Virginia is the only local component Board of Directors at 100% participation as of this date. Like we have seen in past years, the leaderboard can change overnight when $1,000 is on the line!

The AIA Virginia PAC Award looks to celebrate the engagement and commitment of a local AIA component that supports the advancement and mission of the PAC. The Award has historically been presented at Architecture Exchange East to the local component’s Board of Directors who will accept the award on behalf of its respective members. The award criteria is based on a point total calculation based on three areas: local component Board participation, percentage of local component’s membership who have invested in the PAC, and the total amount of money invested by the members of the local component.

Below outlines point allocations:

1. Local component Board participation
   a. Did 100% of the Board of Directors invest into the AIA Virginia PAC?
   i. Yes = 20 points
   ii. No = 0 points
2. Percentage of local component’s members who have invested in the AIA Virginia PAC
   i. Component with highest % = 40 points
   ii. Component with second highest % = 20 points
   iii. Component with third highest % = 10 points
3. Average investment per member from the total local component membership
   i. Component with highest average investment/member = 40 points
   ii. Component with second highest average investment/member = 30 points
   iii. Component with third highest average investment/member = 20 points
   iv. Component with fourth highest average investment/member = 10 points
   v. Component with fifth highest average investment/member = 0 points

Scoring will be closed on Friday, October 14, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Make your investment today at www.aiavapac.org

by Eliza Engle, AIA

As the end of summer is drawing to a close, the PAC Board of Trustees will be starting their second fundraising “push” of the year.  Perhaps you know one of these dedicated volunteers. They might have asked you or your firm to invest in the PAC. 

Why invest in the PAC?  What does it do for you? 

Well, first let’s examine what the PAC means and does.  The AIA Virginia PAC is the entity that raises money to advocate for architects in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  We use these monies to access fundraising events of legislators to make connections, build relationships, and introduce all that we do in our communities as architects.  Over the past few years, these relationships have proven very fruitful.  We have closed the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) “loophole” in the Virginia Public Procurement Act which allowed localities to select architects for projects based on fee. In partnership with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC), we successfully lobbied for a 15-year statute of limitations for design and construction projects performed for the Commonwealth of Virginia, including public institutes of higher education. Today, the “duty to defend” language in indemnification clauses is against public policy because of our advocacy efforts. 

This year, we joined a coalition and successfully lobbied to support tax conformity legislation that included expense deductibility of $100,000 for PPP loans. This was a $75,000 increase from the original bill proposal. So, if you or your firm received a PPP loan, you can thank the PAC for getting this increase in business expense deductibility.  A great way to show your gratitude would be to invest in the PAC so we can continue strengthening these relationships and keep the Commonwealth a great place for architects to do work!

You can invest now here:  https://aiavapac.org/give/

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Thank you to our current 2021 PAC investors:

$2,500 to $4,999

Hanbury
PMA Architecture

$1,000 to $2,499

LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects
VIA Design Architects

$500 to $999

MG2 Corporation
MTFA Architecture
William “Bill” Brown, AIA
Jeremy Maloney, AIA

$200-$499

Conkey Architects
Frazier Associates
R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA
Eric Keplinger, AIA
David King, AIA
Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, AIA
J. Mitch Rowland, AIA
Elisabeth Sloan, AIA
Lou Wolf, AIA

$100-$199

Architecture AF
Colley Architects
Galvin Architects
Kerns Group Architects
KGD Architecture
Powe Studio Architects
Reader & Swartz Architects
r4 llc
Colin Arnold, AIA
JW Blanchard, AIA
Robert Dunay, FAIA
Thomas Ellis, AIA
Eliza Engle, AIA
Rob Reis, AIA
Nick Serfass, FAIA
Michael Spory, Assoc. AIA
Chris Venable, AIA
Nick Vlattas, FAIA
Steve Wakeman, AIA

Up to $99

B. Grace Design, LLC
Anonymous [ 2 ]
Ryan Alkire, AIA
Krystal Anderson, AIA
John Burns, FAIA
Maggie Dunlap, Assoc. AIA
Robert Easter, FAIA
Rhea George, Hon. AIA VA
John Glenn, AIA
Cathy Guske, Hon. AIA VA
Spencer Lepler, AIA
Shawn Mulligan, AIA
Marci Parrish
Kathryn Prigmore, FAIA
Gareth Ratti, AIA
Maury Saunders, AIA
Kristen Smith
Nick Wade, AIA
Chris Warren, AIA
Ed Weaver, AIA
Rob Winstead, AIA

AIA Hampton Roads Comfortably Leading the “Rumble in the Jungle” for the AIA Virginia Political Action Committee Award

AIA Hampton Roads is currently leading the competition comfortably with 80 points. The defending champions, AIA Central Virginia, currently hold second place at 40 points. AIA Northern Virginia is in third place with 30. No local component’s Board of Directors is at 100% participation as of this date. Like we have seen in past years, the leaderboard can change overnight when $1,000 is on the line!

The AIA Virginia PAC Award looks to celebrate the engagement and commitment of a local AIA component that supports the advancement and mission of the PAC. The Award has historically been presented at Architecture Exchange East to the local component’s Board of Directors who will accept the award on behalf of its respective membership. The award criteria is based on a point total calculation based on three areas: local component Board participation, percentage of local component’s membership who have invested in the PAC, and the total amount of money invested by the members of the local component.

Below outlines point allocations:

1. Local component Board participation
   a. Did 100% of the Board of Directors invest into the AIA Virginia PAC?
   i. Yes = 20 points
   ii. No = 0 points
2. Percentage of local component’s members who have invested in the AIA Virginia PAC
   i. Component with highest % = 40 points
   ii. Component with second highest % = 20 points
   iii. Component with third highest % = 10 points
3. Average investment per member from the total local component membership
   i. Component with highest average investment/member = 40 points
   ii. Component with second highest average investment/member = 30 points
   iii. Component with third highest average investment/member = 20 points
   iv. Component with fourth highest average investment/member = 10 points
   v. Component with fifth highest average investment/member = 0 points

Scoring will be closed on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Invest at www.aiavapac.org

Does Your Component Want to Win $1,000 for 2022 Architecture Week? Win the RUMBLE in the JUNGLE for the AIA Virginia Political Action Committee Award

Like many professions, architects have interests that specifically impact our profession, practice, and our community. The legislative and regulatory environment is arguably the most important arena that impacts how we provide our professional services.  We, as architects, want to have an influential voice in this arena that allows us to control our destiny.  We can’t have an influential voice without having relationships. As such, the PAC allows us to build these necessary relationships.

The AIA Virginia PAC Award looks to celebrate the engagement and commitment of a local AIA component that supports the advancement and mission of the PAC.  The Award has historically been presented at Architecture Exchange East to the local component’s Board of Directors who will accept the award on behalf of its respective membership.  The award criteria are based on a point total calculation based on three areas: local component Board participation, percentage of local component’s membership who have invested in the PAC, and the total amount of money invested by the members of the local component.

Below outlines point allocations:

1. Local component Board participation
   • Did 100% of the Board of Directors invest into the AIA Virginia PAC?
     • Yes = 20 points
     • No = 0 points
2. Percentage of local component’s members who have invested in the AIA Virginia PAC
   • Component with highest % = 40 points
   • Component with second highest % = 20 points
   • Component with third highest % = 10 points
3. Average investment per member from the total local component membership
   • Component with highest average investment/member = 40 points
   • Component with second highest average investment/member = 30 points
   • Component with third highest average investment/member = 20 points
   • Component with fourth highest average investment/member = 10 points
   • Component with fifth highest average investment/member = 0 points

The competition officially begins today and the scoring will be closed on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Invest at www.aiavapac.org

We cannot have an influential voice without having relationships with our state legislators. As such, the PAC allows us the opportunity to build these necessary relationships through attending various fundraisers. Since June 15, the following individuals and firms proudly invested in our PAC:

MG2 Corporation
Powe Studio Architects
Krystal Anderson, AIA
John Burns, FAIA
Kathryn Prigmore, FAIA
Stephen Wakeman, AIA