AIA Colorado Volunteer Opportunities
OVERVIEW
AIA Colorado seeks member volunteers to serve on committees that embody the mission, vision, and values of the organization. These groups are organized under four overarching themes of Policy Impact, Practice Advancement, Career Leadership, and Community Outreach to move the profession forward. We encourage candidates from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds including career stage, firm size, practice type, location, and personal demographics.
Thank you for your interest in serving!
OVERVIEW
Academy of Architecture for Health Knowledge Community
The Academy of Architecture for Health Knowledge Community provides educational and networking opportunities for members who work on healthcare projects and seek to advance this rapidly evolving area of practice.
STEERING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead regularly occurring meetings. Common agenda items include: formal presentations, often by non-member experts or government agency staff; workshops that help members gain a deeper understanding of the topic; roundtable discussions; tours of places or buildings (depending on gathering restrictions); virtual networking events that help develop strategic relationships with like-minded groups in similar organizations.
- Proactively reach out to potential speakers to coordinate presentations.
- Complete continuing education application forms when meeting topics are suitable for AIA learning units.
- Lead communication efforts for meetings. This includes direct communications with members who opt-in to email communications, and sharing programs and initiatives with networks and across social media
Architect Licensing Advisor
OVERVIEW
A board-appointed role, the Architect Licensing Advisor volunteers to help those pursuing licensure, working closely with AIA and NCARB. This is a two-year appointment.
Awards Committee
OVERVIEW
The Awards Committee helps to plan the annual AIA Colorado Design + Honor Awards program, which elevates design and recognizes the accomplishments of individual Colorado architects and firms.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Review award categories and submission criteria.
- Recommend jury members
- Provide recommendations for jury instructions and selection process
- Promote call for entries
- Provide input on award presentation format
- Promote the awards celebration
TIME COMMITMENT
- Intermittent meetings 9 months of the year with increased frequency prior to call for submissions and awards event
Business of Architecture Knowledge Community
OVERVIEW
Members of this team help to organize events and learning opportunities around the business side of architecture. Topics might include marketing, HR and legal, contracts/contract negotiation, and more. Interest will appeal to professionals with a variety of experience—from firm principals to mid-career professionals hoping to hone their practice management skills.
STEERING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Meet regularly to discuss issues related to practice management
- Determine important topics to cover and identify expert resources
- Program and facilitate quarterly events in a variety of formats to appeal to AIA Colorado membership including virtual connects, panel discussions, and peer group conversations.
- Promote the events to friends and colleagues
College of Fellows Nominating Committee
OVERVIEW
This committee identifies candidates and helps members who are in the process of applying to the AIA College of Fellows.
Committee on the Environment
OVERVIEW
This committee will review AIA’s 2030 Challenge and more to advance AIA Colorado’s imperative of environmental stewardship. The committee will build awareness of and promote the use of the Framework for Design Excellence and promote a survey to better understand how we can support firms’ efforts toward environmental stewardship.
Conference Committee
OVERVIEW
Help plan AIA Colorado’s annual signature event, the Practice + Design Conference, which has historically drawn 500+ design professionals. This committee helps to select a theme, research and secure speakers, plan conference activities, and more. We appreciate volunteers who can identify topics and experts and offer creative special event ideas as we explore options.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify a theme and review schedule.
- Review proposals and select presenters to address the conference theme and AIA imperatives. Help make contact with presenters.
- Promote the conference.
- Attend and volunteer at the event.
TIME COMMITMENT
- Intermittent meetings throughout of the year with increased frequency during key planning times
Disaster Response Coordinator
OVERVIEW
State disaster coordinators are AIA members who will establish and maintain a relationship with state and/or local county emergency management officials, the chapter and AIA National. Coordinators help maintain a roster of potential volunteers and assist in Disaster Assistance Trainings.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain active Safety Assessment Program (SAP) credentials, per CalOES standards.
- Work with other state coordinators through AIA National.
- Manage the AIA Colorado Disaster Response Handbook and member SAP roster.
- Develop and maintain relationships with state and local disaster response agency staff.
- Develop and maintain relationships with allied organizations who also maintain an SAP roster.
- Represent AIA Colorado for the Colorado Recovery and Resiliency
- Collaborative (CRRC).
- Work with AIA Colorado staff to manage disaster response efforts in the state.
TIME COMMITMENT
- Minimum three-year commitment for this position.
- Update the AIA Colorado Response Handbook
- Make introductions with state agency staff.
- Attend quarterly CRRC meetings.
Editorial Committee
OVERVIEW
The Editorial Committee is ideal for members who have an interest in storytelling and is open to volunteers beyond membership (i.e. marketing professionals or students). This committee develops content that advances the profession, provides insight into the life of an architect, and explores current issues and challenges for architects in Colorado.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Research stories and pressing issues among the architecture community.
- Serve as an editorial representative for other committees; attend their committee meetings and regularly report on cross-association activities.
- Develop content (written, video, photo or audio) to be shared with members regularly, disseminated via AIA Colorado’s website, newsletter, and social media channels.
- Attend and report on AIA Colorado programs and events.
TIME COMMITMENT
- Attend committee meetings of the designated committee you’re representing (1x monthly max)
- Attend three Editorial Committee meetings.
- Whatever time necessary for writing/developing content, researching stories, interviewing members and attending events.
Government Affairs Committee
OVERVIEW
This team follows issues of statewide concern to the architecture profession, with an emphasis on the Colorado state legislature. Whether you’re already familiar with legislative issues that affect architects or would like to learn and share your perspective, the Government Affairs Committee is a great way to get involved and help us define our advocacy objectives and policy priorities. Each legislative session (January-May), the GAC establishes a legislative subcommittee that proactively reviews all bills introduced. The subcommittee reports to the full committee regularly through the session as input is needed. Legislative Subcommittee members are chosen from returning members to the committee.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Discuss legislative and similar statewide issues affecting the architecture profession.
- Review bills flagged by the legislative subcommittee that may impact the profession.
- Evaluate requests for AIA Colorado to take formal positions and actions on specific bills.
- Engage when AIA Colorado supports or opposes specific bills—contact legislators, testify at the Capitol if possible (dependent on relative expertise).
- Research opportunities for AIA Colorado to write our own bills to advance the architecture profession.
- Represent AIA Colorado when there are opportunities to meet with state lawmakers and candidates.
TIME COMMITMENT
- Monthly meetings, occurring year-round on Thursdays
- Active involvement during the annual legislative session is especially important.
- Between meetings during the legislative session, review bills flagged by the legislative subcommittee needing immediate input.
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Committee
OVERVIEW
We believe that developing a profession that respects and values different experiences, backgrounds, beliefs and ideas propels architecture into the future and better positions our members to succeed. AIA Colorado seeks volunteers who support this association imperative to continue and build upon existing efforts to promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the architecture profession in Colorado through events, programs, initiatives, partnerships, and research.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify/refine top goals and projects for the year
- Plan programs, contribute content, and/or pursue additional opportunities to expand awareness of J.E.D.I. in the profession.
- Work with the committee to identify and establish relationships with important stakeholders.
- Develop programming to be integrated into existing AIA Colorado programs like the annual conference, leadership programs, mentorship, design awards, and more.
TIME COMMITMENT
- Monthly meeting
- 1-2 hours per month meeting with smaller sub-committee
- 2-4 hours per month independent work/research
Local Advisory Councils
OVERVIEW
Local Advisory Councils work with Section Directors to act as advisors and a team of volunteers who specialize in roles that serve members in a geographic area. Each section (Denver, North, South, West) has three co-chairs, for a total of 12 positions.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Professional Development. Prioritize and plan events for the local network of professional peers to gain practice insights and reconnect as colleagues. Gatherings are characterized by being accessible, unique, inclusive and mission driven. Examples include: Tours of area projects, factories, showrooms or firms. Knowledge Community programming. Local manufacturer or service provider content delivery. Lectures, forums, panels or town halls. Peer cadre social activities. Recognition of career milestones. Practice roundtables or campfire conversations. Identify suitable venues, recruit presenters and solicit sponsors. Work with staff to schedule and promote to avoid conflicts and maximize participation.
- Community Engagement. Maintain awareness of local government policies and guidelines, especially changes that impact the architecture industry. When needed, request assistance and analysis from staff to formulate a response. Identify civic officials to remain in contact with and engage on a recurring basis to position architects as resources to help solve community challenges. Invite other organizations with shared goals to partner and collaborate on joint efforts. Vet and recommend potential community service projects that best utilize architects’ skills. Assess public program requests through the lens of advancing the mission and objectives of the AIA.
- Member Involvement. Identify and recruit members to serve on Board of Directors, Standing Committees, Knowledge Communities, Working Groups and as Regional Ambassadors. Scout for talent and encourage people to become more involved and participate in the collective work of the organization. Welcome new members and help orient them to the association. Provide mentorship to first time volunteers and trusted counsel to experienced leaders. Answer questions about volunteer opportunities available to section members and the source for recommendations of strong contributors.
Regional and Urban Design Knowledge Community
OVERVIEW
The Regional and Urban Design Knowledge Community discusses issues related to the design of public spaces, land use regulations, and urban planning in Colorado.
STEERING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead regularly occurring meetings. Common agenda items include: formal presentations, often by non-member experts or government agency staff; workshops that help members gain a deeper understanding of the topic; roundtable discussions; tours of places or buildings (depending on gathering restrictions); and virtual networking events that help develop strategic relationships with like-minded groups in similar organizations.
- Proactively reach out to potential speakers to coordinate presentations.
- Complete continuing education application forms when meeting topics are suitable for AIA learning units.
- Lead communication efforts for meetings. This includes direct communications with members who opt-in to email communications, creating flyers and other promotional materials, and social media posts
