Board Meeting Minutes
Meeting Location: Luscher Architectes SA, Boulevard de Grancy 37
Lausanne, Switzerland 25 February 2006, 14h00-17h30 —
1. Participants:
Voting:
- George Berg, AIA, President
- Karl Hartnack, AIA, Vice-President (after 1515h)
- Marc DiDomenico, AIA, 2nd Vice-President, Membership Committee Chair
- James Cowey, AIA, Treasurer
- Esteban Cruz, Assoc. AIA, Section Director Italy
- Helen Giblin, AIA, Section Director Northern Europe
- Lee Luxford, Assoc. AIA, Section Director Switzerland
- Werner Rüegger, AIA, Nominations Committee Chair, Past President (proxy for Richard Anderson)
Non-Voting:
- Daniel Herren, AIA, Past President
- Sandra Zettersten, AIA, Corporate Partner Committe Co-chair, Past-President (part time by phone)
- David Thompson, AIA, Udine Conference Chiarman
- Alan Schwartzman, FAIA, Parliamentarian, Past-President
- Giancarlo Alhadeff, AIA, International Committee Chair, Past-President
- Ray Spano, AIA, Section Director France (part time by phone)
- Richard Anderson, AIA, Secretary (part time by phone)
A quorum is present or represented
2. Reports:
2.1 Treasurer
The Chapter’s actual 2005 income was 16,008 Euros vs. the projected 17,000 Euros. The actual expenses of the Chapter were 14,248 Euros vs. the projected 17,000 Euro. Leaving an actual surplus of 1,760 Euros (no sponsor revenue used)
Total Chapter funds are 57,995 Euros
| Sponsor Funds: 2005 | |
| Lutron | €10.000 |
| Clivet | €5.000 |
| Eternit | €2.490 |
| Kone | €9.992 |
| Samas | €3.000 |
| Grace | €1.000 |
| Total | €31.482 |
| Final Conference Results (Surplus) | |
| Paris | €15.446 |
| Helsinki | €12.393 |
| Total | €27.839 |
Vote #1: A reserve fund was created which can support 2 years of operation costs. It was determined that the sum should be approximately $30,000. It was moved that the funds currently in the Sun account would be the Chapter’s financial reserve.
The proposal was voted and approved with no objections.
Vote #2: To encourage section Events it was proposed to establish an annual, non-cumulative 500 Euro “seed fund” for each Section. The money is to be used for the startup cost of the section events and to protect the financial liability of the Directors. However the startup costs must be recovered as part of the event cost.
The proposal was voted and approved with no objections.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.2 Membership
a. Richard Anderson submitted a membership report via email on 20 February 2006.
As of the morning of 18 February I counted 211 members, paid and unpaid for 2006. 10 of these do not pay full dues (1 student, 8 emeritus and 1 administration). Read more→
b. Acquisition of new members (post-meeting note by Karl Hartnack)
Karl Hartnack had hoped to make contact with registered architects with foreign mailing addresses. New York State (surprisingly) has none, nor does Florida. California at last try did not make such data available. The most promising source would appear to be the list of “lost” members who did not renew. Time permitting, Karl will try to make contact with such members, perhaps in writing with a follow up phone call.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.3 Section Directors’ Reports
Italy Section Event by Esteban Cruz
A two day event will be held in Como, Italy on May 13 and 14. A visit to the “ex-Casa del Fascio” by Giuseppe Terragni, and a guided visit of four monuments within the city’s historic center, including the Cathedral, are planned. A boat cruise planned along the lake may be covered by a sponsor.
Switzerland Section Event by Lee Luxford
An attempt will be made to organize a one day section event in the Spring with the Swiss firm Herzog & DeMeuron
Southern Europe Section Event by Ahmet Alp
Ahmet had submitted the following information:
The Eleventh World Triennnial of Architecture will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from May 14-17. Ahmet will be part of the International Jury. Read more→.
A discussion follows regarding the reorganization of Southern Europe Section. Ahmet’s position: ”I believe that the regions of our Chapter should be geographically redefined. The southern Europe Region looks somewhat meaningless today. Most of southern European Countries have their respective Directors. And one can”t do much for Spain and Portugal from Turkey for exemple…”
Currently there are several countries with only one or few members in each. This dispersed membership makes it difficult to manage the section. - No action was decided.
French Section Event by Alan Schwartzman FAIA,
In early December an event will be organized at the Maison d’Architecture in Paris providing the possibility of cross-fertilization between French and American architects. Invitations will be given to French firms that are currently designing projects in the U.S. as well as American firms that are based in France.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.4 Sponsorships by Sandra Zettersten
Sponsors have made substantial contributions to the conference in Udine. Both Lutron and Swisspearl have made contributions and will be presenting in Udine.
- Kone will be followed by Sandra Zettersten.
- Moretti by both Enzo Ragni and Sandra Zettersten
- Phillips by Ray Spano
- Clivet has made a three year contribution of 5,000 Euro. They will most likely present at Udine.
- Permaseelelisa - Giancarlo Alhadeff will follow up
- Grace will be followed by Sandra Zettersten
- Graniti Fiandre and Bisazza will be followed up David Thompson.
Sponsors who wish to present should also sign up as attendees expressing which days they will attend, interest in attending the tours, and the number of persons that will attend.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.5 Website Issues
There was a discussion of whether news should be released when it is posted to the front page of the website (on average, once per week) vs. the distribution by e-mail of a Quarterly News Letter. The solution retained was:
Creation of Two Lists
- Everyone will receive the immediate posts but will be able to unsubscribe if desired.
- Everyone will receive updates on critical membership issues.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.6 Grass Roots 2006, February 8-11, 2006
George Berg discussed the main aspects and purpose of Grass Roots seminars.
- Advocacy-Lobbying of laws: Many important local/state-side and national issues (legislation) are reviewed by the delegates who meet with their legislators to request a vote either for or against. These issues are not directly related to the Continental Europe Chapter.
- Getting to know the AIA: Meetings are interactive. Valuable leadership skills are practiced e.g. the planning and conducting of effective meetings.
- Speeches of the candidates for the AIA president and other offices.
2. Reports (cont.):
2.7 International and Representation Issues by Giancarlo Alhadeff
There are currently 1500 people who belong to the International Committee (AIA Knowledge Community). These AIA members are all interested in the same issues as our Chapter and should be recruited. For the last three years we have had closer ties with AIA National. Recent presidents have attended our conferences and have responded enthusiastically to our chapter’s events.
3. Conferences
3.1 2006 Udine Conference Review
A: Final Program
- Conference dates are now finally agreed as 5-8 October 2006
- The schedule will be refined
- David to coordinate learning units with Dominique.
B: Budget, Registration Fees, Expected Attendees
- David presented a comprehensive budget. Costs will be less than have been paid previously in large cities (Berlin, Paris, Helsinki) It was agreed to add 10% contingency to the budget
- Hold off on final registration fee until costs can be determined more accurately, however no later than 15 April 2006.
- From April 15 to May 15, priority registration will be open to members and up to one guest per member at the reduced registration fee.
- After 15 May registration will be open to all, including non-members of the chapter and a maximum of one guest on a first come, first serve basis, until the maximum capacity of 100 participants is met.
- Presently estimated registration fee is €200 for members, €350 for non-members. Final registration fee to be determined by updated cost estimate.
- Each registrant is allowed one guest to be registered at the same price that the member pays.
Note: Conference prices are not final.
C: Marketing
- No further discussion
3. Conferences (cont.)
3.2 2007 Conference in Greece/Future Conferences
A possibility of a joint conference in 2007 with AIA UK Chapter will be explored. The conference in Greece will possibly be postponed until 2008. Spyros Amorgis will be asked to hold off until further notice, but keep options open. Werner will contact Spyros.
President George Berg will meet with the President of the UK Chapter and the International Director to determine the possibility of coordinating a conference or conducting a joint conference.
4. Committee Assignments - Nominating Committee
Although incorrectly assigned to Secretary Richard Anderson during the meeting, the Committee Chair for the Nominating Committee goes to the immediate past president Werner Rüegger.
Lee Luxford and Alan Schwartzman volunteered to serve as members. George Berg will review the Committee make-up to achieve widest possible geographic cover.
5. Administrative Assistant Salary Increase
President George Berg and Treasurer Jim Cowey will meet with Elizabeth Heudebourg to determine time she spends on administrative tasks and the amount of salary increase justified (up to $100/ month maximum). They will further discuss the possibility of having Elizabeth assist Dominique Tomasov in her Continuing Education tasks.
The revised salary and job description will remain valid until the end of 2006 at which time it might be possible or desirable to add the duties of CE Coordinator.
Jim Cowey will check for availability of funds from AIA National for unstaffed chapters.
Funds for evaluating the cont. Ed. are to be included in all conference budgets. (Goal is for 15 credits in 2.5 days.)
6. Dominique Tomasov’s Fee Proposal
It was agreed that Dominique Tomasov’s fee would be fixed at €700 per 18 credit course. The decision was reached to add her costs to the conference and section event costs rather than having these be part of the standard operating chapter costs.
7. Student Aid and other AIACE Programs
Not discussed
8. Future Sponsorship Initatives
Not discussed
9. New Business
Not discussed
—Geroge Berg AIA, AIACE Presidnet; ed. Richard Anderson AIA, AIACE Secretary