AIA San Fernando Valley
A Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
5121 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 200A, Sherman Oaks, California 91403
Tel (818) 907-7151 Fax (818) 907-7155
Email: edirector@aiasfv.org Web: www.aiasfv.org
OFFICERS
Miguel Maio, AIA
President 2015
Matthew D. Epstein, AIA
Vice President/
President Elect 2016
Richard Gemigniani, AIA
Secretary
Murray Siegel, AIA
Treasurer
Vladimir Elmanovich, AIA
Immediate Past President
Kenneth David Lee, AIA
Bradley J. McDonald, AIA
AIA/CC Delegates
DIRECTORS
George De La Nuez, AIA
Daniel Heifetz, AIA
Larry Kaltman, AIA
Keong Ng, AIA
Michael D. Silva, AIA
Mark L. Smith, AIA
Nathaniel S. Wilson, AIA
ASSOCIATE AIA DIRECTOR
Steve Klausner, Assoc AIA
ALLIED DIRECTOR
David J. Murray
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Peter Puzo
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Leslie A. Nathan, AIA
Dear CACE Colleagues;
The AIA San Fernando Valley has proposed a resolution to be voted on in the
May AIA Convention regarding Emeritus Status allowing retired architects and
retired associates to become emeritus at age 65. Currently, if a member legitimately
retires his or her practice prior to age 70, that member is NOT able to become an
emeritus member. National is quite adamant about enforcing this current by-law
amendment. AIA chapters across the nation have been stuck with longstanding
architect members who retire earlier than age 70 who are choosing to leave the
AIA often in strained and bitter circumstances after having been members in good
standing, often, for far longer than the 15 years membership required. They no longer
have an income and feel betrayed by the AIA in having to continue to pay full dues
until age 70. Some chapters are circumventing the statue by granting a dues waiver in
order to keep their members.
These newly retired members can remain valuable contributors to the AIA at all
levels of service from board participation to mentoring, advocating, and passing
industry knowledge to future generations. They also serve to reinforce our institutional
knowledge.
National pushback on this age change in emeritus status at retirement has been
surprisingly negative. Their debate centers on the definition of “retired.” It is NOT the
intent to revisit that argument which was raised and debated in 2012 at the time of the
resolution change that was voted in to AIA law. This resolution’s intent is to allow
members who retire at age 65 become eligible for emeritus status. This is 5 years
earlier than current age limits.
If many chapters are losing members due to this retirement issue, the AIA is
losing their dues. Since members are choosing to leave the AIA, the financial impact to
change their status to emeritus is zero!!!!!
At a time when the AIA is proposing to remake its image, this is an important
sticking point: how does the AIA value its long term members? AIA spent 2 years
documenting areas of change that were important to keep our association relevant. One
of the many far reaching conclusions was the “pyramid” of responsibility which
currently shows National as the top decision maker. Chapters on the bottom level of
this pyramid had limited input. Sometimes chapter input should be recognized as a
core reason to change. If National is clearly intent upon radical re-organization and
will demonstrate that this is a sensitive and important issue for chapters, than this
resolution should be an easy litmus test. Most of the chapters are having this dialogue
and are losing members who would otherwise be elevated to emeritus. Let’s keep our
members. Let’s pass this resolution.
Sincerely,
Leslie Nathan, AIA