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AIA Nebraska wishes you a
Enjoy your weekend!

2010 Legislative Luncheon & Forum Registration available

Plan to attend this year's AIA Nebraska Legislative Forum + Luncheon w/ACEC and AGC, March 3, 2010, Presentation by Governor Dave Heineman.

Click here for the registration form or register online!

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Grassroots / Snowmageddon 2010

Last week AIA Chapters throughout the country sent leaders to Washington, DC for Grassroots, the annual leadership and advocacy conference. Most of us stayed longer in the area than we expected, stranded with 20 inches of snow and no air service for (3) days. Many of us can say we experienced Snowmageddon of 2010 first hand.

The high point of Grassroots is visiting with members of Congress to advocate for issues that impact architects. AIA Nebraska representatives spent a day on the Hill discussing The AIA’s Blue print for Economic Recovery. The following AIA Nebraska representatives participated: Tammy Eagle Bull, AIA, Michael Hamilton, AIA, Bryan Zimmer, AIA, Jay Anderson, Associate AIA, Scott Sandquist, AIA, Kevin Riley, Associate AIA and Matt Glawatz, Associate AIA and Sara Kay, Executive Director. The Nebraska contingency met with Senator Ben Nelson and staff members of Senator Johanns, and Congressmen Terry, Fortenberry, and Smith.

The AIA’s Blueprint for Economic Recovery is summarized below:

1. Help Struggling Communities Rebuild
Across America, communities face unprecedented upheaval from foreclosures &
abandonment. Just as they help communities rebuild after natural disasters, architects are ready to help our country recover from this economic catastrophe.
Congress should enact The AIA’s Rebuild and Renew America’s Communities Act to provide grants to rehabilitate abandoned buildings into vital assets like community centers, fire stations, health facilities and librarians, raising property values and restoring vitality to struggling neighborhoods.

2. Unfreeze Credit to Get America Building Again
Thousands of worthy construction projects that would employ millions of Americans are on hold because credit is frozen. Banks received billions in federal taxpayer bailouts; now it is time to get those banks to lend. The AIA calls on Congress to extend the Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility
(TALF) through 2011 and enact legislation to promote the use of covered bonds.

3. Encourage the Commercial Sector to Build Green
Buildings account for 40% of carbon emissions and 70 % of electricity generated in this country. By increasing incentives for green building design and renovation, Congress can stimulate economic activity while securing our energy independence. Congress should increase the energy efficient commercial building tax deduction from the current $1.80 SF to $3.00 SF as included in the Expanding Building Efficiency Incentives Acts (S. 1637/H.R. 4226).

4. Provide Relief for Small Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they are the first to suffer in an economic crisis. Congress needs to pass the Small Business Financing and Investment Act (H.R. 3854) to make financing more available to small businesses. The Recovery Act COBRA subsidy has also placed a heavy cash flow burden on entrepreneurs who are now forced to choose between paying premiums and making payroll. Congress should help small businesses address this issue.

5. Invest in our Children with 21st Century Schools
Investing in green schools is a triple winner: It creates jobs, lowers energy bills for school districts and creates better learning environments for students and teachers. The House of Representatives passed the 21st century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) to fund the modernization and renovation of K-12 public schools. It is now time for the Senate to act.

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Legislative Update

Due to President’s Day weekend, the Legislature is in recess today, February 12 + February 15. Senators and Committees have been busy identifying priority bills for the Session. Click here for legislation AIA Nebraska is monitoring, status of legislation, as well as our positions.

Thank you to Dave Johnson, AIA, of Studio951 for representing AIA Nebraska and testifying on LB 977, introduced by Senator Heath Mello, which would require new state buildings and renovations to comply with energy efficiency standards. AIA NE testified in support, however not in support of a specific rating system.

In addition, AIA Nebraska has offered correspondence to legislative committees in support of the following legislation:

LB 799: Change state and local building code provisions. Would delete the Uniform Code for Building Conservation from the state building code and replace it with the International Existing Building Code, 2009 Edition. It would provide that the state building code be used in coordination with and subject to the Life Safety Code.

LB997 : Require cities' comprehensive plans to include an energy element.

LB 1098: Authorize creation of sustainable energy financing districts by municipalities.

Upcoming Hearing of Interest / Feb. 16, 1:30 pm,  Education: Room 1525, 1:30 pm
LB 1096  Adopt the Nebraska High Performance Schools Initiative Act

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Registration is now open for the AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition

Whether you come for the education, the networking opportunities, or to see colleagues and friends, don't miss this opportunity to invest in your career!
As a new decade begins, architects and design professionals continue to navigate through a difficult economic climate while rising to the challenge of creating livable communities. 

Join the dialog as we contemplate how the next ten years could change the traditional practice of architecture.

Register by March 29, 2010 and take advantage of the Early Bird Discount.

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Architectural Foundation of Nebraska 2010 AIA Lincoln Home Tour Volunteers Needed

Architectural Foundation of Nebraska 2010 AIA Lincoln Home Tour will require a total of thirty "Home Team" volunteers from the AFN Board, AIA Lincoln membership and AIAS membership at UNL willing to make this exciting 2010 AIA Lincoln Home Tour opportunity a success. No volunteer will be asked to devote more than 15 hours maximum to this activity between now and the middle of May.

"Home Team" volunteers needed include:

• one event chairman
• five home tour liaisons
• one marketing/graphics person
• one sponsor leader
• one volunteer leader
• 20 on-site ticket sales/docents for the day of the Home Tour.

Don't be left out! Hurry and volunteer early so you won't miss this community service activity.

AFN Board members contact Bryce Hastings AIA at bryce7145@neb.rr.com
AIA Lincoln members contact Lucas Kielion AIA at LKielion@Studio951.net
AIAS members contact Justin Brouilette AIAS at jbrewlet@gmail.com

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Reminder: It’s Time to Renew!

AIA Nebraska Architect and Associate membership renewal notices have been distributed. Member dues were requested to be paid by January 15, 2010.

If you did not receive a renewal notice, you can log on to the National website at www.aia.org/renew to see, print or pay on-line for your membership.

If you need further assistance, please call us at (402) 472-1456 or contact Information Central at 800-242-3837.

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2010 Brick In Architecture Awards Announce Call-For-Entries

The Brick Industry Association is continuing its 21-year tradition of honoring architects for excellence in clay brick masonry and is pleased to announce a call-for-entries for the 2010 Brick In Architecture Awards.

As the largest and most prestigious juried competition of its kind, the Brick in Architecture Awards showcase the best work in clay face and paving brick from architects across the country in the following categories:

· Commercial *
· Educational / Schools **
· Health Care Facilities
· House of Worship
· Municipal / Government / Civic
· Residential – Single Family
· Residential – Multi-Family
· Paving & Landscape Architecture

* Includes retail, banking, restaurants, hotels, office/corporate buildings, town centers,
mixed use, sporting facilities, theater/arts centers, parking garages, etc.
** Includes residence halls & academic/administrative buildings

Best In Class winners will receive national recognition through a special Brick In Architecture insert in the November issue of Architectural Record! Other winners will be listed in the insert as well as in Brick News Online. All entrants will be featured on BIA’s Brick Photo Gallery.

The 2010 awards competition will be conducted entirely online. Click here for complete information on eligibility, submission requirements, and judging.

Click here to start your entry Deadline for submission of all entries is April 30, 2010.

Brick makes a lasting statement — and winning this award could solidify your members’ names in architecture. Log on today to submit an entry to the 2010 Brick in Architecture Awards!

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2010 Photo Competition – Seeking Entries

AIA St. Louis is now accepting entries for the 2010 Photo Competition; deadline is March 1, 2010. All entries are submitted on CD ROM with cash prizes ranging from $200 - $500.00. To learn more and download entry form, visit www.aia-stlouis.org; click on Features; click on Photo Contest. Fourteen winning images will be on exhibit at the 2010 AIA National Convention in Miami and used in the 2012 engagement calendar (with 40 additional entries) published by Rizolli.

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Members in the News | Awards | Recognition

Been in the news recently? Receive an award or special recognition? We'd love to hear about it! Please email your updates to Emily (Jennings) Wilcox, ejennings3@unl.edu. 

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Are you following us?

Make sure to join AIA Nebraska's Facebook Group and start following us on Twitter!

AIA Nebraska is offering new ways to communicate with our members! By following us on Twitter or joining us on Facebook, you will be receiving the most up to date AIA Nebraska news first!

Click here to follow us on Twitter! OR Join AIA Nebraska's Facebook Group OR Become a Fan of AIA Nebraska on Facebook.

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New calendar on AIA Nebraska Website!

AIA Nebraska is excited to launch our new user-friendly Google calendar on our website! It lists AIA Nebraska, AIA Lincoln, AIA Omaha, and AIA Western's events all on one calendar.

We also have added an upcoming event calendar on our home page. Make sure to visit www.aiane.org to view both!

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Calendar of Events

To view the Calendar of Events on the website click here.

February

NCMA / Hyde Lecture: Jack DeBartolo, Phoenix / Arizona

WHERE: UNL City Campus, Ross Media Arts Center
WHEN: Friday, February 12 2010 @ 4:30pm
WEB: www.debartoloarchitects.com

Jack DeBartolo 3 AIA (Texas 1969) principal and design leader of debartolo architects ltd., graduated from The University of Arizona College of Architecture and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he received honors for his Master’s thesis in architecture in 1994. From 1994 to 1996, DeBartolo worked with
innovative desert architect, Will Bruder, supporting his firm in making architecture that strives to be timeless and poetic. In 1996, DeBartolo joined his father, forming the studio of debartolo architects, where for the last 13 years they have collaborated in the making ‘significant’ architecture in the academic, religious and residential
markets. Dedicated to ‘architectural excellence’, the studio has gained a reputation for creating potent architecture through the innovative use of common materials within the discipline of restraint and simplicity, shaping space with light and material.

Economic Development in Nebraska- Panel Discussion

Tuesday, February 16

Please join SMPS for a session on the "State of the State"!

Representatives will be speaking about economic development opportunities and will be available for your questions.

Location: Spezia / 3125 S 72nd Street / Omaha, NE 68124

Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Cost: $20 - SMPS Members / $40 - Non-Members

Speakers:
David Brown, President, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Wendy Birdsall, President, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Dan Curran, Director, Business Development Division, Nebraska Department of Economic Development

You do not want to miss this informative event!

Due to difficulties with our third party credit card processing site, we ask that you RSVP via email to Julie Strzyz and bring a cash or check payment on the day of the event. Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience.

February Women in Architecture Gathering – Honoring Melinda Pearson, FAIA

Melinda was recently named as Nebraska’s newest FAIA!
(She is the only female FAIA currently living in NE)
To congratulate her & to celebrate her accomplishment, WIA will be organizing/hosting a dinner in her honor.

When: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at 6:00pm
Alternate (snow!?!) date: Monday, March 1, 2010
Location & additional information: Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Omaha (near the 144th Street exit off of I-80)
Azteca-9429 South 142nd Street, Omaha, NE click here for map

RSVP to Kristi Nohavec at KNohavec@clarkenersen.com
(I have to confirm the number in our reservation a week beforehand, so if you could let me know if you’ll be attending or not before then, that would be great – thanks!)

** As always … any woman interested in architecture is welcome… please spread the word!! **
(Let Kristi know if you or someone you know would like to be added to our mailing list)

Nebraska Code Officals Association Winter Conference

When: February 18 & 18, 2010
Where: LaVista Public Library, 9110 Giles Rd, LaVista, NE 68128

1st Day: Hazardous Materials & H Occupancies
* Nebraska Board of Engineers & Architects- Jon Wilbeck
* Annual Business Meeting/ Board Elections
2nd Day: 2009 IMC Chapter 11, Refrigeration
* Factory Tours- Omaha Metro Area

Click here for registration and more information.

Majora Carter Lecture

When: February 25 7:00pm-8:00pm

Where: Josly Art Museum Witherspoon Concert Hall

Join MacArthur Fellow Majora Carter for a discussion on her work in urban revitalization and green communities. Carter´s career has taken her around the world in pursuit of resources and ideas to improve the quality of life in environmentally challenged communities. She has been instrumental in creating riverfront parks, building green roofs, working to remove poorly planned highways in favor of positive economic development and implementing a green-collar job and placement system effectively seeding a community with a skilled workforce that has both a personal and economic stake in their urban development.

ADMISSION
General admission: $20
Joslyn members: $10
Students: $10
daOMA members: FREE
MCC students, faculty and staff: FREE

Call (402) 980-9850 to reserve tickets or for more information.

BIM Technology

Date: February 25 & 26, 2010
Time: 8am-5pm
Location: Electrical Education Center
8960 L St. Room 306, Omaha, Nebraska
Fee: $425 (includes $125 textbook) * - CEU’s Available
Instructor: Jonathan Widney, CEO, Solibri and co-author/developer
of BIM curriculum for AGC of America

Click here for flier.

*You can register for both BIM 101 and BIM Technology for the discounted rate of $599
(Discounted rate includes textbooks for both courses)

Sponsored by: AIA Nebraska and AGC Nebraska- Building Chapter

Architectural Photography- Round Table Discussion

Friday, February 26

Great photography sells a project and often our marketing strategy is based on using imagery to strengthen our firm's position.

So...how do we get the most for our money? How do we know which photographer to use, when, and at what cost?

Join us to share your ideas and ask questions about the process of commissioning professional photography.

Location: Terracon Consultants, Inc. / 15080 A Circle / Omaha, NE 68144
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Cost: SMPS Members - Free / Non-Members - $10
Round Table Leader:
Tom Kessler, Owner, Kessler Photography

Due to difficulties with our third party credit card processing site, we ask that you RSVP via email to Julie Strzyz and bring a cash or check payment on the day of the event. Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience.

March

AIA Nebraska Legislative Forum + Luncheon w/ACEC and AGC

Plan to attend this year's AIA Nebraska Legislative Forum + Luncheon w/ACEC and AGC, March 3, 2010, Presentation by Governor Dave Heineman.

Click here for the registration form or register online!

Restore Omaha Conference This Spring

March 5th and 6th 2010

Was your home or business built before or during the 1960s? With the new decade, the National Trust for Historic Preservation now acknowledges 1960’s properties as Historic. Are you interested in learning about historic restoration and preservation? Then mark your calendar for the Restore Omaha conference, March 5th and 6th at Metropolitan Community College’s, South Omaha Campus, Industrial Training Center (27th and Q Streets). There are several exciting experiences planned for this year’s conference. Click here to see conference schedule! Click here for the registration brochure.


For conference details and registration information, visit www.restoreomaha.com.

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