President's Message February 2013

Greetings to all and welcome to 2013.

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself; I’m Michael Metzger, AIA, LEED AP, and I’m honored to be your 2013 Chapter President. I’d be remiss not to thank Ryan Kennedy, our immediate past president, and the entire AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter board who are a tremendous support and are doing an outstanding job. I am looking forward to the opportunities that this year will bring, from the 2013 AIA National Convention in Denver to the local chapter events.

The New Year offers us an opportunity to regroup and refocus on the ways that the AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter can better serve its members. Though we’ve enjoyed a long and successful life as a chapter, I’m confident that our future as a voice for our members can be improved through a commitment to communication and involvement. I look forward to working not only with our board, but with each of you, our members. At its core, the board is here to serve our membership, and to act as our members’ collective voice.

In the upcoming months, our chapter will be making great strides to reach out to you for input and ideas. We want to hear from you and to engage with those issues and events that are important to you. This February we will be holding an open meeting session titled “What can the AIA do for you?” This will be your opportunity to attend, participate, and discuss not only the state of the profession, but its future trajectory and the AIA’s role in the coming years.

We are very excited to explore new ways of engaging with you every day. In the coming weeks, will be utilizing LinkedIn and Twitter to participate in the ongoing online conversation about architecture. Links, articles, threads, and discussions on both platforms will help to close the gap between the AIA Eastern Chapter board and those whom we represent. As members, you’ll have more opportunities to voice your ideas. We invite you to join and be heard.

The 2013 AIA National Convention in Denver will be a major event for our chapter. The convention’s focus on leadership and personal development will be crucial for our continued growth. As Chapter President, I’d like to personally invite you to attend this event, which offers each of us a unique opportunity to refocus our efforts to improve our practice.

I look forward to working with you in the upcoming year, and I’m honored to serve our profession through the AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter.

Michael J. Metzger, AIA
2013 AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter President