Reenergized, Renewed and Recuperating from the recent AIA 2009 National Convention is the best way to describe it.  In the past I have only attended a few AIA National Conventions, due primarily to cost and time.  But the few I have attended have been well worth it. This one was no exception.  Rarely has there been a better time to rekindle former professional relationships, build new alliances, learn about innovative practice ideas and expand our knowledge base than it is right now.
 
Unprecedented this year was the live Web Casting of the seminars for those who were unable to make the journey.  On several occasions more than a thousand architects were in "attendance" with the web audience far out numbering those in the location audience, this despite the three hour time difference.  This shows the desire in architects to strive for excellence in the services we provide and for the architectural legacy we leave.
 
If you were unable to attend or catch a particular session on the Web, AIA/Michigan and AIA/Detroit have jointly purchased the Conference in CD format.  We believe this to be a responsible, cost effective and convenient way of making sure each of you has full access to the benefits derived from being an AIA member.  Our intent is to make these available, on a loan basis, to any chapter requesting a session.  A list of the seminar topics and speakers will be compiled and sent to each chapter throughout the state.  I hope every chapter will take advantage of this and coordinate your programs to bring renowned colleagues, speaking on timely topics to your area.  This provides a very low cost and easy program to orchestrate; so please take advantage of it.  Just contact AIA/Michigan for additional information and to make arrangements.
 
While the CD presentation in your chapter won't capture the same feeling of 18,000 architects coming together in one location to share, learn and discover, it will, at the local grass roots level fulfill the need we as architects have as an obligation to our clients, our communities and ourselves.  After all the strength of AIA is not what happens nationally or even internationally, but what happens locally.  And it starts with all of us.