Early bird registration has been extended for the Tri-State Convention September 21-23, 2011 at Bally's in Atlantic City, NJ until September 16, 2011.

     This design conference features continuing education classes, two keynote sessions, an ice-breaker reception, the AIANYS Design Awards Dinner & Presentation, a one day Product Showcase with over 95 booths to visit, and a Tri-State Design Awards reception. All of the events will take place at Bally's, located right on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. This year the convention offers 1, 2 and 3 hour learning modules.

     To register for the Tri-State Convention, go to www.myprereg.com/events/AIA11.

If you have questions regarding registration, please call 609-393-5690. Online registration is open until September 20, 2011. After this date, you must register on site.

     Special thanks to the Tri-State Convention Sponsors: Verizon, Phantom Screens, Zetlin & De Chiara, Powell Trachtman Logan Carrle & Lombardo, P.C., United Water, Hurd Window Center, Hubbell Galvanizing, Prosurance Redeker Group Ltd., Submittal Exchange, L'Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P., Petty Burton, RPM Development Group, Shen Milsom Wilke, LLC, Belgard Hardscapes, Naylor LLC, Fasithful & Gould, Imaginit Technologies and Urban Digital Solutions.

     AIA Staten Island is holding a continuing education seminar on Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Oriental Plaza, 1845 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island from 8 AM to 1 PM. The topics will include Fairway Vinyl Systems: designing with wood alternative guardrail assembles; DuPont Tyvek: designing with weatherization systems; NICHIHA: building Green Exteriors using fiber cement products; Inspire Roofing Products: slate roof in America, alternative roofing options. You can earn 4 ce credits (HSW) for attending the entire event.   

     The program is $45 for AIA members, $65 for non members. Registration after September 26, 2011 will include a $15 fee. To register, contact Jeffrey Geary, AIA at aviddesigns@verizon.net or George Turner, AIA at netarc@att.net.

Louise Bethune Exhibit to Open October 12 at Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society

     Starting October 12, 2011, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society will present an in-depth exhibit on the life and times of America's first professional female architect, Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856-1913). The exhibit will be installed in the grand State Court. The exhibit will be open through March, 2012.

     Several consultants from the community have joined the Historical Society staff to bring this exhibit to fruition: Guest curator Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, President-Elect, AIANYS and interim assistant vice president of the Capital Planning Group at UB, and her husband, Brian McAlonie, vice president of account services at Thinking Outside The Square, a design firm, together with the museum's staff, have written and created a series of wall-mounted panels, including ephemera and artifacts. Each panel addresses a major theme from Bethune's life and career: apprenticeship, design work, professional recognition, masterpiece, hobbies, and legacy.

     A special feature of this exhibit will be the inclusion of a newly discovered photograph of Bethune. Up until this point, only one photograph of her was known to exist.

     "Louise Bethune was the first professional woman architect in the United States.  2011 marks the 130^th anniversary of the opening of her firm and therefore the beginning of her historic career.  As we celebrate the launch of Mattel's 2011 'I Can Be Barbie...Architect', I am delighted that Bethune's story will be told and her enduring legacy will be honored," said Hayes McAlonie.

     In support of the exhibit, the Historical Society will present educational programming. Hayes McAlonie will join a panel on the role of women in contemporary Buffalo architecture and give a lecture in conjunction with the exhibit. Additional programming includes tours for school audiences, and outreach to women's organizations.

AIA Eastern NY Holds Annual Boat Cruise

     AIA Eastern New York held their annual boat cruise on August 23, 2011 on the Captain JP in Troy. James McKinney, AIA of Sacco + McKinney Architects and John Waite, FAIA of John G. Waite Associates Architects gave presentations on projects that received 2010 AIANYS Design Awards.

     Pictured (Left to right): Dan Wilson, AIA, President Elect, AIA Eastern NY; Pasquale Marchese, AIA, VP of Programs, AIA Eastern NY; James Condon, AIA, President, AIA Eastern NY; Anna Campas, AIA, Secretary, AIA Eastern NY; Edward Farrell, Executive Director, AIANYS and Jeff Mural, AIA, Board Member, AIANYS.

     The Emerging New York Architects Committee of AIA New York has received the 2011 Emerging Professionals Component Grant sponsored by the College of Fellows. This grant will be used toward the ConvergenceNYC 2011/Possibilities program that will be held the weekend of November 19, 2011 at the Center for Architecture. This program brings together emerging architects, designers and students across New York State. This year's event will feature speed mentoring, firm visits, a keynote lecture and the Dean's roundtable.  

     This program is sponsored by AIANYS, AIA New York and the Center for Architecture.

AIA Peconic Loses Longtime Member

     Edvin Karl Stromsten, AIA, a longtime member of AIA Peconic, passed away on August 27, 2011. He was the Chairman of the Planning & Governance Committee of the Peconic Chapter. He had practice office in New York City and East Hampton. He was also a professor of architecture at various schools including The Cooper Union, NYIT, City College and Parsons: The New School. He leaves behind his partner of 22 years, Gabriele Roos.

AIA Position Statements Available for Review Through October 15, 2011

     The AIA has 24 position statements that are up for review.  Component leadership and all AIA members are encouraged to review the statements and submit their feedback for consideration as the AIA staff reviews and revise the statements.  The 2011 comment period is open until October 15, 2011. 

     To review the statements go to: http://info.aia.org/aia/2011AIAPositionStatements/.

National Associates Committee September Report

     The AIA National Associates Committee publishes a report every month sharing associate news and viewpoints. The September issue includes article on "The Next 10 Years," announcements and Regional Spotlight.

     Click here to view the latest issue.

Registration Now Open for DASNY MWBE Forum October 13-14, 2011

     DASNY MWBE Forum, the 26^th Annual Conference & Exposition for Minority & Women-Owned business enterprises, will be held October 13-14, 2011 at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany. There will be 25 seminars, 125 exhibitors and various speed networking opportunities.

     Register now at www.dasnymwbeforum.org.

     The Golden Jubilee celebration for the Society for Arts Religion and Contemporary Culture will be held at St. Peter's Church (54^th Street at Lexington) in New York City on November 11 and 12, 2011. ARC was founded over fifty years ago by Alfred Barr, curator of MOMA and M. Halverson, Dean of Theology at Harvard University, in order to discuss the void between modern artists and religious institutions.

     Aardvark, the unique jazz orchestra from Boston will start things off with a Friday night concert beginning at 7:30 PM. St. Peter's church, New York City's first truly modern religious space, famous for its outdoor jazz concerts, was designed by Hugh Stubbins with art by Louise Nevelson and others. 

     There will be a full day of programs on November 12 starting at 9 AM and ending with a celebratory dinner honoring ARCC Fellows. For the full program, go to: http://www.sarcc.org/current.htm.

     Tobi Kahn, sculptor extraordinaire and Nessa Rapoport, poet will make a profound presentation in the afternoon. Anyone who has seen the recent New York Times review of Tobi's work should be interested. Anyone who saw their joint exhibition in San Francisco, which included quoted excerpts from Gerard Manley Hopkins, will want to hear the voices behind the ideas.

     For more information, go to the SARCC website www.sarcc.org.

IRS Extending Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines to October 31, 2011

     The IRS is providing some tax filing relief for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Irene by extending certain tax filing and payment deadlines to October 31, 2011.  This link here will take you to a memo issued by the IRS that provides information about who is considered an affected taxpayer, what counties are covered disaster areas, and the relief that may be available to affected taxpayers.      

     The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is offering similar tax filing relief for affected taxpayers. Tax agencies in other states affected by Hurricane Irene may also be offering relief.  For more information, click here.