2022 in Review: A Message from AIA Dallas President Ben Crawford, AIA

I write to you as we collectively look to the last months on the calendar and many of the upcoming rituals that will close out our 75th year. Next Friday, the annual EMPOWERING Conference returns to provide the tools and knowledge needed to transform the world around us through design, practice and leadership. And rounding out the year, I invite you all to please mark your calendars for our annual Holiday Party on December 8th. Our President-Elect Kate Aoki, AIA has proposed experienced, committed candidates to serve on the Board of Directors for 2023. We need all of you to come and bring your peers to the AD EX to vote for our new leaders, after which we will mark their inauguration with our traditional Passing of the Hat.

Before the festivities and holidays even begin, the chapter has already held a full slate of educational and social activities. Every month we offered over twenty opportunities to grow our impact together. Committees met, (coffee and) conversation was had, awards were given, and beverages flowed at Architecture on Taps. We held another fantastic Impact Dallas Gala at the Thompson and our annual Tour of Homes is nearly upon us. As I look back at the breadth of the full calendar our community supported, it proves to me the vitality of this chapter.

I hope you’ll all remember fondly a favorite gathering, event, or learning opportunity as we look to another ritual of the season, dues renewals. We have been fortunate to have so many of you support the chapter through your annual commitments which fund the AIA at the national, state, and local levels. Our Board of Directors considered the impact of increases at the state and national level and voted to hold our chapter dues steady for 2023. We do so confident this move allows us to continue creating valuable engagement in the present while strategizing for our future. 

The Staff and Board of AIA Dallas are grateful for all the ways your contributions help our chapter. We are doing our best to provide this premier chapter of the AIA an appealing slate of programming that will help us all succeed professionally and personally. I have been proud to work beside them this year to improve the value of our offerings. I invite you to please renew your membership and encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same. Ask them to join our chapter if they have not already. It’s worth it and there is so much more we can accomplish with your participation, energy, and talent. 

Thank you, 

Ben Crawford, AIA

AIA Dallas President