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Region Conference Update |
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Colleagues, We all share a concern for the people of Japan in the face of the tragedies of the past few weeks. For the architectural community of the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region and the AIA Committee on Design these events resonate very close to home. As many of you know, for the past two years our two organizations have been planning for a joint conference to be held first in Tokyo and then south and west to other cities in Japan this coming November. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear event have quite appropriately caused us to pause and take stock. We remain positive that by November much will have changed and improved. However, at the same time we are very conscious of the burdens the people of Japan are experiencing in their daily lives and the need to ask how our presence will impact them in this challenging time. So, we felt an obligation to share our current thoughts with all those who may also be considering joining us in November and to let you know exactly what we are doing. In the days since the earthquake and tsunami, we have been in frequent contact with our colleagues at AIA Japan, most of who are living in Tokyo. Of course our first concern was for their safety and welfare. Everyone is safe. They are coping with the challenges of daily life and focused on helping those in the northeast who have been much less fortunate. At the same time they remain committed to this event and are continuing to plan. We have discussed ways in which the program, as it is tentatively laid out, might be modified to provide learning opportunities about the earthquake and its impacts. AIA Japan has emphasized their belief that tourism will remain an essential need for their economy as they move forward. And so collectively we remain steadfastly committed to the conference. However, we are mindful that things continue to be in flux and it is important to act prudently. We are monitoring things daily and working closely with our Japanese travel consultants to finalize arrangements so we might share information about logistics and costs. By the time our registration site goes live in May we are confident that a clearer picture will have emerged. Finally, we continue to work with AIA Japan to seek out ways the architectural community here can help the people of Japan and to share that with our colleagues. Please check this website frequently for any updates and plan to join us for what promises to be a unique experience of Japanese architecture, culture and a powerful opportunity to connect with each other and our Japanese friends and colleagues. As we continue to plan for November we are mindful that the economy has put pressure on each of our Chapters to spend wisely and carefully. The annual Region conference is a time for us to gather for both learning and fellowship and a very important part of our Region’s ongoing collaboration. Our efforts right now are on monitoring the events in Japan, finalizing our budget and the itinerary and now, creating a contingency plan that attempts to plan for an unknown future. We are working with our travel consultants to be able to offer travel options that include provisions for cancellation and modification without, if possible any penalties. However, we welcome your input and questions and will do our best to address any requests that are offered. Please address any thoughts or concerns to AIANWPRCOD@mahlum.com. Doug Benson, AIA, Senior Director |
