Promoting Livable Communities through Political Action: Architects Political Action Committee (APAC) of Washington

Dear Fellow Members:

I want to share with you exciting news about government affairs accomplishments of the AIA Washington Council, and to ask for your support to build upon our successes.

Working in partnership with allied organizations, the AIA/WA was able to achieve record success in the 2005 legislative session. The Council Vision Statement states that the "AIA Washington Council will be an effective proponent of the balance between the natural, built and economic environments."

Putting that spirit into action, we made strong gains on all fronts this year in Olympia:
� Passed the nation's first state law requiring the LEED Silver standard for design and construction of all state-funded buildings.
� Passed condominium liability reforms that will strengthen the role of architects in multifamily construction, and limit future liability.
� Passed a record expansion of public school construction funding, while stopping a proposal to establish prototype or stock school plans. This funding included $6.5 million earmarked for architecture fees related to high performance public school buildings.
� Despite a record 5th year in a row of state budget problems, we prevented any new taxes from being imposed on the profession, including stopping a sales tax on professional services, a tax on "intangibles" (our intellectual property), a tax on "unearned income," and a new per-employee "head tax."
� Stopped a bill that would have banned architecture firms that do state work from making political contributions.

These are just a few highlights from our banner session; please CLICK HERE for details. There were 2,559 bills introduced in the 2005 legislature, and the AIA/WA reviewed each one to determine their impact on our firms and the practice of architecture. We closely tracked 183 bills that would affect our practice.

You will note that we had success in each of our 6 key policy areas. These legislative successes did not happen by accident. They were the result of a lot of hard work by AIA Members. They also followed a record fundraising year from the Washington Architects Political Action Committee.

In the 2004 elections, APAC raised nearly $40,000, and used that money to support 62 candidates for state office. Our increased political profile during the campaign season directly contributed to our legislative accomplishments in 2005.

Unfortunately, we spent the PAC dry in electing legislators and statewide officials who will support architects' vision for the future of our profession and the State of Washington. We must now replenish our funds, as part of gearing up toward another intense year, in the 2006 session.

We have set a goal of raising an average of $30 per Member before the end of 2005, to place us in readiness for the session set to convene January 9, 2006. If we can achieve this goal, that would raise over $60,000 for APAC.

Your help is needed to build upon our accomplishments. Please sit down and write a check to the Washington Architects PAC today. I would be pleased to discuss the accomplishments of the AIA Washington Council in the legislature and the success of APAC in the campaigns of 2004. Please do not hesitate to call me at 206.623-4646 to discuss this further.

I want to thank all Washington design professionals for their past support for the AIA Washington Council and the Washington Architects Political Action Committee. Your continuing support will be central to our future legislative successes.

PS We hope you'll also considering putting together a team for the 8th Annual Golf "Fun"draiser October 7 at Echo Falls Country Club - with our colleagues of the Architects & Engineers Legislative Council.

Please PLEDGE TODAY!
Suggested guideline for AIA Member Firm contributions: $30/staff member
* Click here to download pledge form

If you have further questions about the AIA Washington legislative program, or the operation of the APAC of Washington, please contact AIA Washington Council Executive Director Stan Bowman at (800) 722-0394 or (360) 943-6012 - or visit www.aiawa.org.