One element of the AIA Seattle plan reads "Invest in the Future of the Profession." This abstract goal has taken on an intense practical meaning lately. The downtown in the national economy that affects us all as individuals and in the range of our practices also impacts the AIA, at all organizational levels. At the AIA national component, a pervasive program of cutbacks -- coupled with declining returns on investments -- included the program of scholarships awarded by the AIA in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation.

I'm sure that many of you who read this have benefited from this program over the years it has provided support to students in programs throughout the US. And surely also, many of you have supported the program through giving back. In late January when UW Department of Architecture Chair Jeffrey Ochsner FAIA alerted the AIA Seattle leadership to the potential impact on students there, some champions came forward immediately to provide supplementary funds to sustain the scholarship funds available. I want to particularly commend the members of the AIA Seattle Board of Directors, who not only stepped up with their own contributions but alerted others to the need.

Within a few days, gifts and pledges from individuals and businesses materialized. And as word spread among our colleagues across the state and the country, others stepped up to help their local schools facing the same dilemma. As I write this, we haven't yet reached the end of the pledge drive, but I want particularly to thank those who responded promptly, with our most sincere thanks -- please watch for updates as others join in this campaign.

• Mithun Partners
• The Miller/Hull Partnership
• Arai/Jackson Architects + Planners
• Douglas Bailey AIA
• Norman J. Johnston FAIA
• Donald I. King FAIA
• Samuel Park AIA
• Sclater Partners
• Sharon E. Sutton FAIA
• Marga Rose Hancock Hon. AIA

This commitment to the future of the profession takes many forms at AIA Seattle, in addition to the current program. The AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable spearheads a campaign to endow a second program of student support at the UW College of Architecture and Urban Planning, building on the success of the effort to endow the Denice Hunt K-12 Internship, completed in 2000.

For many years, the Diversity Roundtable has participated in AIA's national Scholarship Committee: Donald I. King FAIA current serves on the committee, succeeding Keli Hagen Assoc. AIA who succeeded Johnpaul Jones FAIA who succeeded Denice Hunt AIA. All of them have built on the link, and helped to connect the local design community to the next generation. And it happens that each of these individuals has also made a personal connection to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, as mentors to K-12 youth, students in design programs, and emerging professionals. You can read more about the experience of Donald and Keli on the Scholarship Committee, in the "Service Report" included in the March edition of The AIA Seattle Architect.

To supplement such exemplary individual effort, our professional organization -- working together at all levels -- can, should, and does indeed invest continually in the future. I thank and commend all involved in such activities. I know it makes a significant positive difference not only to the named beneficiaries such as scholarship recipients, but to those who make the investment. THANK YOU, all, for sharing the investment in the future of the profession.