What a dramatic and exciting fall this is turning out to be! A presidential election that includes both an African American man as well as a woman on the ballot combined with an economic crisis unlike anything most of us have experienced. While we are all worried about our own financial investments and future, the COF Executive Committee has also been carefully monitoring the College of Fellows Fund. With the advice of our financial advisors, we have made some small changes to the portfolio, but have been reassured that our investments have been wisely made and remain secure.

The Executive Committee had a productive fall meeting and as promised, finalized the changes to the Regional Representatives program; see the report below. In early August, I had the opportunity to address the annual meeting of the Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) and update them on the activities of the College of Fellows. This was the first time that we know of where the College was able to address this entire group and we hope we are invited back in future years. Helping the components better understand our mission, de-mystifying some of the misconceptions regarding fellowship, and building connections to the components are all very important to furthering our goals.

By now, you should have received the formal announcement of the call for proposals for the Fifth Latrobe Prize, which was also mailed, to colleges and universities and the AIA components. This year's prize seeks design research proposals that go beyond invention to innovation: Change That Matters.

The call for proposals is also on the College of Fellows website, in the October issue of Architectural Record, and included in many higher education and architectural publications. First stage submittals are due by November 14, 2008. The jury chaired by Steven Kieran, FAIA, includes Michele D. Addington; Cecil Balmond; Dana Cuff, PhD.; and Thom Mayne, FAIA. 2009 Chancellor Donald Hackl, FAIA will also sit on the jury, 2009 Vice Chancellor Ed Kodet, FAIA, will serve as an alternate if a tie vote is cast. The recipient will be announced at Accent on Architecture on February 6, 2009.

Carole

Carole J. Olshavsky, FAIA
2008 Chancellor

Regional Representatives: Each AIA Region is entitled to the same number of Regional Representatives, as there are Regional Directors on the AIA National Board.

Nominations: Candidates for Regional Representative must be nominated by their AIA Region. Because each AIA Region is unique, the COF will not prescribe the methods used by the Region in determining candidates, but encourage each Region to follow a process similar to that used to select Regional Directors for the AIA Board.

• Beginning this year, the College of Fellows will formally notify the AIA Regional Offices, Regional Directors, and the Presidents of each state organization when a Regional Representative's term is expiring. Notifications will normally be sent after the AIA Convention each year in order to allow time for selection procedures in accordance with regional practices.
• Members of the College of Fellows who are interested in serving as Regional Representative should notify their Regional Directors and/or state or regional organization in order to advance their candidacy, obtain specific instructions, and secure the Region's endorsement.
• Nomination letters from the Regions should be sent directly to the Chair of the Regional Representatives Program and copied to Pauline Porter, Executive Director of the College of the Fellows no later than October 31. Attached to the letter of nomination should be the candidate's letter of interest as well as a brief resume. Only one nomination for each Regional Representative position should be submitted.

Terms & Appointments: Appointments will be confirmed at the December Meeting of the College of Fellows Executive Committee and will be aligned with the calendar year. Consistent with the By-laws, appointments as Regional Representative are for one, three-year term with an opportunity for a one-year extension at the request of the Region and with the approval of the Executive Committee; for those individuals whose terms were originally scheduled to expire this past summer, they have been extended through December 2008.

In order to allow selection procedures to get in sequence with Regional schedules, the College will honor requests to extend a Regional Representatives term for the one additional year if necessary.

Individual letters will be sent to each current Regional Representative with the details regarding their own position. For those individuals who have recently submitted their names in candidacy, they will receive specific information on their next steps as well.

While change is difficult, we do believe this change is important in order to establish a stronger linkage with the local components, hopefully provide additional resources, and support for the Regional Representatives in their efforts to support and engage the AIA Fellows in their Region. If you have questions or concerns, please contact either myself, or Chet Widom, Secretary of the College or Pauline Porter, Executive Director.

The 2008 College of Fellows Nominating Committee is soliciting candidates for Secretary for 2009-2011. Interested members should include a letter providing a statement of interest (no longer than two standard pages) with name, address, and telephone number. Additionally the applicant should provide a brief biography, a list of significant AIA activities and accomplishments, and letters of reference from three fellows forwarded to the chair of the nominating committee. Letters should be addressed to Nominating Committee Chair, AIA College of Fellows, 1735 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006-5292, and mailed by February 6, 2009.

The Vice-Chancellor chairs the nominating committee comprised of a past chair of the Fellows' jury, a former AIA Board member, a current COF regional representative, and a COF member-at-large. The nominating committee will review the qualifications of all candidates and recommend a nominee to the College for election at the annual business meeting in May 2009.

The following criteria will be used to select a nominee:

• Demonstrated understanding of the purposes of the COF.
• Experience with or knowledge of the COF regional representatives' program.
• Demonstrated "foundation mentality", that is, the ability to enhance the quality of the grants program and to help advance awareness and appreciation for the College's Latrobe Prize.
• Ability to represent the College and provide leadership.
• Geographic distribution.
  

R. Randall Vosbeck, FAIA

R. Randall Vosbeck, FAIA's new book, A Legacy of Leadership- The Presidents of the American Institute of Architects, 1857-2007, was published this year by the AIA as part of its ongoing celebration to the Institute's 150th anniversary. It is an important and historical document that you will find absorbing. An introduction written by Tony P. Wrenn, Hon. AIA, sets the stage for exploring the backgrounds and achievements of the 87 architects who have led the Institute over the past 150 years. Can you imagine? It has been more than 25 year's since Randy was President of the AIA.

Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, will receive the Tenth Vincent Scully Prize of the National Building Museum at a black-tie gala on Wednesday, November 12, 2008. Mr. Stern will be honored with tributes by The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City; Michael Eisner, Former Chairman/CEO The Walt Disney Company and Founder, the Tornate Company, LLC; and Richard C. Levin, President of Yale University. Also scheduled is a performance by the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's famous a cappella group. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact Tasha Passarelle, tpassarelle@nbm.org, 202.272.2448, ext. 3112, or visit the NBM web site.

Antoine Predock, FAIA

AIA Gold Medalist Antoine Predock, FAIA, with architect of record eppstein uhen | architects, received the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) 2008 Barrier Free America Award in July for his design of the Milwaukee Indian Community School. Located on a rolling, wooded site, the building accommodates many floor-level changes with total wheelchair accessibility. The PVA Barrier Free America Award honors and promotes leadership, innovation, and action in the architectural and design communities in advancing accessibility. For the full story by Douglas E. Gordon, Hon. AIA, Executive Editor of AIArchitect, read the article.

(From left to right) Bartlett Cocke Jr., Tinka Tarva, Mr. and Mrs. Penaloza, and Charles John, AIA. Photo by Al Caballero

AIA San Antonio celebrated an historic occasion in May at a special luncheon at Club Giraud; the return of a sterling silver AIA College of Fellows medal, missing for nearly 30 years, to the family of one of the city's most legendary architects.

AIA San Antonio surprised the son and daughter of the late architect Bartlett Cocke Sr. with the presentation of his long-missing FAIA medal, which was lost in the early 1980s. Bartlett Cocke Jr. and his sister, Tinka Cocke Tarver, along with their spouses, accepted the newly restored medal in honor of their late father, who established himself as one of San Antonio's foremost architects of the twentieth century.

The missing medal was discovered in a Minneapolis antique shop by Jeff Kagermeier, AIA, of Cunningham Group Architecture P.A. With only Cocke Sr.'s name engraved on the back, Kagermeier conducted painstaking research to find out where Cocke was from and to return the medal to his family. Paul Peñaloza, president of Peñaloza and Sons Manufacturing Jewelers in San Antonio, restored the medal and was on hand with his wife, Alice, to help present it to Cocke Jr. and Tarver.

Bartlett Cocke Sr. was named to the AIA College of Fellows in 1961 and passed away in 1992. During his long and distinguished career, he designed such San Antonio landmarks as St. Mary's Hall, the Witte Museum, the Frost Bank building, and Baptist Memorial Hospital. He is best known for his unique design of the downtown Joske's building, which incorporated the historic St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and for being part of the team that designed the Trinity University campus.

He served as president of AIA San Antonio in 1940 and president of the Texas Society of Architects in 1944-45. He also served as director of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and was honored with a professorship in architecture in his name at the University of Texas at Austin.

To demonstrate our commitment to sustainable design, the AIA Board of Directors modified the AIA — member continuing education requirement to include 4 hours of education in sustainable design as part of the existing 18 — hour annual requirement. This sustainable design requirement goes into effect in calendar year 2009 and extends through 2012.

Sustainability has been a focus of architectural practice for more than 30 years, and the AIA has provided resources and tools to help its members better serve their clients and communities through environmentally responsible projects. The issue of climate change and the impact of buildings on carbon emissions created a new expectation among clients and the public to look to the expertise of architects for solutions that can help them leave a greener footprint. Social, political, and economic factors are all driving the market toward mainstreaming sustainability, and AIA architects who educate themselves in sustainable design will have an advantage, and again, have the privilege of providing ever-greater service to clients and community.

Questions can be emailed to SDCE@aia.org  

Any Architect or Associate member who has been a member in good standing for fifteen successive years and either has attained the age of 70, or is between the ages of 60 to 69 and is retired from the profession of architecture may apply for Emeritus status. “Retired from the profession” for Associate members includes involvement in research, administration or the teaching of architecture.

An Architect or Associate member who has been a member in good standing for fifteen successive years, is 60 years of age or older, and is so incapacitated as to be unable to work in the profession may also apply for Emeritus status.

Emeritus members are not required to pay annual membership or supplemental dues. Emeritus members retain the rights and privileges of their prior membership category, and Architect Emeritus members are no longer required to maintain the right under law to practice and use the title Architect.

To apply for Emeritus status, the member would complete the Upgrade Form and submit to the National Membership Services office.

In the last edition of the Medallion, a notice about the award to Eugene J. Mackey was incorrect. It should have included the complete title of the Leslie N. Boney, Jr., FAIA Spirit of Fellowship award that was presented at the convocation dinner to Eugene J. Mackey, III, FAIA, for his dedication in providing a sketch of the investiture ceremony for new fellows for over seventeen years.