“In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Yes, Colleagues and Friends, I have returned! Actually, I was quite honored to be asked by the AIA Virginia Board of Directors to facilitate a smooth and successful leadership transition between the incredibly dedicated and accomplished R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA, and your new chief executive. This places me in this spot until December and I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months, especially at Architecture Exchange East in early November.
Some years ago when I ran for the AIA presidency, I introduced the concept of ‘the aspen effect’ as a way of imagining the AIA. That analogy became the foundation of my leadership tenure as well as the inspiration for other roles and initiatives since. It occurred to me that I might share this analogy with my Virginia peeps, and explain how wonderfully well this applies to us here at AIA Virginia.
Above the ground, aspens stand tall and sturdy as individual trees, but below grade, they are interlinked through their elaborate root system. (This is why one never sees an aspen tree standing alone; they are always in groves.) Similarly, AIA Virginia serves as the web of nourishment and enrichment for its members, helping them to survive and thrive. Aspen trees are sometimes brilliant in a burst of fabulous fall color; at other times, they ‘quake’ under the force of a powerful wind. However, no matter what their environment imposes on them, aspens are always supported by their strong network of roots, depending on that interconnectivity for their well-being and vibrancy.
The AIA Virginia I know IS that nurturing wellspring of support. The connector. The network. The collective. Moreover, in every decision we make and every action we take, we should assure that we are advancing the profession as well as positioning our members as valued contributors to community and society.
The dedicated leadership and devoted staff team of your professional society within our state hold the professional vitality and economic viability of each individual member in Virginia foremost in their minds. For my part, as the organization’s chief executive for these next few months, I shall encourage us to apply ‘the aspen effect’ to nurture an organizational and cultural outlook that focuses on the professional wellbeing of each and every member.
Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA
Interim Executive Vice President
AIA Virginia