Merry Christmas – Happy Hanukah – Happy New Year

Our Holiday Party is much different this year and we hope you will enjoy the changes.
We are promoting shopping in the downtown area this year.  All of our door prizes are from downtown businesses.  Please make an effort this year to support downtown businesses.
Hors d'oeuvres by John’s City Diner, RSVP.
Installation/Video by Binx Newton & Charles Amos Horn.  This is one installation architects will/should appreciate.  Music by Brad Barnett.
Come to the party and you will see what inspired the AIA Birmingham Holiday Party Invite!!  RSVP! (business casual attire)

December 12th Chapter Meeting – 11:30 -1:00 p.m.



Mortis & Tenon   1 LU | River Bottom Pine | 4020 Morris Ave
Come see antique heart pine beams mortis and tenon post and beam construction as old world craftsman did years ago.  River Bottom Pine, specializing in old world style antique reclaimed wood and KMAC Services, a company that intercepts waste streams of non-hazardous materials, have partnered together to build a showroom like no other in the state.  Bring your business card for the door prize!
Members $15 - Interns $5 –
Non Members $25
PLEASE RSVP by Dec. 9th to ensure enough box lunches for everyone.  If you RSVP and cannot attend, you will still be invoiced.  Parking on site

Chance to Win this Fabulous Antique Wood Cabinet Door Prize

January 16th Chapter Meeting 11:30 – 1:00
Creating Success with Effective Proposals     
Barking Kudu – 2929 7th Ave. South

Learning Objectives:
Regardless of your expertise and experience as a design firm, a poor proposal can equate to losing a job that should have been yours! Architects have the education, training, experience and vision to maximize an owner’s construction dollar and ease the entire design and construction process. However, in order to maximize the potential of securing the work you deserve, it is important to evaluate the message you send to your prospective clients. This program will help architectural firms review their proposal efforts – from a go/no go decision-making process to a review of what to include and not include in a proposal. The content also includes information about formatting and proposal layout design, common mistakes, language blunders and other useful tips that participants can put to use immediately in their day-to-day marketing efforts. 
RSVP by January 13th. If you RSVP and cannot attend, you will still be invoiced.
Length: 1 hour. Credits: 1 Learning Unit. HSW: No
Provider Name: Constructive Communication, Inc.  

Thank You AIA for a Great 2006
We look forward to our 2007 AIA sponsorship

Sponsors, The 2007 Sponsorship Brochure is Available
The 2007 sponsorship brochure is available NOW.  We appreciate all of our sponsors and try to give you the most for your support.  We hope your company benefited by supporting AIA Birmingham.  We made a few changes on the 2007 sponsorships and added a few incentives so please read each level.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to call me @ 322.4386 or email aiabirm@aiabham.org.
We have many events and programs planned for 2007.  AIA will celebrate its 150 year anniversary!
Click here to download/print brochure

A Barricade Wins Merit Award??!!

Associated Builders and Contractors “Excellence in Construction” is a program that began 17 years ago and has grown to become a premier competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects by Alabama contractors and suppliers. 
Imaging Technologies made the AIA dreamArchitecture City Federal Building barricade possible and entered the barricade project into the ABC Excellence in Construction competition.  The barricade was awarded the Merit Award.  We are pretty sure it is the first barricade to win an award!  The artwork for the barricade was k-5th grade winners from the 2005 dreamArchitecture contest.
The 2007 dreamArchitecture theme is “Livable Communities.”  There were 19 participating schools in 2006 and over 2500 entries.  We are expecting an even larger response this year. 

2006 dreamArchitecture Winners

If your firm would like to get involved and support this educational community outreach program, 2007 is the year! Your firm can sponsor the prizes for the winners of the contest.  Each grade starting with kindergarten through fifth grade has a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention.  Your firm can sponsor a grade for $200.  We will list the sponsors on the website and at the event.  There will be additional information in 2007.
Hurry and commit to your favorite grade before another firm beats you to it!!

Were You Ever an AIA Birmingham Past President?
We are researching our history of past presidents and we have several years of missing presidents!  Help us find them!  If you were an AIA President, make sure your name is on the list and the year you served as President.  We have collected some names and do not know the year, please help us! 
Thanx for your help!

Here is a list of names who were AIA Birmingham President's and we do not know what year; David Peacher, Jerry Shaddix, Joseph Giattina, Marzette Fisher, Richard Barrow and Willie Oliver.

Furniture at a discount!! 
Click here for more info

• A Connecticut family moves into a neglected 1800’s Victorian only to find antiques and a mysterious locked cabinet. What they find inside tells the touching story of their home’s original owner. Then, in the attic they discover original paintings and the “If Walls Could Talk” appraiser pays them a visit. The expert reveals their discoveries are worth thousands of dollars.
• A husband and wife turn a turn of the century bank into their dream home. In the process they find the original bank vault full of safety deposit boxes that are still locked!
• A Colorado couple finds books, clothing and jewelry in their new home. The clues add up to the story of a best-selling author who lived in the house until she disappeared.
• A New York bachelor buys a hundred year old mansion and makes a chilling discovery in the basement— his home sweet home used to be a funeral home!

The series, which premiered in September of 1998, has aired over 200 episodes –each filmed in historic neighborhoods throughout the country.

If Walls Could Talk is produced for HGTV by High Noon Entertainment in Denver, CO.
 Homeowners who would like to be considered for the program should contact Jenna Friederich at (303) 712-3146 or email at jfriederich@highnoonentertainment.com

Weather Shield Dealer E.F. San Juan Named Dealer of the Year

YOUNGSTOWN, Fla.-December 1, 2006—Window & Door magazine recently announced Weather Shield dealer E.F. San Juan as the winner of the 2006 Dealer of the Year award for the Focused Excellence in Customer Service category. Through its Gold Key Service program, E.F. San Juan ensures that every customer receives superior service before, during and after each sale.
“To E.F. San Juan, customer service means exceeding customer expectations at all times,” said Miles Kiser, Southeast regional sales manager for Weather Shield. “They realize the need to put the customer before themselves, before profit, or even before their relationship with a manufacturer; and they always do.”
The Gold Key Service program begins with the delivery of the product and includes countless intermediate steps to ensure customer satisfaction and product quality. It also incorporates multiple inspections with builders to guarantee the most successful outcome. The company’s effort to build strong customer relationships is evident by sending homeowners “Welcome to the Neighborhood” packets that provide warranty and operations information for Weather Shield products, as well as encourages them to call the dealer with any questions or concerns.
 “Weather Shield is honored to be associated with E.F. San Juan, as the winner of the Focused Excellence in the Customer Service category in the Dealer of the Year program,” Kiser commented. “The E.F. San Juan team represents our company and brands with unwavering dedication. They truly service and care for their customers and ours.”
This year marks Window & Door’s third annual Dealers of the Year awards. Since its establishment in 2004, the program has grown significantly and includes nominations from dealers across the country in a variety of audiences. The program honors two companies as the top Overall Excellence winners, as well as five Focused Excellence categories for specialty retailers who stand out in marketing, installation, customer service, retail/showroom program, and community service.
Window & Door is the leading trade publication serving the fenestration industry. Its readership extends beyond 25,000 manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of windows, doors, and other fenestration products.
E.F. San Juan is a moulding and millwork manufacturer and distributor with two locations – Youngstown, Fla. and Montevallo, Ala. Since becoming a Weather Shield dealer in 1998, the company has proven itself as a model dealer through its commitment to quality and a superior level of customer service delivered through the Gold Key Service program.
 For more information on Weather Shield products, call 1-800-477-6808, or visit the company’s Web site at weathershield.com.