Architects' Day on the Hill 

Spend the day in Nashville on Wednesday, March 24. Visit your legislator, sit in on a one-hour workshop on getting state work, spend three hours at the Executive Residence to tour the home restoration and design/construction of the new underground Conservation Hall. Wrap up your day with a Legislative Reception and silent auction at The Parthenon.

Architects' Day on the Hill
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

What is the purpose of Day on the Hill?
What are the bills and issues in 2010 that will help or hurt us?
Describe the specifics of Day on the Hill.
Why does the reception cost so much money?
Where should I stay?
What’s up with the auction?
How do I get to church parking lot?
Sign me up!
 

What’s the purpose of Day on the Hill?

• To tell legislators that architects matter and that we are active in the political process.
• To build those crucial relationships with legislators before we have a crisis.
• We have some crises…and this is our best opportunity for grassroots lobbying on specific bills that have been introduced.

What are the bills and issues in 2010 that will help or hurt us?

Our most important concern is the economy. While a long shot, we are assembling information on how hard architects and the whole construction business have been hit. Our argument is the cost savings of building now in the economic downturn, as well as the jobs benefit. We support bond issues for state building.

We continue to work with the Building Commission elected in 2009. Their priority is still transparent selection of architects. We completed a draft document on the selection process in November 2009 and are waiting for their feedback. AIA is scheduled to discuss state contract and fee issues at the end of 2010.

We have targeted the Department of Health and Environment. Goals include adoption of the current ICC codes family and eliminating plans review delays.

We are also watching these bills:

• Many and varied energy and sustainability bills.
• Many stimulus/economic recovery bills.
• K-12 building account—unclaimed lottery prize money, and lottery funded capital outlay projects
• Competitive reverse auction process
• Creation of practice act for interior designers
• Bond issuance for State Museum

As we get to the heart of each of these bills, we’ll post position papers on the web site. If any of you are interested in learning more about a particular bill and becoming our expert/advocate, we’d be grateful for your help. A listing of all the bills we are tracking is posted in Advocacy Central on our web site.

Describe the specifics of Day on the Hill.

1. 9:30AM Come to the Old Supreme Court chambers for a briefing on all the bills we are most concerned with. We’ll have a packet for you to give each legislator that includes position papers on the major issues. Bring extra business cards to include in packets if you like. The old Supreme Court chamber is located on the first floor of the State Capitol.
2. 10:00-12:00 Time set aside for you to visit your legislators. You must schedule your appointments ahead of time. If you don’t know your legislator, or who your legislator is, the Tennessee General Assembly web site is excellent for contact information. NOTE: most of you know that legislators have very tight schedules. Grab your appointment any time you can. If you cannot get an appointment, request 15 minutes with staff—building relationships with staff has great value too.
3. What about lunch? If you are able to get a lunch appointment with your legislator (they stay pretty busy), choose a restaurant close by. Hermitage Hotel dining room is excellent and expensive. A reservation is a good idea. If you will be hanging out with other architects (and especially if you are short of time), the Legislative Cafeteria is filling if not distinguished.
4. 12:15 – 1:15 How to Get State Work. 1 hour HSW. Location: House Briefing Room, probably Legislative Plaza 16—the Speaker’s assistant is helping us with a room; and we won’t know which one until the 24th.
5. 1:30 – 5:30 Exclusive Tour of The Tennessee Residence and Conservation Hall, hosted by First Lady Andrea Conte; Seminar by Designers and Contractors. Three hours HSW/Sustainable CES. This is SO exciting…and a bear to manage. You must be in Cofer’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church parking lot, 3915 Franklin Road, by 1:45 to catch a shuttle bus to the Residence. We’ll have you back to your cars by 5:30. You must register by March 19, a security check will be conducted; and you may NOT substitute anyone in your place after the 19th. Cost is $20 to cover buses, refreshments.
6. 6:00 Come to the Parthenon for legislative reception. Usually all the constitutional officers, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and 1/3 to 1/2 of the General Assembly comes to our reception. We have a reputation for fine food and drink, and they enjoy visiting with you. We also have a Silent Auction to raise money for TAPAC.

Please summarize my action list:

1. Schedule appointments with your legislators. We’d appreciate receiving a copy of your appointments schedule.
2. Offer to pick up your legislator to drive him/her to our reception at the Parthenon.
3. Review position papers on relevant legislation and/or ask us questions. (I am still working on those.)
4. Do you have an auction item you could contribute?

Why does the reception cost so much money?

TAPAC is the only organization for architects in Tennessee, legally constituted to contribute to legislators’ re-election campaigns. (As a corporation, AIA cannot contribute to politicians.)

Other organizations have been very successful with small, automatic monthly withdrawals; and TAPAC is ready to facilitate that as well. Just tell us that is your preference. Finally, your presence is more important than your dollars, though we need both. If you cannot afford to pay, just let us know that you need a reduced amount.

Where should I stay?

We have rooms set aside at the Sheraton, adjacent to Legislative Plaza, for a room rate of $129. You must contact Jennifer Warnock at 1-615-742-6031, to get this rate.

We are also holding rooms at the Hutton Hotel, a great little boutique property on 1808 West End Avenue, near the Parthenon reception. Room rate is $129. Call 866-894-4609 and request a room within AIATN block.

What’s up with the auction?

We thought an auction was the most painless method for raising dollars. Over the past three years, our members have provided amazing donations that have been very popular, including:

• Sports ticket packages—Titans, Vols, Commodores, Tigers, Predators, Redbirds, and Sounds—are very popular.
• Autographed sports memorabilia
• Vacation home stays
• Art (by architects especially valued)
• Jewelry (especially architect designed)
• Limo ride and dinner

Some amazing items have gone for too little money, unfortunately. The reason: not enough spouses with checkbooks, in my opinion. So…this year, we will only offer 8-10 pieces of moderate value. We will save our high ticket items for our state convention in Knoxville, BUT we are beginning to collect items for both. Please help us out if you can.

Previous architect stars who have contributed so much: Michael Brady, AIA; Elizabeth Thompson, AIA; Bob Proctor, AIA; Bruce Crabtree, FAIA; David Hudson, AIA; Rick Thompson, AIA; Bill Beaty, FAIA; Gregor Smee, AIA; Marion Fowlkes, FAIA; Frank Orr, AIA; Tara Myers, AIA; Lee Askew, III, FAIA; Frank Ricks, AIA; David Wooley, FAIA; Kem Hinton, FAIA; Gary Everton, FAIA; Linda Allen, AIA; Rob Horrell, AIA; Bill Blankenship, AIA; Kathy Proctor, AIA; Marleen Davis, FAIA; Don Friedman; Bill Nolan. Let 2010 be your year to help as well.

How do I get to church parking lot?

Entrance is from Caldwell Lane, right off Franklin Road. Please park on the gravel lot to the left, so it doesn’t interfere with the church’s guest parking.

Cofer’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church
3915 Franklin Road
Nashville, TN 37204 

Fill out a registration form to attend the 2010 Architects' Day on the Hill

Download the Registration Form