New Mexico IDP State Coordinator Report – 12/11/09

2009 was a busy year! I didn’t accomplish everything I set out to do this year, but had some help from others that made things better. Robert Williams, AIA Albuquerque Associate Director, and now the WMR RAD candidate, set up the ARE study sessions at DPS which alleviated me having to provide seminars right away. Hunter Redman, my Santa Fe Auxiliary Coordinator, has ordered study materials for Santa Fe candidates through AIA Santa Fe and has kept the interns informed up there. The Auxiliary IDP Coordinator positions created in the large firms in town and Santa Fe have helped tremendously on my answering questions and needing to travel. I still plan to expand on this in the coming year.

I polled the interns to find out that they would prefer other study material, like PPI or Dorf to name a few. The Kaplan materials are working, but variety is good! The ARE Study materials have been moved to my office at Cherry/See/Reames as of November17th where my staff and I will keep inventory and monitor its return. The AIA Albuquerque office has moved to a smaller location and asked me to take care of it. We are happy to. So far, we have had a few, but steady, inquiry for materials and things are working smoothly.

I have inquired about some different ARE study seminars and have found out about “Dorf Days”. I understand that my budget is fixed and I will need to find a way to supplement or replenish it through the years. Dorf Days enables a payback. It will cover all 7 sections of the exam and charges each participant a nominal amount ($85-$125 for the entire series) with a payback to AIA NM of $10-$50, whatever we want. Or $20 per event with a $5 payback, this is subject to change to a lower cost as well. I prefer to keep the fee affordable to candidates, so suggest the minimum payback of $10 like AIA NY did. I’d like your input so I can start scheduling this for the first of the year.

I received word that 4 ARE Candidates are newly licensed architects!!!! One from my office too!

I have met with, emailed or talked to 35 new interns needing help with either IDP or the ARE this year. This entailed a UNM Professional Practice class presentation with David Knauer from the NMBEA and Steve Dent, the IDP Educator Coordinator. I was pleased to meet Michiel Bourdrez, formerly of NCARB, but now co-teaching Professional Practice at UNM with Garrett Smith. I have also held 9 intern meetings after work and in Albuquerque covering the new e-EVR, benefits of AIA membership, time management, IDP 2.0, why you have to call yourself “Intern Architect”, ARE 4.0, how to better work with your Civil Engineer, etc…. I had hoped to travel again this year, but didn’t make it. I’m still hoping to get something going in Las Cruces.

The e-EVR started and hopefully everyone, interns and architect supervisors have heard the news and will be communicating about the new on-line IDP record keeping. I touched on it at each of my intern meetings and have made announcements at AIA Albuquerque monthly luncheons.

The 2009 IDP National Conference was held in Portland in August. Jennifer Jaramillo, my Auxiliary coordinator, and I attended the meeting to gain first hand knowledge of IDP and the changes coming down the road. As member of the National IDP Sub Group committee, I helped plan the conference again, so my travel was covered by National AIA. Jennifer and I shared a room to cut on costs to AIA NM. We had a wonderful time and networked with our fellow coordinators. We learned about the changes coming in IDP 2.0 and the new improved “Bootcamp” presentation changing to “Building Blocks”. This has just recently become available and we’ll be able to present this to firms and those that want to hear about the requirements of IDP.

My role on the National IDP Sub Group committee has come to an end, but I have been elected to the IDPAC, another national appointment. I understand that there will be one meeting per year that I will need to travel to. I expect AIA National to cover that cost. With the way things are going at AIA National, I am not sure if there will be an IDP Conference this next year. Our support staff at AIA National has been let go, so NCARB would have to coordinate it or make other arrangements. We’ll see what the future holds? Perhaps video conferences or webcasts and telephone conferences will be the way to go.

I am an advisor and member of the newly formed YAF committee. The YAF is a vibrant group that has an active membership that meets quarterly, goes on “Hard-Hat” tours of local construction sites or newly finished buildings, started a mentoring program with AIA Fellows (18 participants) and plans an end of year banquet in the spring to show works of Young Architects (those licensed 10 years or less) and the mentors. The YAF is a great group that I’m happy to be associated with. They did not receive the grant that they applied for, so they are looking at ways to fund their events. I believe some of the original $5,000 in the AIA NM IDP Account was shared with the newly formed YAF at my request.

I understand from looking at the IDP Account, that I have $4,874.97 left. I would like to purchase two sets of the PPI study materials (last time I checked they were $509.55/set) this year to add to the library. I will ask for reimbursement from AIA NM and AIA Albuquerque when I get the invoice.

Thank you again for supporting my efforts. It’s been a terrific year and I hope to make 2010 even better!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Tina M. Reames, AIA
NM State IDP Coordinator