My travels through the Worksource Unemployment office

Some of you were interested in my travels to the unemployment office, so here is a quick synopsis on what I am doing to try to get my ARE and LEED tests paid for by the unemployment office.... An excerpt from an email describing what I am doing below

You are correct Cheryl, its a need based benefit. So far to get where I am have attended a 2 hour orientation class, and a 1 hour class on just the EOC (Education Occupation C?) I have an application that I am filling out that I received from the last class that will get me in front of a counsler. I am told that from the time I fill out the application to the time I see a counsler is 3-6 weeks.

FYI - the EOC is a seperate agency that is responsable for worker retraining when you find yourself in a field of work that is not there anymore. It is one of the dozens of federal, state, and local agencies that make up the Worksource coalition. Because the number and type of agencies change per region, this resource is different depending on what region you live in.

Once I am there I will have to proove that I am in a declining or dieing profession and need to have new skills or be retrained. There is a specific website that shows the career survey that the state pulls this information from. Last I checked Architecture was in the stagnent catagory (the last research date was august of '08). This doesnt mean that I am dead in the water. I just have to proove that there are very few positions open and that there is a high competition for the positions that are out there.

I think that I can tell people that they can skip the orientation classes, and go right to the worksource office on Tacoma Ave, and ask for an EOC application. That would save ground from the route that I have taken. I will keep you updated on my travels through the unemployment office.

So I think that the bottom line of all this is to go to the worksource office on Tacoma AVE. (I think its off 11th) and ask for an E.O.C. application. Fill it out letter by letter and DO NOT leave anything blank without checking with the office first.

Revised IDP Guidelines

Associate Member,

Attached is a letter written by Harry Falconer of NCARB. There have been some updates to the IDP Guidelines which he briefly describes, and also states where you can download the revised documents.

https://portal.aia.org/sites/IDPCoordinator/Lists/Coordinator%20News%20Flash/Attachments/122/IDP%20Guidelines.pdf

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the IDP/ARE process.

Kate Burnham

IDP Auxiliary Coordinator
Associate AIA

McGRANAHAN architects
2111 Pacific Avenue, Suite 100 Tacoma, WA 98402
T: 253.383.3084
F: 253.383.3097
www.mcgranahan.com

kate.burnham@mcgranahan.com

Updating architectural licensing requirement in WA State

Hi Everyone,

Please see below for an email I received from AIA WA Council. They need your help in passing this bill. I don't know if anyone of you are aware but there is an urgent need to pass this bill. It's basically asking to update the current WA state licensing for those with no architecture degree to have 12 years of experience instead of 8 years. This is for those in the non-traditional path to licensing (high school graduate, non-architecture degree, etc). I don't know about you all, but it was frightening to hear that WA state licensing law has not been changed since 1985!!!

I hope you all will do your part in helping pass this bill. This bill affects us all.

Thanks,

Ha Pham

Dear members,

Many of you helped us by contacting your legislators to let them know about these important licensing bills: SHB 1634 and SSB 5529.

It worked! Because of you the bills moved out of Rules Committees. Now we need your help again – and even more!

Due to politics, the Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp, will not bring the House bill to the floor for a vote. He has also stated that when the Senate Bill gets to the House he will not call for a vote then either. These bills will die if the Speaker is not moved by his constituents to hear them!

We need you to call Frank Chopp at (360) 786-7920 or send him a letter. Click here to let him know that the public health, safety, and welfare are important! Urge him to pull SHB 1634 to the floor for a vote today!

Please contact your legislators again and let them know how important these bills are!

The state architecture licensing law, and prerequisites for qualification, haven’t changed since 1985. New technologies and current practice methods, such as sustainability, have significantly modernized the practice of architecture in the last two decades.

The AIA Washington Council has helped underwrite new legislation at the state level, SHB 1634 and SSB 5529, which would update the qualifications for licensing. This legislation is necessary to protect the public health safety and welfare in Washington State.

Please help us get this important legislation passed by calling or writing your legislator!

CSI Joint Meeting with Cascadia GBC - March 5, 2009

Tech Talk
by Dave Seifert of BCRA and Mark Bergquist, CSI, CDT of McGranahan Architects

Specifying LEED®

The following is a list of key points discussed by Dave and Mark during their "Tech Talk" last Thursday:
- Ask Owners for CIR (Credit Interpretations & Rulings) budget (each question costs $220).
- Revise Specification Section 01300 to require the Contractor have on staff a LEED® AP who is as responsible as the Architects AP.
- The Waste Management Credit is not difficult to earn in Washington. Many of the waste management companies already offer recycling. It is recommended that a list of suggested companies and a sample plan is included in the specification section. The most difficult part is getting the submittals.
- Add LEED® requirements to each applicable section which additionally refers back to charts, LEED® credits, and applicable reference section(s).
- An example was provided to display how a credit may be lost if a site/project is audited - "it does not matter whether one tube or 100 tubes of caulk are used or even found on site which exceed allowable VOC's, the point will be lost."
- Hold a LEED® Pre-construction Meeting and invite all those who will be affected by project and reporting requirements. In particular, be sure those who may not have had prior experience with LEED® attend.
- When notified by USGBC which credits are accepted and which are denied, do not accept the first answer if you feel it has been achieved. Some times it is a matter of stating or showing in a different way how the credit was achieved.

LEED® Dinner Program Round Table
by Dave Seifert of BCRA, Mark Bergquist, CSI, CDT of McGranahan Architects, Ken Schmidt of Lease Crutcher Lewis and Jeff Stroud of Mountain Construction

The following is a list of key points discussed during the LEED® Roundtable last Thursday:
- Subcontractors need to be brought up to speed on LEED® requirements and reporting procedures. They are the last link to a successful project.
- The most time-consuming part of a successful LEED® project is the documentation. Stay on top of the submittals and other paperwork. The subcontractors and suppliers must complete their portion and provide adequate documentation.
- LEED® Gold seems to add 5-10% cost and time to a project.

If you've got comments on any of the above or additional tips, feel free to add them in the comments or notify us via e-mail and we will add them.

-Caroline N. O'Leary, Assoc. AIA