As I sit here planning my day I am making a mental checklist to be sure I am not overlooking anything. You see, I have a hard time saying “no”and tend to get involved in many activities, organizations, and events….
I believe that every Citizen has a duty to serve their local community. You should give back if you expect to take from the services being offered (sidewalks, roads, electricity, non-profits, landscaping, parks, food….). This should not be seen as optional, this should be done by everyone. Sometimes your service will simply be taking care of your neighbor’s yard while they are on vacation, feeding their dogs, and watering their plants. Sometimes it is service on a board or volunteering to help with a non-profit. Sometimes it is giving money to help support a good cause or voting for a local school in an online fundraiser. Working hard for your community helps you and your neighbors. Serving others is good for the soul, it builds community fabric, it strengthens local resolve.
As an Architect I have certain skills that benefit the community in ways different from a doctor, school teacher, or banker. I see solutions, identify problems, I am organized. These are not traits that serve you well at dinner parties where conversations with me almost always go to what needs to be fixed in your home. They do serve well in organizing events, delegating tasks, and seeing needs and offering solutions. Here is a list of some of the activities I have been involved with this year. I encourage you to find places where you can be engaged in the community and give your time, energy, and money to support them. It will make us all stronger to have you involved!
Presented “Common problems in your home” to the Spotswood Garden Club
Promote and attend Harrisonburg Tweet Ups
Founded the HR Chamber of Commerce Aging in Place Round Table – Serve as Vice Chairman, maintain the Facebook page and blog
Organized and Hosted the Central Virginia CSI Education Sessions at the Annual Product Expo
Serve on the SVBA Green Expo Committee in charge of children’s activities
Serve as the EMES PTF President
Help organize monthly Harrisonburg Green Drinks Events
Presented “Building Green” to the Darden Business School at UVA
Serve as Secretary of the SVBA
Serve on the SVBA Home and Garden Committee assisting with “special activities”
Founded and Organize the SVBA Builder Smarts Education Series
Presented “Sustainable Design Elements” at UVA Architecture School
Serve on the Parkview Mennonite Church Creation Care Council
Presented “Solar Innovations in Commercial Design” for CAAV
Worked the JMU Basketball Concessions Stand for a EMES Fundraiser
Helped to Charter the HR Green Network and serve as the Vice Chair
Presented “Innovation in the Construction Industry” for the Shenandoah Valley Tech Council
Served on the EMS Soup and Arts Committee
Volunteered time to Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity‘s second LEED for Homes Project
Presented “LEED Industrial Case Study” for the Construction Specifications Institute
Worked a booth and volunteered time for the SVBA Home and Garden Show
Volunteered at a booth at the Black’s Run Cleanup Day
Spoke with EMES Kindergarten students about Earth Day and celebrated a 1/2 birthday
Chaperoned a EMES Second Grade Field Trip
Attended the Ground Breaking for an affordable housing project in Charlottesville that we have donated time to support
Attended the CATEC Foundation Lunch (I work with students each year to design a house they build)
Led a Sunday School Class looking at Caring for Creation
Volunteered time to Greene County Habitat for Humanity‘s first LEED for Homes Project
Assisted with several Social Media Presentations around the country for the Construction Specifications Institute
Met with Cub Scouts to talk about Architecture
Presented “Design Matters” at a Virginia Tech Innovations Summit
Hosted three-day training for the SVBA for CAPS certification
Served on the EMS Planning Committee organized and led by Blue Ridge Architects
organized and hosted an Energy Star training session for local builders
Helped organize the Harrisonburg Parklet Project
Serve on the Harrisonburg Downtown Design Committee
Presented at the Virginia Sustainable Building Network Annual Meeting
Served on a panel discussion about careers in Engineering at JMU Engineering School
Serve on the CSI Green Format Task Team
Organized the Central Virginia CSI Summer Social
Organizing and hosting a tour of Charlottesville for the Energy Industry Study Program
Organizing and hosting a tour of Harrisonburg for AIA-CV
Serve on the Harrisonburg Downtown Landscape Committee
Seems like there should be more on the list, wonder what I am forgetting. Guess I better get more organized!
