2016-2017 ADVOCACY& GRA
& GRA ADVOCACY OBJECTIVE: Increase awareness of the impact of interior design both by legislative efforts and outreach to the general public OUTCOME: The Texas Oklahoma Chapter aims to promote the importance of Interior Design in our community and spread awareness of the mission of IIDA. Many of our chapter s advocacy initiatives involve partnering with and supporting our two states coalitions, TAID & OIDC. We recognize how fortunate we are to live in states that have interior design coalitions, and we will do anything we can to ensure their success. Not only do we contribute to them financially, but we also encourage membership and volunteerism. Nearly all of our City Centers host events that benefit their coalitions. In general, our Chapter encourages event programming that involves collaboration with outside organizations. Collaborating with these other organizations enables us to increase our reach and further promote the importance of Interior Design to the both members and those unfamiliar with who we are and what we do. Some of these events reach up to 1,500 people, many of whom are not IIDA members. We strive to have each of our events promote our profession in some way, and we tailor them to target our entire membership base, whether they are student, professional, legacy, or future members. Our Chapter and City Center focuses on events that promote Interior Design, both inside and outside of our industry. For example, our San Antonio City Center partners with CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) in order to create awareness of interior designers impact on productivity, budget, and well-being. Additionally, we collaborate with several other organizations that are equally committed to positively impacting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. In turn, we receive support and create more visibility for IIDA. 1 TEXAS + OKLAHOMA
CHAPTER COALITIONS The Texas Oklahoma Chapter is the proud home of two legislative coalitions: TAID - Texas Association for Interior Design and OIDC - Oklahoma Interior Design Coalition. Each year, our board discusses the best way to support our coalitions in furthering their mission. 2 STATES 8 CITY CENTERS 1 MISSION TAID SUPPORT $20,395 TAID SUPPORT Chapter: $8,150 San Antonio: $1,000 Houston: $5,000, plus a TAID membership ($75) Austin: $5,000 Dallas: $1,000 Ft. Worth: $170 FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION IN YOUR CITY AND STATE As a chapter, we made the conscious decision not to donate financially to OIDC. As a standard, OIDC has relied solely on IIDA for its income, and our Chapter wanted to encourage the coalition to be self-sufficient. Instead, the Chapter decided to ask our board members and city center councils to become members of OIDC, thereby increasing OIDC s membership base, giving them more credibility as a coalition. In addition, multiple members of IIDA now have seats on OIDC s board, helping to promote a strong financial foundation from within. Our Chapter felt strongly that supporting TAID financially is important to furthering our mission. However, our chapter found it just as important to support our coalition by volunteering. Our VP of Advocacy - Texas serves on TAID s board, and our volunteers support TAID events and initiatives at both the Chapter and City Center levels $2,650 OIDC SUPPORT OIDC SUPPORT Chapter: $2,000 from GRA Assessment OKC: $650 in OIDC membership (cost $50 each) 3 TEXAS + OKLAHOMA TEXAS + OKLAHOMA 4
EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES EFFECT ON LEGISLATION The Texas legislature only meets every other year, and 2016 was an off year for Texas. The Chapter made the decision to focus on Oklahoma and rebuilding our relationship with their coalition, OIDC. The decision was made by the Chapter Board to support the organization through volunteerism and the encuragement of membership, rather than providing direct financial support. IIDA IMPACT WITH OIDC In April of 2016, IIDA Members collaborated with OIDC to carry out a successful Capitol Day. During this event, members met with legislators to educate then about the practice of Interior Design and discuss the importance of the upcoming legislation to require CEUs for Registered Interior Designers. In June of 2016, legislation that requires CEUs for Registered Interior Designers in the state of Oklahoma was passed. The new requirements take effect in July of 2017. The IIDA Oklahoma City Center held their annual Bowl-A-Rama event in July of 2016 and has historically, the City Center has used the proceeds from the event to benefit OIDC. However, this year, the council voted that in lieu of donating the money directly to OIDC, they would use the funds for an OIDC membership giveaway. The City Center felt this would be a more beneficial use of the money because it would grow their membership base, creating more volunteer and increasing awareness for OIDC. The Oklahoma City City Center created an Advocacy Committee that now meets regularly to discuss strategy and current legislation, and the Tulsa City Center added an Advocacy Chair to their council this year. In October of 2016, OIDC hosted a meet and greet event for Senator Newberry. Senator Newberry has been a great ally to OIDC. This event had a great turnout that included many IIDA members. The Tulsa City Center contributed to this event by assisting with graphic design. IIDA Texas Oklahoma has really stepped up and collaborated with OIDC. OIDC is keeping a more open line of communication between the two groups, and the IIDA Texas Oklahoma City Centers are now volunteering to help OIDC with graphics. Since OIDC is a small organization with of only four board members, I have found that the greatest thing IIDA has to offer them is volunteers. We are working hard to build a relationship where they can rely on IIDA to help them reach their goals. - Paige Fruits, IIDA The IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter has been a phenomenal partner with the coalition this past year. Collaborating on events to strengthen the grassroots, getting out volunteers for Capitol Day and other efforts, providing OIDC a platform to speak to their members...the Chapter has consistently been willing to assist and engage. Yay Texas Oklahoma Chapter!!! - Brett Logan, IIDA President OIDC 5 TEXAS + OKLAHOMA TEXAS + OKLAHOMA 6
EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA CAPITOL DAYS IN AUSTIN Over 50 people from all over the state joined in a prep meeting on March 7th, TAID Executive Director, Donna Vining spoke to the group to prepare them for the next day. On March 8th, Registered Interior Designers split into groups of 4-5 and visited over 75 legislators, including 25 freshmen. Each spoke passionately about the profession of Interior Design and educated people on what it takes to become registered. The volunteers also handed out packets of information about the industry as leave behinds. Top Right: Volunteers from around Texas meet at the Capitol Bottom: The Dallas City Center sponsored the TAID Art Sale to raise funds for TAID Next Page: Top: Oklahoma City hosts an annual Bowl a Rama event to benefit OIDC Bottom Left: Houston City Center hosts an Annual Chili Cook Off that benefits TAID and always draws a great crowd Bottom Right: Austin City Center Designer Bazaar Austion benefits TAID. 7 TEXAS + OKLAHOMA TEXAS + OKLAHOMA 8
EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA EXCELLENCE IN CHAPTER ADVOCACY & GRA Donations of $43,000 were given to organizations that help increase awareness of interior design Organizations include: Dwell with Dignity, Focus on Home, Houston Furniture Bank, Social Design Alliance, and Launch Outreach Universities include: University of North Texas, Houston Community College, Oklahoma Christian University, Central Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma, and Texas Tech more than 100 volunteers Top Left: Product Runway Donated to the Houston Furniture Bank and TAID Top Right: Oklahoma City Volunteered and donates money to Focus on Home Bottom Right: The Austin City Center Revolution Redesign Donates money restored furniture to the Social Design Alliance and Austin Furniture Bank Bottom Left: Dallas City Centers Lavish event benefits Dwell with Dignity ZERO LANDFILL It is not enough for us as interior designers to understand the value that our industry provides, but we must ensure that everyone in our community understands the importance, as well. Because of this, five of our eight City Centers partner with Beedance Productions for the ZeroLandfill campaign, held twice a year in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin and once a year in Oklahoma City and Houston. This event continues to see success and spread the word through their communities about interior design and IIDA. 9 TEXAS + OKLAHOMA TEXAS + OKLAHOMA 10