GRA Board Report – July 2010

by Marivel Ansera, IIDA
Vice President of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs

A special thank you to Megan Duffy, CID, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, for all her work over the past year as the Vice President of Government & Regulatory affairs!  Megan will continue volunteering with MIDLAC, but her presence as an IIDA board member will be sincerely missed. 

Welcome to our new board positions:  VP of GRA, Mari Ansera, CID, IIDA and VP of GRA – Elect, Rebecca A. Osmond, CID, IIDA, LEED AP. 

This will be a very exciting year for Minnesota Interior Designers.  MIDLAC, the IIDA & ASID joint legislative coalition, is working through the summer to meet with opposition groups and legislators in preparation for next year’s legislative session.  Our current committee members are working hard and are dedicated to advocating for the public's safety and health by educating everyone about the need for and value of Interior Design.  Getting a bill through the legislative process is hard work and takes a lot of dedication.  We need your help!  MIDLAC is looking for volunteers interested in working on any one of several committees.  Contact Mari Ansera at mansera@brownsworth.com  for more information on volunteer opportunities. 

The annual National Conference of State Legislatures will be in Louisville Kentucky July 25-28. This event is attended by all state house and senate leaders.  This is a great opportunity for you to contact your state representatives and ask them to stop by IIDA’s Exhibition Booth #922.  They will have an opportunity to learn more about interior design legislation throughout the country and have their questions answered as well.  To find your state representative you can visit the state district finder at http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Stay informed about your rights and responsibilities as a Certified Interior Designer.  Visit AELSLAGID’s updated website at http://www.aelslagid.state.mn.us/ .  You can find links to all the Minnesota Statutes and Rules, lapsed certification issues, definition of professions, space exceptions, square footage limitations, CEU requirements and much, much more!       

You can now find MIDLAC on Facebook.  Become a fan and get information on upcoming code seminars, interior design legislative activity in Minnesota and links to articles on national legislation moves. 

Watch for health, safety, and welfare seminars which will begin in the fall of 2010.