Chapter Spotlight: AIGA Upstate New York

April 19, 2010 Filed Under: AIGA Chapter Spotlight 0 Comments

AIGA Upstate New York
Number of Members: 156
Year Founded: 1998

1. Tell us about the best event AIGA Upstate New York has put on this year.
On Thursday, April 1, AIGA Upstate New York presented a lecture by AIGA president Debbie Millman. She shared her research on the history of branding and her theories on its power in a lecture at the Memorial Art Gallery, in Rochester, NY.

The event was very well attended by AIGA members and non-members alike with some attendees traveling 100 miles or more. The event was preceded by a mixer and followed by a book signing.

"Debbie Millman was awesome last night at AIGA Upstate New York in Rochester! Thanks millions to Bill Klingensmith, Chris Goldan and the crew for making magic happen -- totally enjoyed meeting everyone!" -- A quote from on our Facebook page after the Debbie Millman lecture.

2. In what ways are volunteers most involved with AIGA Upstate New York?
Volunteers are the glue that holds our organization together. We utilize volunteers in the coordination and publishing of our e-newsletter, in maintaining our social media network and in helping with greeting attendees, check-in and passing out information on AIGA membership benefits at various programming events.

As another example, Tony Zanni, professional member and volunteer, organized the showing of the film Typeface at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in coordination with the AIGA RIT student group. The event included a tour of the Cary Library, the special collection and rare books library at RIT.

Volunteers coordinate Creative Eats. This is a monthly social event program that happens in various cities within our chapter from Buffalo to Albany. Attendees meet at a designated location for drinks or dinner and socialize with other creative professionals in their area. These gatherings could not happen without the efforts of the volunteers who organize and locally promote them.

These are just some of the ways volunteers have supported our chapter. Others include our annual roundtable, board retreats, member’s shows and educational presentations.

3. How does AIGA Upstate New York utilize the internet and social media to communicate and connect with its members?
Over the past year we have redesigned our website, utilizing social media like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to boost our communications efforts. Our Mixed Media Hub is a one stop inspirational experience -- taking visitors to a centralized page that includes design-related YouTube videos, a Flickr Photostream of our past events, design-centric podcasts, the AIGA Upstate New York Goodreads Bookshelf and more.

We also send out a monthly e-newsletter and email reminders about our upcoming events. Our e-newsletter is a constant reminder of the activities throughout the chapter. One of the highlights in each issue is an AIGA Upstate New York member interview.

We’ve already seen the benefits of these efforts in consistent communications and feedback to and from our membership.

4. What is one goal AIGA Upstate New York has for the future?
Grow our professional membership though quality programming across the state.

5. What type of food is your chapter’s region famous for? Where can we get some on our next visit?
AIGA Upstate New York covers a very large area, all of New York state minus the metro NYC area. Some standouts for famous regional foods and beverages from the area are Buffalo wings, available at many bars and restaurants, beers from both large commercial breweries such as Genesee and High Falls in Rochester and FX Matt in Utica, to many microbreweries dotted across the state. The Finger Lakes wine region is also within our chapter’s area with well over 100 wineries to visit, many with cafés or bistros. Hoffman’s, located in Syracuse, NY, is famous for its hotdogs and sausage. North central New York state is apple country. Many varieties of apples and other orchard fruits are developed and grown here then shipped all over the country. The NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, part of Cornell University, is located in Geneva, NY and is the largest repository of apple seed varieties in the world.

Farming is still the number one industry in New York state and all one has to do is get off the beaten path in central New York to see some beautiful farm country. Many of these farms have roadside stands featuring everything from baked goods to fresh picked fruits and vegetables.

Illustration by: Doug Bartow, id29, Troy, NY

Written by: Dennis Angelo, Communication Chair, AIGA Upstate New York