Greetings everyone!  It is almost time for this year's annual AIA Grand Valley Chapter Honor Awards program for 2011.  This event will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Kendall College Student Commons, 17 Fountain Street.  All of our members and their guests are invited to join us for a celebration of the great work and design excellence that is happening in our chapter. 

This year's event will have a similar format to last year, which proved to be both engaging and fun for our members and their guests.  The night will begin with an opening "art reception," which will showcase the various submissions of our member firms' work for this year's awards.  This reception will include some excellent appetizers/desserts, along with an open bar featuring select wine and bottled beer from local purveyors.

After this opening reception, we will commence with the individual awards.  After those have been awarded, we will break for more socializing, and then we will award the building awards.  The awards ceremony, as always, is intended to celebrate the work and careers of our members.  This year, speeches will be reserved for only individual award winners.  Project and design award winners will be honored with no speeches regarding the projects.

Upon completion of the awards, we will have a post-awards celebration.  This will allow everyone to informally mingle, recap the evening, enjoy dessert, and continue the celebration of architecture at the open bar.  We encourage you to stay for the post-awards celebration; don't leave; create the atmosphere at the event and celebrate with each other.

Please make reservations soon, as they are due by September 16, 2011.

Venue:   Kendall College Student Commons, 17 Fountain Street, NW
              Parking is available on the street, in the ramp to the west on Ionia/Pearl or

              in the GRCC ramp on Fountain
 
Date:      Saturday, September 24, 2011
 
Time:     Gallery Reception with Food and Drinks:                      6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
              Individual Personal Awards Ceremony:                         7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
              Gallery Reception with Food and Drinks                       7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
              Honor Awards Ceremony                                            8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
              Post Event with Desserts and Drinks:                          8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
 
There is no sit-down dinner this year, so please plan accordingly.  Appetizers only will be served during the gallery reception.  Open bar will remain open during the awards ceremony.
 
Dress as you are, but if you need a guideline, try business casual, and of course black tie is always acceptable.
 
Cheers, and hope to see you there!