Introducing SARA's New 2020 President

Hello everyone,

I am Anthony C. Baker, FARA, your new SARA president. I was elevated to this position on June 25, 2020 after our president, Dennis Dong, FARA, stepped down due to personal issues. We wish him well and hope that he will return to SARA again in the near future.

I humbly take the reign during these very trying times. Diversity is at the forefront and SARA has issued a statement addressing this issue on our website. SARA has always practiced inclusion and will always continue to do so. “Architect helping Architect”, regardless of your ethnic persuasion.

As a member of SARA for over 34 years, I have felt the warmth, the caring, the camaraderie and the love over the many years of being a member. Our mantra “Architect helping Architect” has manifested itself in so many ways. I can personally attest to this because SARA is an organization with members who you can reach out to for assistance and guidance at any time. I have done so on many occasions and it has helped me in developing my approach to the business of architecture. Staying with us CAN AND WILL provide you with the support that one needs as a professional.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to change our habits, the way we work, the way we conduct business, and has caused us to be overly cautious in many ways. Working from home is now the norm for many months. However, many states are opening up and have instituted COVID-19 Reopening Safety Plans for employers to abide by. I implore you to take these items of concerns seriously to safeguard yourself and your employees when returning to the physical offices to work. Firms must follow these guidelines and establish a plan to protect and to keep their employees safe.

My main objective during my term is to grow the membership of SARA. It is my belief that growth in membership will be the catalyst that will enable us to better offer the benefits we list to our members. These benefits are valuable and are the backbone of our organization.

I ask each member to consider again their commitment to our organization, to contact me with ideas of how we can grow and improve this organization and to make SARA more recognizable in the industry. As a start, we recently improved our website and now have a portal for new members to join and for existing members to easily renew their membership. Beginning in July, we will have created our Social Media sites on Facebook and Linkedin.

There is a lot to work to be done. I am preparing a list of objectives and goals that I will share with the board and the membership, and I will be asking for your help and trust that you all will work with me to continue the great tradition of this organization.

I look forward to hearing from you. Any and all feedback, suggestions and comments will be welcomed.

Yours truly,

Anthony C. Baker, FARA