Lambda Alpha International Celebrates its 75th Anniversary Don’t Miss this Historic Event!

Register Now!  Special Rate of $265 per night at Hotel Sofitel until September 20.

Program Highlights

Wednesday evening October 19

President’s Reception Early Bird Party (from 6 pm to 8 pm) hosted by former International President Eugene Stunard at 155 Harbor Drive over looking Millennium Park and Chicago Skyline. RSVP separately from Weekend.

Thursday evening October 20

35th Biennial LAI Awards Dinner (6 pm) at the Signature Room at the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Center.

Ronald L. Thomas, Executive Director, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission

Friday, October 21

Mobile “Look-See” tour 8:15 am to 1:30 pm featuring:
- Historic Pullman
- University Commons
- Roosevelt Square
- Lunch at Costa’s with presentation by Bill Little, Managing Director for Development, Chicago Housing Authority

Afternoon free

Friday evening:

Open House and reception (5:30 to 7:30) at the Chicago Architecture Foundation in Daniel Burnham’s Santa Fe Building featuring:
- Dr. Eugene Lowe on the "Influence of Richard T. Ely on America Society."
- Open House: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM),; Lohan Caprile Goettsch; and VOA.

Dinner on own

Midnight Madness after dinner (10:30 pm) come back to Hotel Sofitel to watch the video featuring the “Trial of Richard T. Ely” along with dessert and drinks.
Saturday morning, October 22

Saturday, October 22

Mobile “Look-See” tour featuring (8 am to 1 pm):
- Lakeshore East
- 111 South Wacker Drive
- Museum Campus/Central Station
- Lunch on own

Saturday Evening:

75th Anniversary Gala on the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park (6:30 pm – Black tie preferred for men and cocktail attire for women)
- Neal R. Peirce, Washington Post Writers Group, KeyNote Speaker

Read More for Program Details

[Click Here] to register for the Chicago 75th Anniversary Weekend Experience Online.

or

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Business Meetings

The Weekend Experiences also serve as an opportunity for Chapter Presidents to meet as well as the Executive Committee.

Friday October 21 at 2 PM

The Board of Governors, which includes Chapter Presidents, incoming Chapter Presidents and the Executive Committee, will have a training session Friday afternoon from 2 PM until 4 PM in the Hotel Sofitel.  Russell Salzman, CEO of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), will hold this leadership training session.  Russ’s workshop will help current and incoming Chapter presidents learn the newest techniques in non-profit leadership.

Saturday, October 22 at 2 PM

The Executive Committee will meet at the Hotel Sofitel from 2 PM until 4:30 PM

Sunday, October 23 at 8:30 AM

Presidents Round Table:  Chapter Presidents and incoming Chapter presidents will meet from 8:30 am to 10:00 am to have a roundtable discussion on Chapter issues.  The Executive Committee under the leadership of the International President will facilitate a discussion that will cover issues such as programs, dues, membership, and other areas of Chapter Presidents interest.

Board of Governors Meeting:  This formal Board meeting will occur from 10 am until Noon where new By-laws and other issues will be discussed and voted upon.  Chapter Presidents and the Executive Committee are voting members of the Board of Governors.

Land Economics Foundation Board will also meet as part of the Board of Governors Meeting.  During the 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM period, the Foundation Board can meet to discuss future issues.  Voting issues will be part of the Board of Governors Meeting that follows.

75th Anniversary Exclusive Corporate Sponsors

We still have a few exclusive Major Sponsor opportunities left for the 75th Diamond Anniversary Celebration.  If you would like to be one of the Major Sponsors or a Contributor, please give Larry Lund, International President a call at 312-751-1250 and find out more about how your company can support this historic event.

Major Sponsors ($2,500) include:

International Awards Banquet: LR Development www.lrrealty.com
Chicago Architecture Foundation Reception: Lohan Caprile Goettsch Architects www.Lohan.com
Millennium Park Reception: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – SOM www.som.com
Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion Gala: U.S. Equities Realty www.usequities.com
President’s Reception : Appraisal Research Counselors. www.appraisalresearch.com

Contributors ($500) include:

URS Corporation
Thompson Dyke & Associates
The Terrapin Group
Central Federal Savings
VOA
Real Estate Planning Group
Freeborn and Peters
S. B. Friedman & Company
Camiros
Jones Lang LaSalle
Daley & George Ltd.

If you would like to be added to the list of Major Sponsors or Contributors please call 312-751-1250. Thank you for your continued support.

2005 Lambda Alpha International Award Recipients

One of the goals of Lambda Alpha International is to recognize and honor men and women in all parts of the world whose achievements have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the advancement of the science of land economics, to a better understanding of the principles of land economics, or to the practical application of such principles in the preservation, development or better utilization of the world’s land resources. To this purpose Lambda Alpha International at its Biennial Congress acknowledges individuals and projects with special awards.

In today's hectic, frenetic world, it is important to pause, to acknowledge and to honor those people who “get it right.”  Catching people in the act of making a significant contribution, improving our profession or achieving excellence in their field of endeavor is the goal and objective of Lambda Alpha International Awards.

The Awards honor the men and the women who have advanced the principles of land economics through their achievements in service to their profession, their community and the affairs of their chapter.

International Public Official Award
Presented to a public official who through his or her efforts has contributed significantly to the local level of improving the quality of urban living.

DANIEL M. TANGHERLINI
District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
For rebuilding Washington, D.C.’s transportationinfrastructure to the enormous benefit of all DCand regional residents. 

International Urban Affairs Award
Presented to a person who has made outstanding contributions to urban affairs and to the local level of improving the quality of urban living.

KERRY HARRINGTON MORRISON
Hollywood Business Improvement District, Hollywood, California
For shepherding the Hollywood BID’s remarkable renaissance of the entertainment oriented community through redevelopment of key properties, streetscape beautification and security enhancements.

Richard T. Ely Distinguished Educator Award
Presented to individuals who have achieved excellence within the academic world in the field of land economics.

STANLEY HAMILTON
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
For his extensive teaching and research experience and for his superb teaching ability and commitment to his students and to the discipline of real estate.

ROBERT FOUNTAIN
Sacramento Regional Research Institute, Sacramento, California
For solid regional economic land development research, critical to intelligent land planning and sustainable economic growth.

Journalism Award
Presented to a journalist whose efforts have contributed to a greater understanding of the principles, practices and greater awareness of land economics.

NEAL R. PEIRCE
Washington Post Writers Group, Washington, D.C.
For breaking fresh grounds in identifying vital new trends and the dynamics of federal /state/local relations.

Gerald D. Hines International Humanitarian Award
Presented to a person with a vision of the future, and an ability to identify the means to achieve the vision and to its implementation.

ROBERT E. SIMON
Reston New Town, Reston Virginia
For his creativity in the development of plans for the new community of Reston, Virginia, development of the community and his return to Reston to live and to oversee its completion.

International Fellow Award
Presented to individuals for their contribution to the advancement of Lambda Alpha International’s goals, through esteemed leadership and foresight.

ROGER G. KALLMAN
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, London, England
For his efforts in establishing the London Chapter and his leadership in providing new vitality to the organization as its International President.

CHARLES H. ATHERTON
Secretary, US Commission on Fine Arts, Retired, Washington, D.C.
For his leadership in the United States Commission of Fine Arts and its advice to the Congress and the President in matters affecting the design of structures, memorials and statues in monumental areas of the Capital City.


Edward L. Johnson Member of the Year Award
Presented to a person who has demonstrated commitment to Lambda Alpha and professional achievement in the private or public sectors, research or education.

KAREN A. SIERACKI
KASPAR Associates, Limited, London, England
For her dedication to Lambda Alpha as a member of the executive committee and as treasurer of the London Chapter, and for providing creative analysis of the property investment markets in Europe and the United States.

Skyline Award
To recognize noteworthy and commendable instances of the practical application of the principles of land economics in the preservation, development or utilization of our land resources.

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
Los Angeles, California
For a highly creative architectural design and acoustically superb engineering of a 2,265 seat concert hall, with a positive impact on its environs through encouragement of the Grand Avenue urban rejuvenation project.

The 35th Biennial Award Recipients will be honored at a dinner Thursday evening October 20 in the Signature Room at the 95th in the John Hancock Center during the 75th Anniversary Weekend Experience.  The awards banquet is included as part of the 75th Anniversary events.

The 2005 Awards Committee

Fereydoon Ghaffari, Chair
David Glancey
Josef Nathanson
Les Pollock
David Callies

Letter from the President

Larry Lund

The 75th anniversary of our organization is an important time to rededicate ourselves to the mission of advancing the study of land economics. For Richard T. Ely, land economics was not just the study of finance nor the analysis of statistics, but the social and political forces that govern our actions. Unlike the American Economics Association that Ely founded, which consists of economists, Lambda Alpha was always about the integration of the social sciences with land use.

Recently, I have been in contact with Michael Hoyt, son of Homer Hoyt (1895-1984). Homer served as president of Lambda Alpha in 1942 and he helped start our New York and George Washington Chapters. Michael is editing his father’s autobiography, which Homer started writing in1976. I think that Homer Hoyt would be pleased to see that our organization has followed his vision. Hoyt who was inducted into Lambda Alpha in 1934, and helped move the organization from what had originally started as an honorary award to students in real estate, to become a professional fraternity where members consisted entirely of men who had made a reputation in the real estate profession. Homer states in his autobiography that, “When I became president in 1942 it seemed necessary to me that we should broaden the base of the fraternity and secure leading professionals in the fields of urban geography, urban sociology and planning so that Lambda Alpha would represent a broad approach to urban problems and would not merely represent the financial interests of the real estate professions. . . . The principles I sought to see realized in Lambda Alpha were the principles used in my own life in earning a living, in solving problem, and in formulating original theories. I used my university training in economics, law, and debating, my practical experience in real estate and my study of the business and real estate cycles, urban geography and urban sociology to analyze the problems with which I was confronted. I didn’t believe that each of the different social sciences was in an airtight compartment separated from each other; divorced from the real world but that anyone or combination could be used to solve a dilemma in a real life situation.”

He lamented that, “real estate professionals would not often have knowledge of the leaders in closely related social sciences and in my judgment it was necessary to break down the barriers that separated the social sciences so that Lambda Alpha could be established as a fraternity that would be recognized for its balanced judgment. It should not be conceived of as a fraternity that represented only the self interest of the real estate men or the theories of planners and social scientists unfamiliar with practical affairs.”

Today, while we are no longer a fraternity-- but a professional society -- Hoyt provides us with this wonderful contemporary description of Lambda Alpha! The enthusiasm that I am seeing in starting our new Zia Chapter in New Mexico is based on Hoyt’s vision for Lambda Alpha.

I urge all our Lambda Alpha members to be part of the 75th Anniversary celebration and enjoy the camaraderie of men and women from different fields joined together by the common interest in the better utilization of the land. Let us use this opportunity to celebrate our history, but more importantly, to strengthen our resolve to make Lambda Alpha a stronger, more effective, multidisciplinary organization. I look forward to meeting everyone next month in Chicago – please don’t miss this historic occasion.

Larry Lund

International President
LarryLund@LAI.org
312-751-1250

After months of hard work by ex-Ely Chapter member, Michael Maremont, we will initiate 34 new members of Lambda Alpha International in Albuquerque, New Mexico on September 28.  These 34 will form the core of a new chapter to be called the Zia Chapter that will represent the entire state of New Mexico.

President Larry Lund and First Vice President, James Fawcett have worked with Michael Maremont for the better part of the past year to organize and develop a cadre of members for the new chapter.  In April, European Regional Vice President, Dr. Karen Sieracki and London Chapter member, Robert Gibson joined Fawcett and Maremont in Albuquerque to meet with a small core group of six potential members of a potential New Mexico chapter.  After explaining the philosophy of our unique society, the core group enthusiastically organized themselves to recruit the movers and shakers in their respective professions to membership in Lambda Alpha.  Under the tenacious leadership of Michael Maremont, the group held a second, larger, organizational meeting in July attended by both of your International leaders. 

At the September meeting, the 34 will be initiated as At-Large members.  The Zia Chapter will then be inaugurated at the October meeting of the Board of Governors in Chicago and membership of the 34 will be transferred to the new Zia Chapter.  LAI’s newest chapter has already selected a group of pro tem officers:

President: Michael D. Maremont
Vice President: Tom Mills
Vice President - Programs: Lora A. Lucero, AICP, Esq.
Secretary: Anita P. Miller, Esq.
Treasurer: Prof. Roger L. Schluntz

Special thanks are due to these new members as well as to the members of the organizing committee who worked with Maremont to bring the chapter into being.  They are:

John Hooker
Christopher B. Leinberger
Harry N. Relkin
Lee A. Reynis

We congratulate the new members and welcome them into the Society.  If our discussions with them are any indicator, we anticipate that this will be a very active chapter of Lambda Alpha.  We offer as well our congratulations to the new officers with special thanks to Michael Maremont for his tireless efforts on behalf of the new Zia Chapter.

The Sacramento Chapter was established in 1991 by founding President and past International Vice President, Samuel J. Cullers.  The Chapter started with 10 original members and has grown to 77 total members, 70 active members and 7 retired members.  The Chapter also has 21 inactive members not listed in its membership directory.

The Chapter has nearly all of its functions at the prestigious Sutter Club adjacent to California’s State Capitol in downtown Sacramento.  Lunchtime-meeting speakers prompt constructive dialogue among members on regional issues.  During the summer, the membership suspends its regular meetings in favor of joint gatherings with a local NAIOP or Urban Land Institute Chapter.

The Chapter’s territorial jurisdiction for active members covers nine counties:  Sacramento, Nevada, San Joaquin, Placer, Yolo, Yuba, El Dorado, Amador and Sutter Counties.  The majority of the Chapter’s members are located primarily in the cities of Sacramento and Roseville and the County of Sacramento.

Over the years, the Sacramento Chapter has encouraged diversity in its membership.  The Chapter’s membership includes land developers, home builders, commercial/industrial developers, land use planners, bankers, civil engineers, architects, land use attorneys, economists, commercial real estate brokers and environment consultants.  The public sector is well represented with individuals from the fields of planning, housing, redevelopment, and economic developments.  Leaders of nearly every major company associated with land economics and land development are members. New initiates need full support of all active members, encouraging organization-wide cooperation.

In 2004, the Chapter implemented an annual Outstanding Achievement Award.  The first recipient was Dr. Robert Fountain, retired professor of urban economics at California State University, Sacramento.  Dr. Fountain, a Lambda Alpha member, has been a leader in the Sacramento region, providing training for many of the region’s professionals and serving as a commentator on the region’s real estate conditions.

The 2005 award winner was Alan Johnson, the former City Manager of Roseville.  The City of Roseville was a leader in the region for the development and implementation of Master Plan Communities.  For 2006, the award will be renamed to the Samuel J. Cullers Outstanding Achievement Award, in honor of Sam’s significant contributions to the Chapter.

In October 2005, the Sacramento Chapter had the opportunity to host the Lambda Alpha International Weekend Experience.  Tours were conducted at several of Sacramento’s new development sites, including the future California Railroad Technology Museum.  Dinner was at the Sutter Club.  Dr. Robert Smiley, former dean of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, spoke on the California wine industry.  Saturday included tours at several sites in the Napa Valley.

A Brief History of the London Chapter formed in 1992

A delegation of Lambda Alpha members led by LAI International President, Eugene Stunard, came to London to present the Chapter Charter and to induct the initial members.  This ceremony was held at the Carlton Club - one of the famous London clubs - formed in the 18th Century and since that time the traditional Conservative Party Club.  Former Ely Chapter member Roger Kallman who was instrumental in the formation of the London Chapter, became the Chapter President in 1992. 

Among those early members were Sir Idris Pierce of Richard Ellis, Sir Nigel Mobbs of Slough Estates; Harold Melzack of Smith Melzack; Dr Karen Sieracki, then with ESN Pension Management; and Roger Kallman of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.  Our members have included various past Presidents of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Rating and Valuation Association and the Valuers’ Institution.

In the Autumn of 1992 the Lord Mayor of London, visited Chicago and The Board of Governors of Lambda Alpha International proclaimed that the Right Honourable Sir Brian Jenkins, should receive the title of Honorary Member in Lambda Alpha International.

The London Chapter subsequently established a series of annual “Keynote” lectures in addition to its luncheon programme.  Major speakers included Lord Marshall; former Chairman of British Airways, Ronald Spinney, Chairman  of developers Hammerson Plc; the Honourable Philip Lader, US Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Sir Joe Dwyer; Chairman of Liverpool Vision, Managing Director of Virgin Trains; Simon Blaxland of Goldman Sachs  International, Professor John Ratcliffe Director and Dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment, Dublin Institute of Technology; and Dr Paul Evans from Department of the Environment Transport and Regions. Please visit our web site where under the heading “Publications”you will find a brief summary of a selection of talks.

In 1999 the London Chapter hosted the 33rd Biennial Congress in the United Kingdom. Highlights of the event included an awards reception at the City’s historic Reform Club a cruise on the River Thames preceded a formal dinner in the Painted Hall, the Royal Naval College at Greenwich.  In that remarkable 17th Century setting our guest of honour the US Ambassador to Great Britain, The Hon. Philip Lader was the speaker.  Also attending was Lord Jenkin of Roding, former Secretary of State for the Environment.

The London Chapter holds regular lunches every two to three months, originally at the Arts Club and now at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, (the second oldest yacht club in the world). We have a wide range of speakers addressing a broad set of topics: from the future of the car in urban centres, to the policy changing nature of the City of London.  These talks are followed by stimulating debates where Chatham House Rules apply (i.e. where discussions are free, frank and confidential). 

We also have an evening function every year in early summer at which there is a keynote lecture.  In the past these have been held at the House of Commons, in the Palace of Westminster; at the Institute of Directors; and at the Guildhall, historic seat of government for the City of London among other special venues.

Our membership has fluctuated each year from 50 to 70 but we are hoping to increase this number to 100 in the next few years.

Presidents, in order of their service have been:

Roger Kallman 1992 to 2000
Michael Mallinson 2000 to 2002
Jeffrey Cackett, LVO 2002 to Present Day

We have our own web site: www.lailondon.org .