Being fortunate enough to live "inside the beltway," I took a trip to NCARB's K Street office yesterday afternoon to reactivate my record and submit my recent employment verification forms.

It was nothing short of a Wizard of Oz experience. While the horror stories that have been posted on Archinect had caused me some apprehension, I was delightfully surprised to find a welcoming and efficient office. The receptionist was helpful in identifying the appropriate individual who met me in the lobby. He had a personalized printout with the status of my record and answered all of the questions I had. (Because I had allowed my record to lapse, I was unable to create an online login. I knew meeting a real, live person would be my only chance at a) finding out how much money I owed, and b) giving me peace-of-mind that my records would be received.)

It remains to be seen whether or not the information I submitted yesterday will be properly recorded in their system, but I walked away feeling satisfied that I was more than just a number to them.

I wish you all the same luck in dealing with them in the future.


(And on a random side note, I had always heard NCARB pronounced as en-carb, not N-C-A-R-B like they actually pronounced it yesterday. Maybe they changed their image after the advent of the Atkins diet...)