American Institute of Architects
Alfred joined the American Institute of Architects of Monterey Bay (AIAMB) as an Associate Member in 2001. In 2002, he served on the committee which organized “Concepts,” an international design competition for affordable housing designs in Monterey County.
He has organized and hosted several sustainable home tours. In 2010, the AIAMB Associates requested a tour of the Dan Curran’s award winning Lehrberg Residence perched over Wildcat Canyon in the Carmel Highlands.
In 2016, Alfred hosted an AIAMB Cote tour of the last completed George Brook-Kothlow home, which was attended by architects interested in architectural history and green building.
In 2016, Alfred served as AIAMB Chair for the 56th annual Carmel Sandcastle Contest, which celebrated the centennial of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The Rothman addition was toured by the Monterey Architectural History Class at MPC, and in again in 2016 by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy convention.
United States Green Building Council (LEED)
Alfred qualified as a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) in 2009 and was chosen to chair the Monterey Chapter of the United States Green Building Council for 2013 and 2014. During his tenure Alfred attracted such notable speakers as Jody Andrews, project manager of the Olympic Village in Vancouver. Jody was also hired by the United Arab Emirates to develop a new sustainable capital city. Another memorable presentation organized by Alfred was by Brent Buckner of Hyphae design and the Urban Bio-Filter.
In 2013, Alfred organized and hosted a green building tour of the Trainer Residence titled “Design Green, Design Beautiful” for both the AIA and the U.S.Green Building Council. The tour attracted the largest attendance of any events for both organizations that year.
Organic Farming
In 2009, Alfred and Carlyle began the development of an organic farm, November Ranch, after graduating from Agriculture Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) south of Salinas. Carlyle now teaches at ALBA in the Farm to School program. As UCGBC Chair, Alfred led a tour of ALBA’s sustainable straw-bale classroom.
The Seccombes worked as citizen advocates on poverty policy issues with RESULTS from 1997 to 2007. They organized and participated in a radio program on KUSP to promote microcredit with Rep. Sam Farr in 2006.
Affordable Housing
In 2003, Alfred followed up his work on the AIA “Concepts” committee, becoming spokesperson for Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA), at the Fort Ord Reuse Authority hearings to establish affordable housing at Fort Ord, a project championed by Congressman Farr.
In 2014 he was asked to speak at the opening of the Rockrose Garden affordable housing complex in what was formerly Fort Ord. The project received a Gold Level LEED certification (Catch me in the ribbon cutting photo hold the USGBC emblem).