Back to Facility Manager
Contents

Back to Home

My presidential theme this year is “Embrace the Connection” and I am very pleased that the hundreds of volunteers that make up this association have made the commitment and done just that. From your Board of Directors to the IAAM staff, from the numerous committees to the task forces, all have adopted the motto to reach out and unite with our industry partners. They have all been working diligently to fulfill their individual missions and charges that are mapped out in the IAAM strategic plan.

In an effort to increase the level of IAAM commitment to achieve excellence we have proactively and aggressively stepped up our role as the “acknowledged leader” to address a number of prominent industry issues. The External Affairs Committee, chaired by Frank Roach, has been extremely busy and proactive thus far, having presented three position statements to the Executive Committee for consideration. As a result, the Executive Committee initiated letters of support to the Chairman of the U.S. Congress Ways & Means Committee relative to business meals and spousal travel deductions, to the Federal Aviation Administration for FDC1/0298 regarding flight restrictions over major events, and to the U.S. Congress for financial support of the airline industry.

In addition, the Executive Committee approved the hiring of a public relations consultant firm, Fleishman-Hillard, to assist with the preparation, coordination and marketing of a press conference to cover the recent International Crowd Management Conference (ICMC) and the Safety and Security Task Force (SSTF) meeting in San Diego. Our goal was to inform the public that safety and security at our member public assembly facilities has been and always will be of paramount importance. As a result of the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, IAAM is taking a proactive approach through the ICMC and the SSTF to determine how we might enhance our safety, security and crisis management measures and processes.

In my 30 years of involvement in IAAM I do not recall us having taken as many aggressive actions within such a short time span to enhance IAAM’s image within and outside of our industry. This year’s ICMC set a new attendance record and I would like to thank ICMC Chair Larry Perkins, CPP, the members of the ICMC Committee, and staff, for the outstanding job they did with the program. The financial assistance from our Foundation undoubtedly contributed to the success of the ICMC. In one way or another we have all benefited from the support of the Foundation and I trust you will continue to support their fundraising efforts.

If you haven’t received your 2002 Guide to Members and Services it should be arriving soon. The Guide is one of our best resources. It provides member contact details, information about our many programs, committees and task forces as well as our history and rules of governance. Our advertisers and allied members continue to be extremely charitable by giving time and money to help us be better professionals as well as helping to make products such as the Guide possible. I recognize many of us are limited by various procurement processes as far as purchasing products and services, but trust that when the opportunity is there you will “Embrace the Connection” and support our allied members and advertisers.

As a reminder, you still have until February 15 to register for the Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) program. Individua ls whose applications are accepted become candidates for the CFE designation. Also, it’s not too late to register for or sponsor the upcoming Performing Arts Facility Administrators Seminar (PAFAS) slated for February 15-18, 2002, in New York City. The Performing Arts Committee chaired by Rodney Smith has put together an outstanding program that you won’t want to miss.

Speaking of exciting programs, Bob Mayer, chair of the Leadership Institute Task Force (LITF), reports that all plans have been finalized for IAAM’s first Leadership Institute (LI) to be held in San Diego on May 16 – 19, 2002. Specific topics will include “Leadership: An Inside Job,” “Effective Leadership Style,” “Decision Making,” “Myers-Briggs Leadership Style Testing,” and “Empowerment” to name only a few. The first Oglebay Alumni Association reunion will be held in conjunction with the LI.

The district meetings are just around the corner and I look forward to seeing you there, as well as at the Senior Executive Symposium (SES) June 28 – July 1, 2002, at Cornell University. The SES offers three distinct program years so if you are a previous attendee and/or have never attended I strongly encourage you to make an effort to go. The SES has been one of the most innovative and creative-thinking educational programs I personally have had the pleasure of attending.

I am sure you will agree that we have many exciting and beneficial programs in the offing. I hope you will “Embrace the Connection” within IAAM as our member volunteers, staff and sponsors are doing by participating in our educational and professional development programs.

© 2002 International Association of Assembly Managers
635 Fritz Dr.  Coppell, TX 75019 USA Phone: 972/906-7441 Fax: 972/906-7418