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It’s amazing that a year has come and gone. It only seems like yesterday
that I accepted the presidential gavel. Stepping into the legacy left by
those who have served as your president was and is the greatest challenge
and most memorable undertaking of my career. I can only hope that as I leave
office, I leave it just a little better than I found it.
 During
my inauguration, I announced my theme of “Innovations Driving the Future,”
with my core emphasis being to propel IAAM forward into the future and
provide professional and person growth for all — to expand IAAM’s role on
the world stage as the acknowledged leader, continue our humanitarian
efforts, increase membership, build stronger committees and enhance our
fundraising endeavors.
Thus, I set an aggressive agenda for the year, and many of the innovations
we embarked upon breached uncharted waters —such as our political convoy who
met with the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom to Denmark; our alliance
with the American Red Cross, Live Nation and House of Blues; our
publications initiative with Lulu Inc.; our online CoreTracks; and branding
IAAM like no time in our history through technology and our public relations
campaign.
Through the efforts and fortitude of so many volunteer leaders and staff, we
achieved a great deal this year. I can’t begin to thank all of those who
gave of themselves for the betterment of this great association. I would
like to delineate just a few of those accomplishments for your review.
Life Safety Council
Business development and alliances. Under the auspices of
the Life Safety Council, led by Frank Poe, we continue to expand our life
safety educational programming, building stronger relationships with the
NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, the Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross
and FEMA.
New world headquarters’ staff. As our work in the world of life
safety continues to expand, and given the dire need for media and public
relations, the Board of Directors approved three new positions to be added
to the World Headquarters staff during our midwinter Board meeting. These
new positions will allow dedicated staff to handle the growing demands for
services and information. The Life Safety Council established an Academy
Board of Trustees (ABOT) and has named Mark Camillo as the chair of the ABOT.
Mark brings a wealth of experience and credentials to IAAM. He served as the
deputy director for the Secret Service, assigned to theWhite House. He also
served as the lead agent for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
American Red Cross agreement. In February 2007, we entered into an
agreement with the American Red Cross (ARC). The agreement provides that
IAAM establish a Strike Team that can be mobilized on a moment’s notice to
areas affected by a disaster to help establish, operate and manage
mega-shelters. The agreement also calls for training ARC volunteers and
establishing a national database tracking system.
Technology. The Technology Committee has created IAAM logos for you
to download from the IAAM Web site and use on your stationery, Web sites and
business cards to help brand IAAM and to symbolize your professionalism and
dedication to education and personal growth. The committee has established
the IAAM eNetwork where you can log on and pose questions or join
discussions with others in the association.
Board of Education Council
The BOE Council, led by John Siehl, CFE, continues to define innovative
educational programming for tomorrow’s educational needs, such as CoreTracks,
now being offered online.
Publications alliance. We have entered into an agreement with Lulu
Inc., a print-on-demand publishing company. This agreement eliminates the
need for IAAM to provide a great deal of advance funding, order a set amount
of intellectual properties, provide invoices, store products, devote
personnel to fill orders or distribute royalties. Through the Lulu
technology, we can concentrate on product development, cultivating authors
and promoting our resources.
IAAM Press and Publications and Membership Committees. I’m thrilled
to announce that the first IAAM cookbook, A Tasteful Melody, has more than
300 recipes and will be available by the Annual Conference, thanks to the
dedication of our IPPC and Membership Committees, led by Robert Stewart, CFE,
Beth Wade, CFE and Marco Perez. Remember that proceeds from the cookbook
will benefit the IAAM Foundation. We currently have six publications in
print under our agreement with Lulu Inc. Learn more about how you can
publish during the trade show.
Industry Affairs Council
International. Our International Steering Committee, led by Bob
Mayer, CFE, along with Ambassadors Cliff Wallace, CFE, Mike Kelly, CFE,
Jimmy Earl, CFE, Dan Saunders, CFE, Lionel Dubay, Mich Sauers, David Ross,
CFE, Terry Selzer, Rod Pilbeam and Carl Martin, have done an outstanding job
on the international front this year. I truly believe that our international
efforts are taking traction.
Thus, a major part of my focus this year has been developing global
relationships. To that end, I have changed the name of the Presidential
Reception to the International Presidential Reception. We added an
International Pavilion to the trade show where conference participants can
interact and discuss global issues with our international delegates invited
to attend from around the world.
IAAM Europe. IAAM Europe is taking shape, led by our district vice
president, Mr. Peter Gruber. Our 2nd annual meeting in Amsterdam, hosted by
Henk Markerink, Amsterdam ArenA, was an overwhelming success. It saw growth
in attendance and provided a great forum for discussion and protocols. The
Board also added three new members.
US Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Denmark. Our meeting in
Copenhagen with the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. James Cain, was without a doubt
revolutionary. The ambassador welcomed us to the Embassy Residence with a
private reception and dinner. We approached the ambassador with three
primary objectives: to have the ambassador host a European Alternative
Sports Summit; to seek an endorsement by the ambassador of IAAM European
Academy of Venue Management; and to secure letters of introduction to those
U.S. ambassadors in countries that I have appointed IAAM ambassadors to
further relationships. I’m elated to report that Ambassador Cain graciously
agreed to all three of our objectives.
Stadium Managers Association. It is also with pleasure that I
announce the reestablishment of the IAAM/SMA Joint Task Force. Bill Squires,
president of the Stadium Managers Association, and I agree that our two
associations have long shared many commonalities and many of our members
crossover. Thus, the Joint Task Force will work toward defining areas that
are mutually beneficial to both associations.
IAAM Leadership and Member Ring Program. Often, our members don’t get
the opportunity to share in the victory of their sports team or participate
in awards ceremonies of their performing arts or convention centers. Thus,
I’m delighted to announce that we will unveil an IAAM Leadership and
Membership Ring, Pendant and Cufflink Program very soon.
Chapter Meetings and Sponsorship. Our Chapter Meetings Sponsorship
agreement with Live Nation and House of Blues has been an immense success.
We launched our first official Chapter Meeting, sponsored by LN/HOB, in New
Orleans. How fitting it was to kickoff the meeting in this great city. Since
then, LN/HOB has hosted Chapter Meetings in various cities across the
country. I’m pleased to note that others continue to host meetings in cities
outside this agreement.
Diversity. As our world continues to expand and our cultures continue
to intersect, our duties and responsibilities as leaders must rise to the
occasion and challenges to deal with our changing world and society.
Moreover, we must also prepare our future leaders. I am delighted to
announce the work of our Diversity Committee, led by Shura Lindgren, CFE,
which has contributed articles to Spectrum, a new section in Facility
Manager that regularly features discussions on culture and diversity in the
workplace.
Final Words
Before I ride off into the sunset, I sincerely hope that my contributions
have been a benefit to you. I trust that my initiatives are truly
“Innovations that Drive the Future” of IAAM, just as all the leaders before
me have done. I hope that my brick has added to fundamental principles of
IAAM, which build walls that stand the test of time. With warm, personal
regards, vale dicere.
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Larry
Perkins, CFE, CPP, CMP
IAAM President
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