IAMA Presidents Note: November 2009

This has already been a banner year for IAMA, and it looks like many more good things are just around the corner. Starting with approval for 501c3 non-profit status; an energized and enthusiastic board that began meeting by teleconference every two weeks to plan for AirVenture 2009 and continues monthly now; huge response from AirVenture; a re-designed logo, website, newsletter; more special pricing on parts, satellite tracking systems, and title services; and the list continues.

Where are we heading? IAMA is committed to providing increasingly valuable member services and benefits, and encouraging cooperation and mutual success of all our members. Further major developments of the website are underway, with plans to begin listing services being offered with ways to rate them by those who have used them; a screening function for initial inquiries, so people wanting to get involved with missionary aviation are pointed to the ministries most suited to their interests and skills; listing of resources available; listing of resources needed; contact information for key people in organizations; listing of important documents and reference materials; and the list goes on.

Along with the website, our newsletter is being published online and sent out primarily by email. This not only saves a lot of postage, but people get it faster, and continue to get it when they move or go on furlough.

IAMA continues to seek an Executive Director who can help develop the organization and bring together all the different people who want to support and promote missionary aviation. A job description has been drafted and agreed upon by the Board, and we are now seeking funding for the position.

Jerry Miel, the IAMA Vice President, has graciously agreed to serve as the official Office Manager for IAMA, so we have a new address. It is:

IAMA
P.O. Box 5612
Tucson, AZ 85703

520-908-7122

The very active IAMA Board is shouldering much of the work now, with Jerry taking the office responsibilities, Jack Sluiter covering the website and newsletter, Bill Jones taking care of trademarking our logos, Scott handling minutes and agendas, and  Vic, John A., Jack and me serving on the website committee. This arrangement is enabling us to get a lot done even when we are very busy with our primary ministries.

One other area of note is that we are encouraging individuals who are interested in supporting missionary aviation in any form to join IAMA as associate members. For a nominal fee of $50, they will get regular updates on what is happening in missionary aviation, and the dues they pay will go a long way toward increasing the benefits to all the IAMA members. Now is a good time to encourage someone to join IAMA!

Jon Egeler
IAMA President