Last week I received an e-mail sent by the IMAA that contained a survey that asked for my opinion on a number of questions on how the IMAA could save money. It is my guess that due to the decline in membership, the IMAA must now drastically cut its budget. This comes at no surprise to me. In 2002, while serving as the IMAA District One Director, I warned the Board that the membership would most likely continue to decline and would bottom out at its 1985 level of 4,500 members. The board had nothing nice to say about my prediction or me and continued to spend money as though the membership was rising rather than declining. It is now time to pay the piper!

The last question on the survey asked for an opinion on not allowing the membership to vote for the President or Vice President. Board members elected by the board would fill these positions. It was nice that the board asked for our opinion on this important matter, but sorry to say, the question was asked after the fact. I appears that the board voted on the following motion prior to the survey:

October 8, 2010

TO ALL DIRECTORS:

Pursuant to Article VII, Section 7 of the By-Laws of the Constitution of IMAA, I am polling the Board regarding the following motion.
Don E. Vineyard
Secretary/Treasurer IMAA

ACTUAL MOTION by Jeff Stremick, Director Dist. IX, second by Brian Wattie, Director Dist. 12:

"It is moved that the procedure for electing the IMAA President and IMAA Vice President be changed such that these two officers be elected from among the elected IMAA board members as follows:
a. Within 30 days of the announced election results the newly constituted board would elect from among their fellow board members the positions of President and Vice President;
b. These positions (President and Vice President) would retain all their authority and rights as Directors (e.g. they would still vote on motions as Directors of their respective districts but not as President or Vice President);
c. These would be ‘voluntary’ positions, but they would be allowed such expenses and travel, only as authorized by the board and budget for those positions;
d. This new election procedure would take effect with the 2011 IMAA elections; and,
e. A committee of Jeff Stremick, Brian Wattie and Pete Melin, will review and amend the necessary articles and sections of the IMAA By Laws to put this new process into effect.”
REASON FOR THE MOTION:
The nomination committee came up with the basic idea of this change as a step forward in our organization. Since then it has been discussed with most, if not all, of the current directors.
This change is in tune with corporate practice in most companies and in other organizations. It will provide for a more compact management team to respond to the very real challenges facing the IMAA in the next few years. Some directors have expressed the view that it will also provide more accountability, and a more active, involved Board of Directors. There will also be some collateral cost savings in the operation of IMAA.

NOTE:
a. This motion is to be considered for action no later than 29 Oct. 2010.
b. This motion will change IMAA By Laws and therefore requires a 2/3rd majority vote to pass.
c. There is no change to the IMAA Constitution.

This motion was passed by the Board on a vote of 12 to 0 prior to the survey being sent. I strongly disagree with this action by the Board. I believe that this motion violates the IMAA Constitution which clearly calls for and elected President and Vice President. The Constitution clearly spells out how changes to it are to be made.

I have been told that this action was made in and attempt to save money. Yes, this would save the cost of transporting two people to two board meetings. This is two large of a price to pay for what the membership will loose. I can think of numerous other ways for the IMAA to save money.

It is my opinion, that if the IMAA is to survive, the budget must be such that it can be sustained by dues, at their current level, from 4800 members. This will require going back to how things were done in the past. People volunteered. I propose that all Officers and Directors budgets be cut to payment of office supplies only and that all travel and per diem payments be eliminated. The fee for the Treasurer be cut from the proposed $5000.00/yr to $500.00/yr with a quarterly review by an outside accountant.

The job of Secretary is now mostly computerized and does not require hours of manual entry as it has been in the past. This position should pay $500/yr also.

Today, I informed Bill Hamby, IMAA President that I would offer my services as IMAA Secretary, free of charge, for two years provided all other Officers and Directors agreed not to take any money for travel and per diem.

Call your Director and tell him that you want to be able to vote for the President and V. President. Tell him that you want the above motion resinded. You will find a copy of the IMAA Constitution on the IMAA Website.
Frank V. Ponteri