David,
Your remarks sum up the most of the problems with the IMAA today. The unfortunate fact is that the IMAA does not have the leadership or desire to fix the problems. Last fall, the IMAA board along with the president decided that they could not have a meeting in January of 2008 as required by the bi-laws because they could not come up with a meaningful agenda. Their answer was to change the by-laws and hold the meeting in June at the Rally in Canada (District 12) Given the fact that the membership numbers were falling, HF advertising revenue was down, and the budget was busted, how could they not come up with and agenda?

Recently, the District 5 Director, David Laver, placed a motion before the board to move the board meeting up and hold it at Toledo during the show. This would allow some action to be taken prior to the flying season as well as saving money on travel expenses. David's motion was seconded by Ron Shonk. The motion was sent out to the board and after a few days, Mr. Shonk withdrew his second due to pressure from some board members. It is also my understanding that David received some very nasty calls from a few directors. The motion was withdrawn. This is your IMAA board in action! Go after the director who is trying to do his job so you don't look bad.

At the first board meeting in January of 2000, I proposed that a committee be established to come up with a new Mission Statement and a plan to stop the decline in membership. Three directors were appointed to this committee and were asked to report back to the board with their recomendations at the summer 00 board meeting. To date, this committee has produced nothing and the same three directors are still on the board.

In the past eight years, the only answer that the IMAA President and Board of Directors has come up with to correct the problems was to raise the dues.

I believe that if the IMAA is going to survive, some of the folks who have said they LOVE the IMAA have got to step up to the plate and clean house!