Clark Gordon, chairman of PAMA, discusses PAMA’s decision to separate from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) with AMT.
PAMA has been an affiliate organization within SAE for the past 3 1/2 years. PAMA was scheduled to make a decision to fully integrate into SAE by 2011. “With the current economic environment and the changes within the automotive industry, SAE asked PAMA to consider that decision sooner,” Gordon says. According to Gordon, the full integration of PAMA into SAE would have resulted in the dispersion of PAMA management with no central nucleus from which PAMA could manage its operations. The PAMA board of directors made the decision to separate from SAE, and the association plans to hire an association management firm to meet the needs of its members and chapters. The PAMA board would like to continue having its headquarters based in the Washington, D.C., area.
Gordon states that the board, bylaws, focus on professional development, and chapter structure will remain the same. Plans are to continue to be a lobbying presence in Washington. The PAMA/SAE Institute Professional Certification program is still under review.
PAMA is divided into six regions, with a regional director for each. Regional directors oversee chapters within their region and represent regional and chapter interests to the PAMA board of directors.
The board includes Clark Gordon, chairman; Dale Forton, vice chair; Richard Wellman, secretary; Carl Violette, treasurer, Mark Wishart, director; and John Casker, president. Regional directors include: Jeff Gruber, Great Lakes region; Roger Sickler, Southwest region, and Cheryl Janke, Western Pacific region.
According to Gordon, there are currently 1,500 PAMA members; and membership and benefits will continue until renewal date, at which time renewals will be offered.
For more information visit www.pama.org or call Clark Gordon, (973) 970-4590.The original release from PAMA:
PAMA Ends SAE Affiliation to Focus On Aviation Maintenance Services
Separation from the Society of Automotive Engineers leads to more autonomy and a renewed emphasis on member, chapter and corporate programs
Warrendale, PA (June 15, 2009) — PAMA, the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, has announced it is ending its affiliation with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and will focus exclusively on programs and support for aviation maintenance managers, aviation mechanics and the aviation maintenance industry.
PAMA plans to hire an association management firm to handle day-to-day operations and its recent initiatives to enhance member services, increase corporate and individual membership, and expand its technical leadership. PAMA will continue to provide a lobbying presence in Washington, DC, to ensure that aviation maintenance issues are properly represented in government circles.
“While our affiliation with SAE was well founded at the time, it’s clear that recent developments in the automotive industry created a challenge for SAE to continue providing the support we needed to achieve PAMA’s goals,” said Clark Gordon, chairman of PAMA’s board of directors. “Integrating PAMA further with SAE would have diminished the focus on our programs and partnerships, especially our professional development track for aviation maintenance managers,” he added.
“The PAMA board is conducting a search for a new association management firm and we’ll announce our selection within the next few weeks,” said John Casker, PAMA’s president. “PAMA is well-funded and we’re prepared to continue in our role as the voice of aviation maintenance,” Casker concluded.
