Economic Factors, Membership Growth Key Deciding Factors

The Board of Directors of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) voted recently to lower individual membership dues to $49 annually. Growing PAMA’s membership is the top priority of PAMA’s Board and the cost of dues had become a disproportionately large deciding factor for prospective and renewing members in these difficult financial times.

“This landmark vote was driven by PAMA’s Regional Directors and the leadership of PAMA’s nationwide Chapter network,” said PAMA president Brian Finnegan (below, right). “It is an essential step into a prosperous future.”

Though dues costs are not usually given as the reason people join an association, if dues are viewed as too high for the economic environment, association growth can stall. This problem became evident and increasingly difficult for PAMA as aviation’s economic momentum slowed over the past several years.

“This, in concert with our struggling national economy, is all part of our recovery from the 9/11 terrorist attacks in our country,” noted Mr. Finnegan

Observing that the first rule of association power is that “Strength is in Members,” Mr. Finnegan praised the Board’s vote as a symbol of their commitment to strengthening PAMA’s membership numbers. In recognizing the many factors that coalesce to drive membership growth—personal and association identity, an opportunity for personal growth, professional networking and recognition—PAMA’s Board is working around the clock to develop more and increasingly valuable benefits for its members. Information via print and electronic media has increased many times over in the last several years and PAMA’s perspective is the preferred source for many in the media seeking to portray the myriad facets of the aviation maintenance industry. Chapter influence in the day to day operations of the association has never been higher. Career services, professional recognition, training and educational opportunities and commercial discounts all provide value to PAMA members.

As PAMA enters its annual renewal period, the new lower dues will provide the perfect punctuation for a successful membership drive. In addition, PAMA will begin offering a discounted automatic renewal option for those that wish to keep their membership active into the future. Mr. Finnegan noted the lower dues level was driven by the membership. Of primary concern to the Board of Directors was how the Chapters would feel about the loss of the $15 per member Chapter rebate that was integral with the old $70 annual dues. But in numerous discussions, the Chapter leaders voted overwhelmingly to relinquish their rebates in favor of lower National dues. The PAMA Board sweetened the incentive with an additional $6 reduction and the new dues structure was born.

FMI: www.pama.org