For many years I had the privilege of working with and for PAMA. I worked with some highly dedicated persons who gave of their time and resources to help the organization succeed. Most of these efforts were selfless; some not. Regardless, PAMA was an organization committed to the promotion of professionalism among aviation technicians. Over the years as it tried to grow and reach critical mass it never quite made it. There were always financial problems, even after the successful national conventions of ’95 and ’96 that left over $435,000 in its coffers. Less than two years later money was an issue again. I don’t know why and could never find out. Ultimately the marriage with SAE became a necessity. PAMA did not have the resources to manage on its own. While this marriage offered the promise of additional resources, it was met with varying degrees of doubt by the membership, possibly because they never voted on it. As such, memberships did not grow as anticipated and programs that were supposed to add benefits for the membership never quite took off. Now SAE and PAMA have dissolved their marriage and PAMA is on its own once again. I have heard they intend to rehire the management company that they had prior to the SAE move and hold two large meetings a year. Frankly, I don’t think they can do it. Nothing is different from the almost bankrupt position they were in prior to SAE. I think it is time to move on!
There is now a relatively new organization, AMTSociety, started by this magazine a few years back. It was started by a publisher that felt the inertia of PAMA and determined there was a better way to go. He was able to convince management that it would be a good business and an appropriate way to benefit the magazine’s readers if it were to start a new organization, which we now know as AMTSociety. A charter was written, significant funds invested, a highly credible, active and professional board of directors formed, an executive director hired to manage operations and serve as spokesperson, a web page established, marketing efforts to obtain and retain memberships created, membership feedback organs fashioned, corporate sponsors signed on, and a schedule of member benefits started. Since then the Society is now part of a national aviation exposition attracting thousands of attendees and vendors, and its director participates in several active association and regulatory committees providing feedback and soliciting input from membership. Most importantly the Society supports and operates many regional IA renewal programs throughout the United States. Everyone that is part of the Society is working hard to make it a success.
I do not think there is the room or the resources for two aviation maintenance organizations at this time that purport to espouse the same causes and benefits. It will create confusion among potential members, dilute resources, send a mixed message to the community, and mystify vendors and OEMs that are looking to find ways to support and communicate with technicians, and result in a mixed, disharmonious message to those outside aviation maintenance.
I recommend all aviation technicians join AMTSociety and participate in its growth, especially at these unsure times where unemployment is growing, rules are changing almost daily, and efforts are being made to move more of the business outside this country. This is not a union. It is a professional organization dedicated to promoting the professional aviation technician.
I realize I will be accused of taking favorites as I am employed by the sponsoring organization; however, I believe my years on the PAMA board and the work others and I did for the organization qualify me to make this recommendation. If you do not agree lets hear from you; if you do lets hear from you also. If you have questions I will be glad to try to answer them. As some of my readers state … “Stand up and be heard.â€
