Firstword: Commentary by Emmett Barker and Dennis Slater, 2002 AEM Co-Presidents

AEM – Dedicated to Making a Difference

Emmett Barker (L) and Dennis Slater, 2002 AEM Co-Presidents.

It’s 2002 – a new year and a new industry association. These are challenging times for our industry, as members are faced with a slower economy and increased global competitiveness.

We have a great opportunity to provide more services and programs to a combined organization. Your Executive Committee and Board of Directors have charged AEM staff to move ahead quickly, and we are looking closely at all our services to make sure each activity provides real value-added benefits to the membership.

We’d like to give you a brief overview of the organization and operational guidelines of AEM that have been developed to help provide members with new and expanded programs aimed at advancing industry best business practices.

Statistics, Technical Emphasis

The core services of your industry association will continue to emphasize technical/ safety programs and statistics. There is no overlap between former EMI and CIMA product-oriented groups, and all technical activities and statistical programs will remain operational.

With our combined staffs and resources, we can provide better coverage of industry technical issues. And in the area of market data, combining the CIMA and EMI programs establishes a larger and stronger statistical base.

An AEM Statistics Council will serve as the primary communications link between the association and member statistical participants. In addition to the product-related statistics committees, there will also be a Statistics Council Executive Committee, which will include representation from former EMI and CIMA statistical groups.

An AEM Technical and Safety Council will be open to all members who manufacture equipment, components or parts. The Council will operate under the leadership of an executive committee of 18-20 member representatives, consisting of a cross-section of AEM product technical groups, with dual chairs.

Government Relations, Education and Other Initiatives

AEM will also focus on initiatives in customer support, government affairs, education and training, trade shows and international market development.

In government relations, we have instituted two government affairs committees, one to address broad-based federal issues such as taxes, trade, and government regulations and the other to focus on state legislative issues.

The educational groups for marketing communications, international operations and construction equipment electronics will continue to conduct professional-development seminars for the membership.

There will be a Safety Seminar Committee directed to assist with content development of an annual product safety seminar. For parts, service and training, a Customer Product Support Council special conference committee will direct the programming for an annual seminar.

Trade Shows

AEM will continue to expand upon its many services that provide international marketing support to the membership, as well as the operation of its trade shows – CONEXPO-CON/AGG, ICUEE, IFPE and World of Asphalt – plus exhibits pavilions at overseas expositions.

In the area of staffing and program administration, the Chicago office is responsible for agricultural activities. They will also oversee AEM's statistics, technical and safety areas.

The Milwaukee office is responsible for construction equipment activities. They will oversee international services, trade shows and marketing/public relations as well as provide staff support for education, accounting and websites.The two offices will co-manage government affairs and human resources.

Full Details on Website

This is just a brief outline of how your association will operate. More information on Association actions will be posted on the AEM website – www.aem.org - as they are available.

And, you can reach any staff member through one toll-free phone number – 866-236-0442 – if you have any questions.

Be assured that AEM will continue to provide trade association programs and services that help all members prosper in their businesses – to make a positive difference to their local communities, nation and the world.

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First Quarter 2002