The 2010 Midwest Automotive  Media Association Business meeting was held on Wednesday, January 6 at a new venue, Sergio’s Restaurant in Itasca, Ill. About 50 members took part in the luncheon to review  2009, vote on  bylaw amendments and welcome two new board members.

In 2010, three of the five MAMA board positions needed to be filled. Each position is a two-year term. Wendy Orthman from Chrysler, secretary for the past two years,  put her name into nomination and was voted into the same position for two more years. The vice president/membership position previously held by Jennifer Geiger of Consumer Guide has been filled by Mike Hanley of Cars.com. The treasurer position kept warm by Dave Boe this past year is now headed by Don Sikora of Consumer Guide. These three join MAMA President Jim Jackson and Vice-President/Programs Tom Appel to round out the 2010 Board.

In 2011, the President and Vice-President/Programs positions will be open for nominations.

Although 2009 saw many unprecedented maneuvers  in the automotive world, MAMA remained relevant and strong. Participation in monthly meetings was up substantially. Overall membership checks in around 220, made up of those who cover the auto sector through print and electronic means and folks on the corporate and media relation end working with the scribes.

The beginning of 2009 saw $2,389.84 in the MAMA checking account and after a year of up and down movement, ended up at $1,045.

The trend-setting MAMA Spring Rally held annually at the world renowned Road America facility in central Wisconsin cost  $73,869. Generous sponsorship dollars from those within the community along with a new $25 participation fee for journalists helped generate $78,325. Because of better bottom line scrutiny by the rally committee, costs of this event were reduced by more than 20 percent compared with the year prior.

The annual MAMA fall rally, moved to Hoffman Estates in 2009, was a $10,302 expense. Sponsorships helped defray $5,600 for a cost to MAMA of $4,702.

Revenues generated by the annual MAMA print directory added up to $6,725, down about $5,000 from the year prior because of tougher economic times. Other major expenses in 2009 related to income tax preparation (even though MAMA is non-profit, more than $25,000 annually is generated through sponsorship donations, necessitating the filing) and web site maintenance. A drive for MAMA web advertising in 2010 will help lessen the expense of web site maintenance.