AMSA Announces Opening of New Headquarters
The American Meat Science Association is pleased to announce the opening of a new headquarters to help accommodate our growing membership needs. In June 2012, AMSA will open shared office space in Huntington Towers in Champaign, Illinois.
This is an exciting time for our association as growing membership, programs, and initiatives have increased our need for adequate staffing and partners to ensure that we continue to offer high quality and innovative services to our membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the decision to make this move?
How are decisions like this made?
The AMSA bylaws charge the Board of Directors with decisions regarding the placement of the AMSA headquarters. Since the association became autonomous in 1996, two moves have been made on direction of the board. The AMSA board has consistently worked closely with AMSA staff to evaluate opportunities for improving the operations of the association.
Are there benefits to being a part of a FASS that we will be missing out of?
As an affiliate member of FASS, AMSA was only a client of the federation’s association management services. No direct member benefits were derived from the relationship and all of AMSA’s collaboration with FASS-based societies was directly with each society and not through the FASS relationship. There is no intention to sever existing or curtail future collaboration with Poultry Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science or the American Dairy Science Association.
How will AMSA programs and services be affected?
What is the impact to RMC and our other major programs?
We are all looking forward to the RMC in Fargo this June. Planning and preparation continues to move forward on schedule for this and future conferences. Other programs like meat judging, our student development programs, PORK 101 and publishing will be not be negatively affected by the move.
Where is AMSA going to be located?
The headquarters office will remain in Champaign, Illinois. AMSA will sublease space in the Huntington Tower located in downtown Champaign less than a mile from our current office site.
Will these changes be a distraction to the organization? Will we have to slow our efforts on our growth initiatives?
Though the physical move of offices will be a temporary distraction for staff, the membership will likely notice little or no effects of the move in the short term. Once the transition is completed, AMSA leadership and staff will be freed to focus even more strongly on the vision and mission of the organization. No current programs or projects will be significantly delayed or disrupted as a result of this move. By the time we all get to RMC in Fargo, the transition will be complete and we will be able to accelerate forward progress.
AMSA has talked about becoming more of a global organization. Will this change impact our ability to do so?
No, in fact we are now better able to contract specific service partners that are more suited for handling international programs in the critical areas of IT infrastructure and meeting facilitation.
Will AMSA lose any credibility as a stand-alone entity and our ability to address issues related to meat science?
No. Our scientific credibility is squarely dependent on the strength and diversity of our members. Our strong relationships with Elsevier (publisher of Meat Science), ICoMST and key industry and academic partners will also continue.
What is the financial impact of this decision to the organization?
Are we going to dramatically have to increase our staffing level?
AMSA recently hired Nancy Hayes as a full time member services and event coordinator. She joins the existing staff team of Thomas Powell, Deidrea Mabry and Jimmy Wise. The association is well-equipped with over 27 years of collective staff experience directly with AMSA and over 90 years of collective association, program management and academia experience.
What does this move do to the long-term financial stability of AMSA?
The majority of operational functions can be more economically and effectively accomplished by working with other service providers. For example, AMSA accounting will be moved to a full-service accounting firm. Its web site will be hosted by an association technology firm. Our database systems are already hosted by one of the leading companies in association management systems. The combined cost of all new services and staffing is less than what the association currently pays for current management services.
What is our new relationship to the American Society of Animal Science?
The ASAS board invited AMSA to share office space. ASAS is moving its staff to a new facility to provide adequate space and address opportunities similar to those that AMSA is presented with. The AMSA board has agreed to sublease space from ASAS. When it makes sense to do so, ASAS and AMSA will share costs of services like copiers, internet connection and the like.