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IAAPA Committees

Volunteerism, cooperation, and advancement of common goals are cornerstones of any association. Countless, hardworking industry professionals dedicate their time and talents to making IAAPA a progressive, proactive, and strong organization. Committees represent our membership and support our mission, vision and strategic plan. Each committee and subcommittee creates an annual work plan with objectives they plan to achieve each year. Meet the current IAAPA Committee members and consider your role is shaping the future of the industry.

Getting Started

  1. Discover which committee's purpose best meets your area of expertise. Read the full list of committee descriptions for more information on your potential role.
  2. Members interested in volunteering must complete the committee volunteer application form. Please read our eligibility requirements before filling out the committee volunteer application. Members will be invited to join a committee based on areas of expertise and geographical location.
  3. Fill out the  Committee Volunteer Application Form.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility

To be eligible for a committee chair or member position, candidates must be members in good standing during their full term. 

Committee chairpersons are selected from the facility, manufacturer, or life member classifications as defined in the IAAPA bylaws. 

Committee chair and member individual qualifications include:

  • Proven performance in their field
  • Commitment and time to serve
  • Understanding of teamwork
  • Personal communication skills
  • Conversational English language skills
Appointment

All committees and task forces work under the guidelines of the strategic and business plans. The board chair, in consultation with the President/CEO and Immediate Past Chair, appoints all committee and task force chairs; except as otherwise provided in the bylaws, all committee chairpersons are appointed for terms of one year. A task force chair can be appointed for a term equal to less than one year but not greater than one year. A committee chair may serve up to three consecutive terms.

The committee chair selects committee members. Committee members, as committee chairs, are appointed for terms of one year. Committee members will serve no more than three consecutive terms.

Committee List and Descriptions

IAAPA has five types of committees: board, strategic, regional advisory, constituency and awards plus a series of subcommittees. The committees described below are open to volunteers. Those interested in joining a committee must fill out our volunteer application form.   

Board Committees

A board committee reports to the board of directors. Its purpose is to structure and manage the board’s work.

Audit - The committee’s duties and responsibilities include oversight of: (1) the accounting and financial reporting processes, systems and performance of internal accounting and financial controls; (2) the integrity of the financial statements; (3) the annual independent audit of the association’s financial statements, the engagement of the independent auditor and the annual evaluation of the independent auditor’s function, qualifications, services, performance and independence; (4) the performance of the association’s internal and independent audit functions; (5) the association’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to these bylaws, including the association’s disclosure controls and procedures; and (6) the evaluation of the association's risk issues.

Governance - Recruits new second vice chair, treasurer and board members and recommends the slate of candidates to the board of directors and membership for annual election; assesses the board’s current composition and identifies missing qualities and characteristics; employs recruitment plan and continuously cultivate new board prospects; orients new board members to ensure they understand and fulfill their responsibilities; reviews and recommends governance policies to the board of directors for action; reviews and makes recommendation to the board of directors when a code of conduct or intellectual property policy violation has been alleged. 

Investment - Monitors the performance of investments, reports to the board at least annually on the status and investment of funds, and offers advice and counsel to the board for the development of investment policy.

Strategic Planning – Chaired by the first vice chair, the committee develops the association’s strategic plan.  Monitors and reports to the board on the progress of the association’s adherence to the adopted objectives of the strategic plan. The committee also recommends to the board any modifications to the Plan. The strategic planning committee also writes the plan for approval by the board.

Global Strategic Committees 

These committees advise and implement strategic programs on a global scale. Their work is directed by the board through the strategic and business plans. 

Education - Recommends policy and provides strategic direction for all association education, professional development, training, and certification programs. The committee directs the work of the subcommittees on entertainment, facility operations, finance and information technology, food and beverage, games and merchandising, human resources, and marketing and communications. 

Government Relations - Recommends policy and strategic direction for the government relations program to the end that the interests of the association and the industry which it serves are communicated to the appropriate governmental agencies and that the membership is informed of the actions of the agencies which may affect the industry. 
 

Media and PR - Recommends policy and provides strategic direction for the association’s media relations and public relations programs on a global scale.

Membership - Recommends policy and strategic direction for membership recruitment, membership retention, and membership services on a global scale. The committee advises on the association’s overall menu of products and services.

Safety - Recommends policy and provides strategic direction on safety matters and represents the association on various standards writing and other safety related groups on a global scale.  

Security -  Works collaboratively in sharing security best practices, and current security information, training opportunities, and programs, across all entities IAAPA represents.

Regional Advisory Committees

A regional advisory committee recommends programs and services for a particular geographic region. Chairs of the regional advisory committee must be board members. 

Each regional advisory committee may have the following subcommittees: safety, membership, education, M and S, government relations, security, and media and PR.

Asia Pacific Advisory - Recommends direction and strategies on programs and services for Asian members including IAAPA Expo Asia. 

EMEA Advisory - Recommends direction and strategies on programs and services for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and IAAPA Expo Europe. 

Latin American and Caribbean Advisory - Recommends direction and strategies on programs and services for Latin American members. 

North American Advisory - Recommends direction and strategies on programs and services for North America members.

Regional Subcommittees

Each regional advisory committee may have the following subcommittees: safety, membership, education, manufacturer, and supplier (M&S), government relations, media and PR, and security. Formation of regional subcommittees is based on the region’s needs. Subcommittees will be composed of members from the corresponding geographic region.

  •  Education Subcommittee – Oversees all education offers including regional events, webinars, and expos. Committee members define sessions, presentations, and speakers. This subcommittee has been formed in Asia Pacific, EMEA, and Latin America, Caribbean.
  • Government Relations Subcommittee – Keeps members up-to-date on policies and relevant regulatory developments with the region. Subcommittee members contribute substantively to the policymaking process including mitigating risks for IAAPA members and issues relevant to their region. Subcommittee members work with the aim to build a leadership position in the safety and security sectors. This subcommittee has been formed in Asia Pacific, EMEA, Latin America, Caribbean, and North America.
  •  Manufacturer and Supplier Subcommittee – Develops programs and services to recruit manufacturing and supplier members. Committee members recommend strategies for expos in their region including venues for future show locations. This subcommittee has been formed in Asia Pacific, EMEA, and North America.
  •  Media and PR Subcommittee – Provides insight into the region and recommends strategic media and public relations strategies. This subcommittee has been formed in North America.
  •  Membership Subcommittee – Evaluates and recommends products, services, and initiatives to recruit and retain members for a particular region. Subcommittee members establish relationships with key organizations in the region to promote IAAPA’s membership. This subcommittee has been formed in Asia Pacific.
  •  Safety Subcommittee – Discusses safety standard updates, determine important positions on related questions, help prepare of IAAPA’s safety events, and improve the safety record for the attractions industry. This subcommittee has been formed in Asia Pacific, EMEA, Latin America, Caribbean, and North America.
  • Security Subcommittee – Subcommittee members discuss recent developments in security, determine how IAAPA can influence conditions for the industry, and help members learn from each other. This subcommittee has been formed in EMEA.
Constituency Committees

A constituency committee represents a specific membership segment on a global scale.  Its purpose is to support the strategic programs as directed by the strategic and business plans.

Amusement Parks and Attractions - Develops programs to provide services to and recruit amusement parks and attractions members. 

Family Entertainment Centers - Develops programs to provide services to and recruit family entertainment center members.  The committee also organizes the Brass Ring - Top FECs of the World awards program.

Manufacturers and Suppliers – Develops programs to provide services to and recruit manufacturing and supplier members. The committee oversees the work of the Space Allocation Subcommittee which works to assign exhibit space locations to exhibitors for IAAPA Attractions Expo.

Museums and Science Centers - Develops programs to provide services to and recruit museum and science center members.

Waterparks - Develops programs to provide services to and recruit waterparks members.  

Zoos and Aquariums - Develops programs to provide services to and recruit zoos and aquariums members.

Awards Committees

Evaluates and selects recipients for association awards on a global scale.  

Exhibitor - Selects recipients and makes the presentation of the Best New Product Awards and Best Exhibit Awards during IAAPA Expo.

Hall of Fame and Archives - Solicits and selects the annual IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees. The committee also oversees IAAPA’s oral history program and the association archives.

Service - Selects winners of a variety of service awards given out annually at IAAPA Expo.