EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. – The entire nine-member board of directors of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA) met August 22, 2013 at Thunderbird Aviation at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie to elect officers and set goals for the remainder of 2013 and 2014.
Directors present included Greg Reigel, Doug Evink, Nancy Grazzini-Olson, Al Lange, Michael Lawrence, Alison Wynne, Steven Bruss, Dave Weiman and Barb Wiley. Director terms of office are as follows:
Al Lange……………………………………………………………….2011 – 2014
Michael Lawrence of Key Air……………………………….2011 – 2014
Doug Evink of Tanis Aircraft Products ……………….2011 – 2015
Barb Wiley of Wiley Enterprises………………………….2012 – 2015
Alison Wynne of Hays Companies……………………….2012 – 2015
Steve Bruss of Wings Insurance …………………………2012 – 2016
Nancy Grazzini-Olson of Thunderbird Aviation
& Academy College ……………………………………………..2013 – 2014
Dave Weiman of Midwest Flyer Magazine………….2013 – 2016
Greg Reigel of Reigel Law Firm……………………………2013 – 2016
Officers elected include Greg Reigel, president; Alison Wynne, vice president; Dave Weiman, secretary; and Nancy Grazzini-Olson, treasurer.
President Reigel listed five (5) main objectives for the organization, which were confirmed by the board:
1) Communications, including but not limited to the MATA website and email correspondence. Work is being initiated to update the website and develop a Facebook page.
2) Charitable Giving (i.e. grants and scholarships).
3) Annual Conference. A one-day conference is in the works for Friday, March 21, 2014 in Bloomington, Minn. Details to follow.
4) Advocacy (Government Affairs, Lobbying). Greater emphasis will be placed on the “2014 Minnesota Aviation Day At The Capitol.”
5) Membership Benefits. A Workman’s Compensation Insurance Program and Legal Services Plan are being explored by the newly created “Membership Benefits Committee.”
Bruss will chair the Communications Committee; Reigel and Grazinni-Olson will co-chair the Advocacy Committee; Wiley will chair the Charitable Giving Committee; Lawrence and Evink will co-chair the Membership Benefits Committee; and Grazzini-Olson will chair the Annual Conference Committee.
In other business, it was decided to hold board meetings every other month, and to utilize teleconferencing services for any board member who is unable to physically attend meetings. All meetings are to be held at Thunderbird Aviation at Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, until further notice from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The board is planning to hold separate meetings with the new director of aeronautics, Cassandra Isackson, at the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics, and representatives of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Minnesota Business Aviation Association (MBAA), and Minnesota Council of Airports (MCOA), as deemed appropriate.
Upcoming board meetings are scheduled for the following dates: October 22, 2013, December 17, 2013, February 18, 2014, April 22, 2014, June 24, 2014, and August 19, 2014.
President Reigel summed up the meeting by saying, “If we accomplish these goals, the benefits of membership will be obvious, but it will take the efforts of each and every board member to be successful.”
Questions and concerns can be addressed to the president at 952-238-1060 or via email at greigel@aerolegalservices.com.
