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IAM 49th Annual Meeting in San Diego - Sept 12 - Sept 15, 2011

Enhancing Value, Advancing Opportunity


President's Message


To the Worldwide IAM Membership,

I would like to extend a warm greeting and my personal invitation to all IAM members and invited guests to attend the 48th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Movers, September 29 - October 2, 2010.  The site of this years conference and trade show in San Diego, California is once again at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, where we anticipate more than 1,700 attendees from over 170 countries. We held a memorable conference there in 2004 and again look forward to spending four days with returning meeting attendees, those attending for the first time, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and guests.

As IAM members have told us through surveys and direct feedback, there is great value in participating in the conference, and we fully recognize the importance of the annual meeting to your company and its success. The staff and I are excited about the expanded networking and business development opportunities we are offering our members this year. Thus, this years conference theme is:

Enhancing Value,  Expanding Opportunities

Also in response to member input, we have made slight changes in the program format and schedule. The intent is to provide attendees with more networking time and an increased ability to participate in the numerous business sessions and educational forums. I encourage everyone to review the Schedule of Events carefully and check back often so you may be aware of any program changes. This will help minimize conflicts with the face-to-face appointments you have scheduled during the conference.

Speaking of scheduling appointments, this year we are introducing a new, no-cost online appointment tool named IAM GlobalMatch, accessed via the annual meeting website. This online tool allows registered attendees to view business profiles of other attendees, to request appointment times, and to specify meeting points at the conference site. Participation is strictly voluntary, of course, and an attendee may choose to opt in or out of the appointment scheduling tool at any time.

For the second year running, we will hold a variety of education sessions in the Knowledge Lab (KL).  We've purposely trimmed back the number of sessions and expanded some time slots to provide each speaker ample time to cover his or her topic. I encourage everyone to view the KL schedule and make a note to attend programs of interest. 

Please note that the luncheon traditionally held on the third day of the conference has been replaced with a Breakfast Symposium & President's Address scheduled, for Thursday, September 30 at 8:30 am.  We have made this change in order to give you more time to network and spend time with the exhibitors.

We will once again open the Exhibit Hall on the annual meeting's first day, September 29, to allow more face time and networking with the exhibitors. That evening, we will repeat last year's success with a special Welcome Reception for new members, first-time attendees, and special guests. The Young Professionals group (YP-35) will again have their own reception immediately preceding the grand Opening Reception.  If you were there for the San Diego conference in 2004, you know you do not want to miss this gala opening event around the pool.

In our continuing effort to reduce the impact of IAM conference activities on the environment, the Association has partnered with Carbonfund.org, a global non-profit entity supporting third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and the threat of climate change. We are providing attendees with a means to calculate your carbon footprint and reduce it through sensible energy reduction efforts or offset it by donating your footprint's dollar value to a carbon-offset project. 

I look forward to seeing everyone in San Diego and wish you all safe travels.

Terry R. Head, President
International Association of Movers