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Officer Descriptions

The District Director is the District's liaison with PMA's national Board of Directors. As such, the District Director has a dual obligation: to effectively represent the concerns of the District to the Board, and to govern the Association as an effective member of the Board.

Typically, the District Director is the President or CEO of a Manufacturing Member company in the District. Only Manufacturing Members are permitted to serve as District Directors under PMA's By-laws. Often, the District Director is a past Chair of the District. District Directors serve a two-year term beginning and ending with PMA's Annual Meeting in the fall of odd-numbered years (i.e.: Fall, 1999 - Fall, 2001.) Duties include:

• Governing the Association, providing direction and prioritizing PMA's activities for the benefit of the membership and the industry. This means attendance at Board meetings, contributing relevant facts and opinions to discussion of Board matters, and participating on the Board's District Director Committee. Most of all, it requires you to think and act in the best interests of PMA members.
• Communicating the District's needs and concerns to the Board, as well as keeping District members updated on Board actions. This responsibility is especially important, as it helps keep the Board and the membership "in sync" on key priorities.
• Attendance at Board meetings. The only way to serve effectively as a District Director is to participate in Board meetings and activities. The Board typically meets three times per year.

Recommended by the District Director Committee, February 20, 1995

Note: This list of duties and responsibilities is a supplement to "Guidelines for PMA Directors", which summarizes primary responsibilities of PMA’s Board of Directors. For more information, please contact PMA Headquarters.

District Directors should attend at least half of the local District meetings.

The District Director should be involved in District Meetings by giving a brief report (5 minutes) on Association-wide activities, especially after a Board, Annual or other major Association event, such as METALFORM.

District Directors should network with members of the local District Board and be active as follows:

1. Promote formation of a local district boards. This local board should be an important part of developing future leaders and authorizing expenditure of District funds;
2. Participate in regular meetings of local Boards or Officers to:

• Obtain feedback on District programs;
• Develop candidates for open officer positions and to cultivate future leaders;
• Seek out new PMA members from the District; and
• Meet with PMA officers or staff when visiting in District;

3. Participate with the local Board in brainstorming sessions preparing program topics for the District Year.
4. Write letters of appreciation (using your company stationary) to members of the local Board thanking them for their help during the year (July/August).
5. Participate in the process of contacting new and resigned members each month by phone. (Could be delegated to District membership chairman.)
6. Participate in prospecting for leads of new members; sending prospect names to PMA Headquarters.
7. Accept the role of "mentor" for new District leaders to support the growth and stability of your PMA District.
8. Help PMA Headquarters to assure adequate financial controls supporting PMA’s requirements for District submission of financial information for review by the Association’s audit firm.
9. Participate with local Board members in developing a vision and strategic direction to support future growth for your District (two to four year vision).
10. Provide support for Suppliers’ Night, where appropriate.
11. Help PMA Headquarters organize "Senior Manager Roundtables" in your District, at least annually.
12. Support mailing of two "District Director" letters (August & January), coordinated by PMA District staff, on Company letterhead.
13. Follow-up with members who respond to the "January" Director letter, expressing interest in getting involved with District leadership.
14. Encourage participation of the District Officers in PMA’s annual Leadership Conference.