Membership

Q: How many members does the Association have?
A: The Association has approximately 300 Advantage and AdvantagePlus and 1100 individual members.

Q: How do I join FMA or TPA?
A: Please access the online membership application or contact customer service at
+1-815-399-8775 or membership@fmanet.org.

Q: Can people from countries outside the U.S. join the Association?
A: Yes. Over 50 countries are represented by Association membership in FMA and TPA. Please access the online membership application or contact customer service at +1-815-399-8775 or membership@fmanet.org.

Q: Does the Association offer student or retired memberships?
A: Yes. Please contact Customer Service for details.

Q: How long will it take to process my new membership?
A: New members receive a welcome e-mail approximately one day after joining and a new member welcome kit will be mailed within five days of joining.

Q: How do I identify myself as a member?
A: New members receive a membership ID card in the new member welcome kit and members receive a new ID card each time they renew.

Q: Is a Membership Directory available?
A: Members receive a free listing in our online member directory Who's Who in Metal Forming & Fabricating.

Q: Do you rent the Association's membership mailing list?
A: Yes. FMA and TPA members may purchase mailing labels for a one-time use. Contact customer service via e-mail or +1-815-399-8775.

Q: Does the Association offer special savings programs for members?
A: View the affinity programs Web page.

Q: What networking opportunities are available to members?
A: The Association brings metal fabricators and manufacturers, and tube and pipe producers and fabricators together through technology councils, committees, educational programs, FABTECH International / AWS Welding Show, and the Who's Who membership directory.

Q: How do I change my contact information?
A: Use the online update form or e-mail gingerb@fmanet.org.

Q: How do I renew my membership?
A: Approximately 90 days prior to your expiration date you will automatically receive an invitation to renew your membership along with an invoice and form to update contact information. You may also renew online.

Q: Can members use the Association's corporate logo?
A: Members can retrive logo policies and camera-ready art work in Members Only.

Q: I recently joined the Association, how do I activate my free subscription?
A: A subscription form will be in your new member welcome kit. Simply complete it and return it to the Association. International members will receive the form by fax.

Q: As a member, how do I renew my one complementary subscription?
A: Members may renew their subscription at the same time they renew their membership.

Q: Does FMA/TPA have an awards program?
A: Yes. Nominations may be submitted for the FMA Fabricating Industry Award of Excellence and the TPA Tube & Pipe Industry Outstanding Contribution Award. Nominations are due each year in June.

Leadership

Q: How can I get involved in Association activities?
A: Members wanting leadership opportunities volunteer for a committee or Technology Council with future potential to serve on the Board of Directors . Members may also serve on the FMA Foundation board or volunteer to be a speaker at an educational event, write an article for the newsletter, or recruit a member. There are unlimited opportunities for active participation in the Association.

Q: What are Technology Councils?
A: Technology Councils help determine the educational direction of the Association within its specific technical area and assist in developing the content of technical conferences. FMA offers the following councils: Coil Processing, Toll Processing, Precision Sheet Metal, Roll Forming, and Stamping. TPA offers the following councils: Extrusion, Drawing & Tube Reducing, Tube & Pipe Fabricating, and Tube & Pipe Producing.

Q: What is the structure and purpose of the Association's Board of Directors?
A: Primary officers of the Association are the Chairman of the Board, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, and Immediate Past Chairman of the Board. Primary officers are elected annually by the Board except for the First Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Board, and Immediate Past Chairman of the Board, whose positions are filled by automatic succession. Members of the Board of Directors are elected by the Association's membership and serve staggered terms. The Board has supervision, control and direction of the affairs of the Association.

Q: Is there any way for me to know what is discussed at the Board of Directors meetings?
A: You can request copies of Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Directors from
Mary Bohnsack. Such meeting minutes are official records of the Association.