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Welcome to AEMA

We are a non-profit organization formed in 1990 to meet the needs of the accessibility equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users. In 2005 the association modified its vision and its bylaws in order to create an .all industry members association.. Any person, firm or corporation with an interest in the private residence elevator and accessibility equipment industry may join the association and become a full voting member with equal input into the activities of the association.

The following excerpt is direct from the bylaws of the association: Article II - Scope and Definition a. Scope AEMA is an association of persons and entities with an interest in the .Private Residence Elevator and Accessibility Equipment. industry. b. Definition The term "Private Residence Elevator and Accessibility Equipment. industry includes the design, manufacture , installation , servicing and maintenance of vertical, inclined and horizontal conveying systems which are used primarily to provide access and/or egress for persons in public and private residence environments, commonly known as platform lifts, stair-lifts, wheelchair lifts, access elevators, private residence elevators, home elevators, stairway chairlifts, limited use/limited application elevators, LULA elevators and similar products. (See Article V-Section 1 for membership qualifications).

Message From

Mark Bosley, 2011 AEMA President

2011 is here and AEMA is ready. As the President of the Association for 2011, I would like to welcome our new members. AEMA is an Association for its members, dedicated to ensuring that all Accessibility and Residential products are safe, reliable and that as members we take into consideration the end user as our partner, as well as our customers.

The current slate of officers are listed within this website, so please feel free to contact any of these individuals for answers to any questions concerning this Association, but more importantly we need your input on what you or your company is looking for from the Association. The current Board is revitalized with new members ready to address changing AEMA's effectiveness. We constantly need your guidance on the future direction to steer this Association. I feel we have many issues that we as an industry should rightly be more than a little concerned about. Self-installation is an example of that, for instance.

The value of AEMA will always be as the national voice for our accessibility industry. It has become recognized through the strength of its members and their continued involvement in the direction of the industry. Whether it’s code writing or safety advocacy, AEMA members are leading the way and must continue to do so. A strong voice must be there when needed or when our industry is challenged.

Membership will continue to be a priority in 2011. AEMA is easily affordable so our membership base should grow, making AEMA an even stronger voice. Our representation on code committees remains strong. Kevin Brinkman, TK Access, remains busy representing AEMA to help ensure that the codes stay representative to all, including the Accessibility Industry.

I believe in the wisdom and necessity that AEMA stay strong, so I appreciate the opportunity to serve as the President of this Association and am looking forward to serving our Industry. We will be strongest with your input, so please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and concerns.

Best regards, Mark Bosley

News

November, 2010: Elections were held in October for the coming year. Congratulations to the new AEMA directors that will serve a two year term, beginning in January 2011 and running through December 2012:

Deb Leary

Access Lifts & Ramps

Bill Richardson

Savaria

Don Zimmerman

Home Elevator of Texas

These three new directors will join our continuing, current directors, whose terms expire at the end of 2011:

Jeannie Martin

Accessibility Lifts

Mark Bosley

Adaptive Environments

Tom McIsaac

Stannah Stairlifts

Special thanks to the outgoing directors for their service over the last several years:

Mike McKinley

McKinley Elevator

Wes Jones

Lift Aids

Mark Townsend

Garaventa

September, 2010: AEMA held its annual AGM in Cincinnati at the NAEC Convention. The gathering was dedicated to honoring the decades of service from Dave Balmer and Marie McDonald. Both Dave and Marie are nationally known and respected in our industry. They are starting to enjoy some free time while still staying involved with us. Marie has just resigned from the A18 committee and Dave still shares his knowledge and teaches in the Toronto area. It was a fitting tribute to two people that have given tirelessly to our industry over the years. Other discussions at the meeting also centered around 2011 elections for AEMA officers and Board. The election should take place in October and new terms will begin January 1.

April, 2010: AEMA membership grows as early returns have already resulted in 9 new members joining the association. Membership efforts are still going on and the outlook is good for many more additions to membership.

February, 2010: By a unanimous vote, The AEMA Board has voted to lower the annual dues and eliminate any Initiation fee for its membership. In the discussion, the importance of serving the industry was stressed and the economic conditions were also noted. The fees were always to serve the members and the current needs of the association are relatively low, until new programs are initiated and developed. The reduced dues schedule will go out to the membership with this year’s renewal letters.

Code Corner

May 3, 2011

ASME A18

A virtual meeting was held

in February and another in

March to try to finalize a

few more issues for the

next edition. The next

regular committee meeting

is scheduled for May 5,

2011 in San Diego.

ASME A17

: LULA and PRE committees both met in Tampa in January. The 2010 edition of the standard has been published. Work is continuing on several potential changes for the next edition for LU/LA and Private Residence elevators. That edition will not be published until 2013. The next meetings are scheduled for May 2 & 3 in San Diego

ICC/ANSI A117

No meetings are currently scheduled. The 2009 edition has now been published. It includes changes that impact the minimum size of platform lifts and use of door operators. There are changes that allow more options on car configuration for private residence and LULA elevators.

ADAAG

On June 17, the DOJ announced its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to adopt Part I and III new guidelines proposed by the Access Board in 2004. The effective date is March 2011. These rules are similar to those found in ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003.

AEMA

An Association of Members of the Accessibility Industry