The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to report that changes to the Association's code of regulations intended to better reflect the interests of its membership were approved at the annual Corporate Members Meeting, and ratified by the AMA Board of Directors at its subsequent meeting, on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Indianapolis, Ind.

The most notable change is the restructuring of the AMA Board of Directors to reduce the number of corporate-elected members from six to four, and the addition of two at-large member positions. The total number of Board members remains at 12, and individual, regionally elected members retain half of those seats with six of the 12 positions.

"Allowing a relatively small number of corporate members to control 50 percent of the Board was simply not in the best interests of the 240,000 individual members of the AMA," said AMA Board of Directors Vice Chairman Jim Williams, who represents corporate member Kawasaki USA. "With the reduction from six to four seats, the corporate-elected members continue to provide input, guidance and expertise to the oversight of the AMA, but we believe greater representation by the directors selected by the individual members more clearly reflects the AMA membership."

Williams presented the proposal to the corporate members, along with the recommendation to add two new at-large positions that can be filled by individuals who will bring outside expertise to the AMA Board of Directors. The persons who fill the two at-large positions must be reviewed and recommended by the Nominating Committee, approved by the Board of Directors, and elected by the membership.

Following Williams' presentation, the corporate members unanimously approved the changes to the code of regulations. The process of filling the at-large board positions is further explained in the revised code.

"It's understandable, considering the AMA was first created in 1924 with substantial support from the motorcycle industry, that we started out with six member-elected and six corporate-elected members," said AMA Board of Directors Chairman Stan Simpson, the elected representative from the South Central Region. "But today, the membership is certainly capable of charting the course of the AMA. And adding two new Board members with diverse expertise will clearly help the AMA as it grows into the future."

The AMA Board also welcomed several newly elected members. From the corporate members, Kawasaki's Williams (second term) and Scott Miller of Harley-Davidson were elected to three-year terms. Jim Viverito, who won his election in the North Central Region in January, was also seated. Viverito is the first member elected using a new secure online voting process. Election results were verified by VoteNet.com. To further assure integrity of the process, the accounting firm of Plante & Moran PLC independently audited and certified the results.

"As the largest non-profit, member-based motorcycle association in the United States, we have a responsibility to advocate our members' collective interests as we promote motorcycling and protect its future," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "These changes, approved by our corporate members and the AMA Board of Directors, enhance the capabilities and potential of the AMA, and will improve how the Association operates in the future."

The 2009 AMA Annual Report, which was released at the corporate member meeting, can be viewed at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > About Us. The revised AMA Code of Regulations will be posted soon on the same web page.