I came into the motor vehicle administration in 1988 kicking and screaming.  I came from a "cushy" tax auditor management position which was positively supported in every way.  

Upon moving over to motor vehicles, I was lost.  But along came the cavalry:  AAMVA. 

I quickly earned that the volunteers, and staff, in AAMVA knew and understood the problems I was facing and were willing to lend their support. 

Soon after attending AAMVA conferences, meetings and workshops, I began taking back to Tennessee ideas and programs from other jurisdictions.  I call these "ideas and programs"  "the bubble gum and band aids" that keep us going without major funding. 
 

I recall, on a number of occasions, taking my copy of AAMVA's Don't Reinvent the Wheel to the Tennessee General Assembly.  And when I was called upon to testify, I could quickly retrieve pertinent information to relay to lawmakers about other jurisdictions.  Needless to say, AAMVA sure made me look good.

 

Years later, it became my privilege to give back a little to this association as I began working my way through regional and international volunteer leadership positions including a term as AAMVA's Chair of the Board.
 
Eventually I had the opportunity to bring the AAMVA membership to Tennessee for the Annual International Conference (AIC) in 2001.  It was my year, and I chose to focus on bringing highway safety to the forefront of the association.  I believe highway safety is the reason we do everythingwe do from registering vehicles for quick and accurate information, to enforcing traffic laws, to licensing drivers to be safer drivers, to working with vendors to provide better systems and better products for the motor vehicle community.

And I will never forget, just 10 days after our 2001 AIC concluded, our world turned upside down on September 11. 

Naturally, we turned our attention into the direction of national security and began exploring how we could better verify the identity of our DMV customers. 

Today, DMV administrators continue to struggle with that endeavor, and once again, we are recognizing the very core of our business:  highway safety.

I am thankful that our association founders recognized the need to bring all jurisdictions together to celebrate successes and the sharing of ideas for improving motor vehicle operations.  That need still exists today and will continue for years to come. 

I feel very fortunate to have been a part of the AAMVA history.

Sincerely,

Martha Irwin

(Retired) Director, Title/Registration Division
Tennessee Department of Safety

and

Past Chair of the AAMVA Board of Directors (2000-2001)