Guest Blogger:  Alan Cockman

Six years ago, while I was Chair of AAMVA, I was in New York City with other members of the Executive Committee to attend a meeting.  I forget its purpose but I vividly remember why we chose the location.  It was to show in a small way our support for the City, which just a few months earlier had endured the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  On our first evening in town we went to the site of the World Trade Center towers, not as tourists, but to pay our respects to the victims.  My recollection is we didn’t say much, but rather each of us was left to our own thoughts.  It was a moving experience.

September 11 was the defining moment of my year as AAMVA’s Chair.  It impacted all of our actions and activities, and also in several respects changed the focus and operation of the Association.  Two weeks earlier I had presented “What’s Next?” as the theme for the year to highlight the strategic planning activities that would be accomplished by the time my year concluded at the AIC in Saskatoon.  After September 11 the phrase “What’s Next?” took on a quite different meaning for many people and it was decided to expand it to “What’s Next –Identifying our Future”.  This provided some clarification and, for the first time, emphasized the importance of identification security as a paramount issue.

Within a few days after September 11, we knew the issue of access to driver licenses and the associated issue of confirming identity were rapidly assuming a higher profile in government, the press and the general public.  We also knew unless AAMVA reacted quickly we risked the distinct possibility that the Association would loose any ability to take a leadership role in a subject where we should be recognized as a significant source of expertise.

In October at a meeting in Ottawa, we developed the strategy for addressing the issues and by January 2002 we had identified and outlined the components needed to meet the requirements of a more secure driver license.  We quickly followed this work by getting into the communication mode with an announcement at the National Press Club; visits to the Capital to brief senators and congressmen; and, a special membership meeting.  As we developed our solution over the next few months, we held further meetings to obtain advice and input from industry and each of the four AAMVA Regions.  By the time of the AIC in August, and with the approval of the membership, we were able to create a series of working groups tasked with developing various components of our solution, which eventually became the DL/ID Framework.

In retrospect, I always thought one of the successes learned from all the work carried out by numerous AAMVA members and staff, and our colleagues from industry was that we took the ‘high road’ and concentrated on developing a solution, rather than reacting to the negative environment created by some press and government representatives.  In doing so, AAMVA became recognized as the place to go for information and comment relating to driver licensing and identification issues.  Our profile and recognition increased significantly.

My involvement with AAMVA, and it was certainly true during my year as Chair, continually reminded me of the importance of teamwork, that a consensus approach can be the better way to reach a decision, and that you can usually gain more by giving a little.

Of course I gained a lot more from another attribute that AAMVA is famous for.  Namely, that it is a great place to meet colleagues and that many of those colleagues become good friends.  I am proud to be able to boast I have friends across the United States and Canada.  We often refer to ourselves as being part of the AAMVA ‘family’.  So I am looking forward to being a part of some of the family gatherings this year as we celebrate our Association’s seventy-fifth anniversary.

Congratulations, AAMVA –and all the best for the future!

Alan Cockman
(retired) Administrator, Saskatchewan Government Insurance

and

Chair of the AAMVA Board of Directors (2001-2002)

Alan Cockman is presently involved in management consulting projects in the U.S. and Canada.