IAHA's 3 Year Plan for Future Success

IAHA’s mission is to promote and protect the professional haunted attraction industry. It will help haunted attraction businesses maximize profits while maintaining high safety standards. If you own/operate an attraction or support the haunted attraction industry through professional products and/or services, you should be an IAHA member. The association will double it’s membership totals over the next three years. IAHA’s plan of action for the next three years is outlined below. This plan is subject to change as the industry and the association evolves. [Brackets denote each project’s time frame.]

Overview

  • The Board Of Directors plans to improve IAHA by:
  • Conducting industry research
  • Clarifying IAHA’s mission
  • Improving membership communication
  • Creating more member benefits
  • Improving association management
  • Promoting the industry and IAHA


I. Conducting Industry Research

A. Analyze the haunted attraction industry with research and surveys

    1. Hire outside agency to collect data about the industry [2007]
    2. Learn more about the haunt owner’s needs [2007]
    3. Determine where PR dollars are best spent [2007]
    4. Explore possibility to form additional committees to represent special interest groups [2007]
    5. Send out mailer to 3000 haunters from database [2007]

B. Research other similar amusement associations

    1. Examine what has made them successful [2007]
    2. See what benefits they provide their members [2007]


II. Clarifying IAHA’s Mission

A. Promote message of IAHA catering to the needs of professional haunted attractions

B. Streamline membership structure

    1. Propose bylaw change so that BOD has power to change membership levels and dues as needed [vote on at 2008 meeting]
    2. Increase dues as membership value increases [2008-2009]
    3. Set clear definitions/criteria of membership levels and terminology (owner, operator, vendor, enthusiast, etc.) [2007]

C. Reformat requirements for serving on the BOD

    1. Explore possibility of proposing bylaw change so that only professional attraction owners/operators, and professional vendors are allowed to serve on the BOD [vote on at 2008 meeting]
    2. Propose bylaw change so that only professional attraction owners/operators may serve on the Executive Committee [vote on at 2008 meeting]


III. Improving Membership Communication

A. Create a new position of “Internal PR director” as part of the Marketing Committee to boost communication between the BOD and the membership [2007]

B. Use IAHA publications to maximize member communication

    1. Encourage more member participation in contributing articles, ideas, etc. [2007]
    2. Start emailing newsletter directly to people’s email [2007]
    3. Explore sending a hard copy of IAHA updates quarterly [2007]

C. Employ more mailed out information and mass emails directly to members to update on important information [2007-2009]

D. Keep improving IAHA website- such as expanding educational info, updating safety info, adding FAQ section, etc. [2007-2009]


IV. Creating More Member Benefits

A. Gather data from experienced haunted attraction owners to find what things they would like to see IAHA provide them [2007]

B. Work to obtain additional IAHA benefits

    1. Expanded Vendor Discount Program [2007-2009]
    2. Group liability insurance [2007-2008]
    3. Health insurance [2007-2008]
    4. Travel and hotel discounts [2007-2009]
    5. Industry sponsorships [2007-2009]
    6. Special marketing opportunities [2007-2009]
    7. Access to cheaper Visa/MC rates [2008-2009]
    8. Assistance on legal and taxation matters [2008-2009]
    9. Data on employment regulations [2007]
    10. Online ticketing [2008-2009]
    11. Haunt-finder on website [2007]
    12. More education and safety training [2007-2009]
    13. Group purchases [2008-2009]
    14. National fire codes on website [2007]
    15. Member Surveys with accessible data on website [2007-2009]
    16. Local PR assistance [2007]
    17. Development of a “Haunter’s legal guide” [2007-2008]
    18. Updated information on NFPA Life Safety 101 codes (exit signs, emergency lighting, fire alarm systems, etc) [2007]

V. Improving Association Management

A. Greater emphasis on maintaining and directing committees [2007]

B. Hire outside professional service to assist with day-to-day IAHA operations and management [2008]

C. Improve BOD organization

    1. Create a BOD professional “Code of Conduct” which would be continually enforced [2007]
    2. Create definitions and “job descriptions” for Board Members to make it easier to hold people accountable, and to insure that all Board Members are contributing [2007-2008]
    3. Create a “How to be a Board Member” guide which encompasses BOD details to give to new Board Members, new nominees, etc. [2007]


VI. Promoting the Industry and IAHA

A. Continue participation in the National Haunted Attraction Industry PR Campaign [2007-2009]

B. Develop IAHA as the official voice of the industry [2007-2009]

C. Develop an official crisis PR plan to combat any possible bad haunt PR [2007]

D. Develop program to assist haunted attractions with local media and PR [2007]

E. Explore the IAHA sponsoring entertainment for the TW Convention, such as bands, celebrity appearances, awards banquet or additional upgrades to the annual meeting to increase interest and attendance [2007-2009]

F. Revise Charity programs to maximize PR [2007-2008]

G. Develop official IAHA procedure for exhibiting at tradeshows [2007]