President’s message
Come Together
Reflecting on the strength of our community
4
Winter 2017
AMA insider
our Canadian and Albertan roots, and thanking
members for being part of the AMA community.
Remembrance Day in November reminds us of
the power of ordinary people to accomplish extra-
ordinary things when they stand united. Though
we can never give thanks enough for our veterans’
sacrifices, we can start by endeavouring to make
the world a better place, never
forgetting that we’re all part of
the same global community. I’m
particularly proud to be part of
this AMA community we’ve been
building together to keep our
corner of the world a little safer.
In December, we’re teaming up
with our members for the annual
AMA Fill Our Fleet campaign
in support of Alberta food banks.
Since 2012, this charity event
has been close to our hearts, as
it speaks to our practically family
promise of looking out for each
other in good times and bad.
Every year, AMA collects more
than 200 pallets of donations,
above and beyond cash, to ensure
the holidays are more heart-
warming for everyone. That’s enough to span the
length of four NHL rinks and we couldn’t do it
without your support!
On behalf of everyone at AMA, I wish you a peace-
ful season with the ones you hold dear.
Don Smitten
President and CEO
For many oF us, myselF included , the wind-down
of the year and the celebration of holidays with
family and friends are a time to reflect on the big
picture. Given the highlights and heartbreaks
we’ve lately experienced as global citizens, taking
stock of 2017 is no straightforward task. But regard-
less of the uncertainty in the world and the changes
we see with each passing year,
when I consider the role AMA
plays—protecting the things that
matter most to our members—
I’m reminded that the important
things remain constant: family
and community.
With that in mind, I find myself
reflecting on the community of
members we’ve been building since
1926, which is now approaching
one million strong. Our club was
created by Albertans and we
continue to grow and support
Albertans across the province.
From our early days advocating
for new roads to our present
work helping keep those roads
safe (and continuing to advocate
on your behalf ), AMA has been
driven by the idea that we’re all in this together.
Because we truly are.
Though our community members hold different
politics, perspectives and faiths, we share a core
belief that everyone deserves to feel safe—at home,
at school, at work and on our streets. It’s why AMA
has a presence in all these areas. We work hard to
ensure that no matter your life journey, we have
your back and we’ll be there when you need us.
We’re even there when you least expect it. Since
Canada’s 150th birthday in July, we’ve been celeb-
rating the sesquicentennial by surprising members
with special experiences big and small. You can check
out some of these moments, called 150 Member
Surprises, on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/
ExperienceAMA). They’re our way of honouring