AN OVERVIEW OF OUR MISSION:
1) To encourage cooperation by government, industry and the public to assure a reasonable balance between America’s need for energy, economic stability and responsible environmental practices in the pursuit of the mining of coal.
2) To improve the quality of life, for both man and our environment. To present a unified voice for the coal mining industry and it’s vendors and suppliers in Virginia.
THE MISSION: ONE STEP AT A TIME
- Keeps members informed through newsletters, informational mail out’s, e-mail, the Virginia Mining Journal, legislative updates on the activities that affect the coal industry and its support companies.
- Provides Registered Lobbyist services to members in the Virginia General Assembly. Such as “bill tracking”, on issues that affect the coal industry or its support companies.
- Maintains and promotes the “VMA Group Health Plan” that allows VMA members to acquire several medical services and benefits that are not be available to non-VMA group members.
- Encourages the development and use of “clean coal technologies” that will improve the quality of life for both man and our environment.
- Provides assistance to any member requesting it, on such topics as interpretation of existing and/or new regulations.
- Testifies at public hearings etc. on issues that affect our industry.
- Maintain open lines of communication and working relationships with state and federal, elected and appointed officials. VMA strives to remain non-partisan and work both for and with all elected officials regardless of their “party affiliation”.
- Promotes public education on the mining and role of coal through educational programs for schools and through the media.
- Promotes the positive side of coal mining and informs the public of its importance and role in our daily lives through the use of energy.
- Provides information through our “Web Site” and publications such as; the Virginia Mining Journal, published quarterly; a monthly Newsletter; the purchase of advertising space in these publications makes our members aware of which suppliers and vendors are supporting the coal industry through their efforts to promote their own goods and services.
- Encourages the energy independence of America and development of new and expanded markets for the use of coal.
- Arranges for and conducts social gatherings of the membership to facilitate the networking opportunities of our membership. Such as “Golf Tournaments, an Annual Meeting of the Membership, Mine Rescue and Safety Contest, Provides Platforms for Government Officials to Meet and Address the Membership.”
- Provides awards for “Outstanding Reclamation and Mining Practices” that have a positive impact on the environment. Presented at the “Annual Meeting of the Membership”. Recognizes Teachers for their efforts concerning energy education on the role of coal in our lives, during “Natural Resource Awareness Days”.
TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS WITHIN THE VMA:
- General Membership — Available to coal producers engaged in the extraction of coal. This includes both underground and surface mining operations
- Associate Membership — Any person or company who supplies goods and/or services to the mining industry.
- A Board of Directors directs the Associations functions. General Members automatically receive a seat on the Board. Three elected seats on the board represent associate members. These seats are elected by the membership on a staggered three-year term.
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