It’s IIAR conference time again, which means immediately following the March Conference, in April 2024, it will be time to begin the membership renewal process for the 2024-2025 IIAR Membership year which runs from July 2024 through June 2025. I invite you to renew your IIAR membership and continue to receive into the next year all of the many new and expanded benefits provided for you and your co-workers. I am always in awe of the volume of work our organization turns out through the dedicated work of our many volunteers and the IIAR staff – and we’ve made significant strides in the last year through the dedication and commitment of members like you.

In this condenser issue, we’ve put together a detailed report to membership and future members discussing all the new ways IIAR provides operational resources, technical support, and networking opportunities in your professional life. Some of the highlights include:

ORGANIZATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS

IIAR underwent a complete rebranding and name change from the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration to the International Institute of AllNatural Refrigeration. As part of the rebranding effort, IIAR’s marketing efforts included producing new IIAR and ARF videos, updating websites for IIAR and ARF, and increasing IIAR’s digital marketing across social media platforms and Google. Organizational improvements included adding two new staff members, completing association management software and systems upgrades, and moving IIAR publications order and delivery services to a third party publishing platform that provides all publications, per the buyer’s choice, in either print-on-demand hardcopy or a digital (ePUB) format readable using a full eService eReader platform.

OUTREACH TO NEW MEMBERSHIP

IIAR leadership will appear at several new conferences, including ASHRAE, the Ice Rink Association, the IIR Gustav Lorentzen conference on Natural Refrigerants and many other events. A new IIAR chapter in Brazil and new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the UK-based Institute of Refrigeration, the French International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), and the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRAC) have expanded IIAR’s presence nationally and internationally.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The IIAR annual conference continues to be one of the organization’s most popular member benefits, and the conference saw several milestones in 2023, including a first-ever sold-out conference exhibit hall for the 2024 conference. Among other improvements is a newly implemented “A to Z” exhibit sales and sponsorship sales software system, which replaces the old exhibitor priority system for exhibit sales. A newly instituted VIP event for IIAR board and committee members, , an NRF fun day hosting all of the Natural Refrigeration Foundation (NRF) tournaments, an IIAR student day, and a RETA inperson Certified Refrigeration Technician Training program will be updated features of the 2024 conference.

MISSION ACHIEVEMENTS

IIAR met several specific goals in 2023, pushing forward with standards developments and updates, educational resources, and advocacy. Highlights included creating an IIAR Condenser Magazine website housing over 500 now internet searchable magazine articles dating back to 2009 a wellmarketed NRF scholarship program that yielded 30 applicants in 2023, with eight awarded scholarships. Meanwhile, IIAR successfully influenced the AIM Act’s final ruling for technology transition and joined the United Nations Environment Programme’s Cool Coalition.

As always, I encourage everyone to participate in IIAR on our various volunteer committees and to take advantage of the many new member benefits coming your way this year. When you belong to the IIAR community, your voice matters. I’m looking forward to working with you again this year, and I invite you to renew your membership. We expect membership renewal for the 2024-2025 membership year to open up in April 2024.