The full text of the response follows below. 

Dear DMA Voting Member:

With DMA09, the global event for integrated marketing in San Diego coming up in just a few days, DMA members have the opportunity to cast an important vote for sustaining and enhancing the vitality of our Association. The annual election of new directors, and the re-election of current Board members, is one of the best ways DMA members have to ensure that their interests will be well-represented.

This year, our nominating committee did an outstanding job of proposing an impressive slate of multichannel marketers to join the 2010-2011 board. Although we have already been moving in this direction recently, this year's new nominees represent the most diverse array of channels and markets ever, fully reflecting what's happening in marketing today.

We ask a lot of DMA Board members. They voluntarily give their time, expertise and support to the future of the direct marketing process, and to the direct marketing community that surrounds it. We also set high expectations for the staff and leadership of the Association. While no one needs to be reminded how difficult the economy has made life over the past year, our Board has had to make difficult, but necessary, decisions to guide DMA through turbulent times. And management has moved quickly to carry out that guidance and taken strong and appropriate action in this difficult economy. There have been painful but prudent reductions in programs and staff at DMA. Only when the Board is fully confident that conditions have sufficiently improved will this change.

Despite these severe challenges, both the Board and DMA staff remain optimistic that we are navigating this transition period in such a way that we can emerge stronger and more responsive to our members' changing needs than ever before. Now more than ever, the Board believes we must maintain a steady hand to guide DMA through these challenging times and sail smoothly into a new era of interactive marketing opportunities. As such, we stand fully behind the slate of candidates proposed by our Committee of Nominations.

There is important work to do at DMA, and as Chairman of the Board, I am confident that our management and Board are fully prepared to address it. If you have already signed your proxy ( http://www.the-dma.org/segment/segmentfiles/retail/E-Proxy2009.pdf) or cast your ballot, thank you for participating. If not, please do so as soon as possible to ensure your voice is heard in the selection of your Association's board of directors. Please send your signed proxy back to either board@the-dma.org or via fax to 212.768.7353 and indicate whether your proxy should be voted by the Chairman, the Secretary, or vote directly by signing and returning the ballot.

We very much look forward to seeing you at DMA09 in San Diego. We will have an impressive lineup of keynoters, valuable sessions and exciting networking events planned for attendees.

Sincerely,

Kelly B. Browning