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Iowa Section AWWA
2004 Strategic Planning Goals and Task Assignments
    

Note from the Chair: Following is the TO DO portion of our strategic planning in September 2003. The identified task items were developed following the December 2003 board meeting using the goals established from our strategic planning session. You will see that I have assigned one board member for every goal. In addition, each task within a goal has been assigned and a deadline established. During our strategic planning session in September 2004 we will review progress made and use it as a starting point for next year.

While it may not be realistic to think that we can accomplish every task identified, I have a great deal of faith in those assigned to make this happen. In order to accomplish these tasks, I would encourage everyone to reach out to committee members, regions and general membership to expand our base of individuals actively engaged in our Iowa Section. No one person can accomplish what we have set out to do!!!

Following an initial review of this Draft by the board and committee chairs, I will post these goals on the web page for the general membership and will use the "Splashes from the Chair" to update membership on progress throughout the year. My goal is to do this February 2. I anticipate that I will be in monthly communications with the responsible board member for each goal. Responsible individual's assigned to a task will need to coordinate with those individuals they have recruited and with the board member responsible for the particular goal. I am available for questions at any time.

"One of the greatest sources of energy is pride in what you are doing." Spokes

• Goal #1: Coordinate the section's actions and initiatives with other water organizations.

• Goal #2: Institute and implement the peer review process.
• Goal #3: Maintain the section's website in a manner that ensures that the site's content is dynamic and fresh.
• Goal #4: Increase and promote membership and its value.  
• Goal #5: Increase revenue.  
• Goal #6: Communicate vital information to all stakeholders.
• Goal #7: Provide educational opportunities for all stakeholders.

Goal #1 :  COORDINATE THE SECTION'S ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES WITH OTHER WATER ORGANIZATIONS.

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Roy Ney

Committees Involved: Education Management Operator Certification Student Activities Water for People Water Utility Council/Government Affairs

Tasks Required to Reach Goal: Reminder - this is addressing our vision statement of being "…the leading force in Iowa…"

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Roy Ney. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Roy Ney. Roy will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Roy and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Coordinate legislative activities - possibly issue joint position statements. Responsible Individual: Chair of WUC Dave Kalkwarf and Executive Director Dave Scott. Deadline: ongoing. Particular focus during legislative session, need to coordinate activities in spring and fall for next legislative session.
2. Recommend changes to IDNR Operator Certification Program Responsible Individual: Chair of Operator Certification Program, Marty Hoffert. Deadline: as needed.
3. Offer appropriate operator training. Responsible Individual: Co-chairs of Education Committee, Jim Oppelt and Phil Propes; All 6 Region Chairs. Deadline: Established Spring and Fall shortcourses, Annual Conference, and Regional Meetings. As needed for new training opportunities.
4. Develop a "speaker pool" for other organizations - look into feasibility of charging a fee. Responsible Individual: Co-chairs of Education Committee, Jim Oppelt and Phil Propes. Deadline: Initial list developed for presentation at March 26 board meeting.
5. Increase participation in Water for People from other organizations. Responsible Individual: Chair, Dave Fox. Deadline: Commitments from IWPCA by January 31, 2004. Recruiting from other organizations by October 2004 Annual Conference.
6. Identify key groups/activities where Iowa Section AWWA must participate and assign individuals who will report to board and membership. Responsible Individual: Board, Chairs for Operator Certification, WUC, Education and Water for People. Deadline: March 26 board meeting.

Board To Do Items: 

1. Evaluate needs of larger utilities that Iowa Section AWWA is not currently meeting. Responsible Individual: Dave Kalkwarf and Roy Ney with assistance from WUC. Deadline: June 4 AWWA board meeting.
2. Assign an Ad Hoc committee from AWWA Board to meet w/ IAWA to discuss overlapping responsibilities and the role of each organization. Responsible Individual: Carla to gather Ad Hoc committee by Feb 1. Deadline: Ad Hoc committee to have met with IAWA prior to June 4 AWWA board meeting.
3. Work with Chairs of each committee on Task 6 above. Responsible Individual: Carla, Marty, Dave Kalkwarf, Phil and Jim, Dave Fox. Deadline: March 26 board meeting.

Goal #2: INSTITUTE AND IMPLEMENT THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS.

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: John Hays

Committees Involved: Customer Service Management Public Information Region Chairs Safety Small Systems Young Professionals

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying John Hays. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to John Hays. John will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. John and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Find money. Responsible Individual: Mark Duben to lead with help from Dave Fox, John Hays Deadline: March 26 Board Meeting
2. Retrain the trainers. Responsible Individual: John Hays to form subcommittee to accomplish how to be done and schedule Deadline: To be determined by John Hays, goal is to be up and running with program one month before our annual conference.
3. Obtain master documents. Responsible Individual: Marty Hoffert Deadline: February 2, get to John Hays and Tim Wilson
4. Publicize the program. Responsible Individual: Sherri Marine to lead effort with support from 6 Region Chairs; Small Systems Chair, Tim Wilson; PI Chair, Sherri Marine; Management, John North; YPs, Steve Sincox; Safety, Dave Pahlas Deadline: Coordinate with John Hays. Will want to begin once the skeleton of the program is outlined with details to be provided as available. Will want to use web page, newsletters, and identify other means.
5. Develop a case study from the 12 original utilities to promote the new Peer Review program. Responsible Individual: Small Systems Chair Tim Wilson to be lead with help from: 6 Region Chairs; Management, John North; Young Professionals, Steve Sincox. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
6. Identify options for presentation of review findings (Summary to City Council, Board and the Peer Review team). Responsible Individual: Small Systems Chair Tim Wilson to lead with help from 6 Region Chairs. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
7. Address confidentiality issues. Consider having no written reports. Only notes would be taken by reviewers conducting peer review. After a meeting with client, would hand over all notes. Responsible Individual: Tim Wilson, John Hays, Dave Scott. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
8. Establish a self-funding mechanism. Costs should be kept to a minimum. Part of the fee requirement would be that at least one operator is or pays the membership fee to become an AWWA member - value added membership. Consider doing free for members. Responsible Individual: Tim Wilson and John Hays Deadline: March 26 board meeting
9. Develop a regional implementation focus ( would help cut down on expenses, etc.). Responsible Individual: Jon Martens with help from Tim Wilson and Regional Chairs Deadline: March 26 board meeting

Goal #3: MAINTAIN THE SECTION'S WEBSITE IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES THAT THE SITE'S CONTENT IS DYNAMIC AND FRESH

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Jon Martens

Committees Involved: Board Region Chairs All committees

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Jon Martens. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Jon Martens. Roy will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Jon and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Add public component to web site. Responsible Individual: PI Chair, Sherri Marine. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
2. Have a proactive web master. Responsible Individual: John Dunn. Deadline: ongoing
3. Establish mechanism for who will pass information and what will be passed. Responsible Individual: Dave Fox, Mark Duben, Carla Schumacher and Dave Scott. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
4. Establish easy and timely approval process. Responsible Individual: Joel Mohr to lead with help from Sherri Marine and John Dunn. Deadline: March 26 board meeting.
5. Establish a plan for monthly changes to the web site. Responsible Individual: John Dunn with help from Sherri Marine and Joel Mohr. Deadline: March 26 board meeting. We've discussed article ideas for PI committee, need to see about implementing!!
6. Identify ways that web site can increase Iowa Section AWWA membership value (ie technical power point presentations from regional meetings, short courses, and annual meeting to web site). Responsible Individual: Phil Propes takes lead with help from Jim Oppelt and Jon Martens. Deadline: June 4 board meeting - suggest trying ideas from spring short course
7. Promote website in all publications. Responsible Individual: Dave Scott for newsletter and annual conference material; Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt for short course material; Region Chairs for regional meeting registration materials. Deadline: At time of publication of all material
8. Explore networking opportunities via web site. Responsible Individual: Sherri Marine and John Dunn. Deadline: March 26 board meeting

Goal #4: INCREASE AND PROMOTE MEMBERSHIP AND ITS VALUE

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Joel Mohr

Committees Involved: Board Region Chairs All committees

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Joel Mohr. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Joel Mohr. Joel will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Joel and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Iowa Section AWWA representatives talk to Water Boards, City Councils, Homeowner's Associations, etc. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes to develop plan and schedule of how this could be done and identify team of individuals willing to do. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
2. Promote membership at short courses, regional meetings, annual conference, etc. Stress that Iowa Section AWWA is THE primary organization looking out for the best interest of water industry. Need to establish plan that outlines what is needed - such as booth set up, key people with membership forms, etc. Responsible Individual: Phil and Jim take lead with help from 6 Regional Chairs, and board members. Deadline: February 23 in time for short courses, spring regional meetings, annual meeting.
3. Charge higher price for nonmembers at conferences. Develop options for extra money going towards membership (for new members only & one time only - must have easy tracking due to our complicated membership structure). Determine what charges are appropriate realizing what our competition is charging, etc. Develop a plan for administering- this must be easy to do. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes, Jim Oppelt, Roy Ney, Jon Martens. Deadline: Ideally in time for spring short course, otherwise June 4 for annual conference and fall short course
4. Attend Membership Summit in February. Give input and seek input from others on problems with membership categories and how other sections are dealing with it. Responsible Individual: John Hays with help from Leon Lamer. Deadline: March 26 report to board with recommended actions
5. Increase # of members younger than 30. Responsible Individual: YP Chair, Steve Sincox; Student Activities, John Dunn; Small Systems, Tim Wilson. Deadline: October annual conference and ongoing
6. Develop strategy to promote Peer Review Program. Responsible Individual: Sherri Marine. Deadline: Coordinate with John Hays
7. Develop strategy to promote technical expertise within Iowa Section AWWA Responsible Individual: Sherri Marine and Joel Mohr
8. Develop and implement a strategy to "Blow our own Horn". Identify what is of value that we should be promoting. Need to tell membership what we're doing for them and inform non-members of benefits. Responsible Individual: Leon Lamer and Dale Acheson. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
9. Work with Intl AWWA to simplify categories and get input from them as to what we can do in the meantime. Responsible Individual: Leon Lamer and John Hays. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
10. Develop a strategy to make the newsletter more valuable to members. Responsible Individual: Joel Mohr and Sherri Marine
11. Establish 2-Tier pricing for vendors at annual conference (members and non-members. Need to consider packaging plan being worked on under Goal # 5. Responsible Individual: Roy Ney and Dave Scott. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
12. Develop materials, promotion message and have individuals to present at Regional Meetings in 2004. Each board member to attempt to at least attend the regional meeting within their region. Responsible Individual: Carol Sweeting, Carla Schumacher and Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt. Deadline: February 16

Goal #5: INCREASE REVENUE

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Mark Duben

Committees Involved: Board Region Chairs Education Manufacturer's Membership Public Information Water Utility Council Young Professionals

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Mark Duben. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Mark Duben. Mark will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Mark and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Develop master list and solicit new advertisers for newsletter. Must coordinate with proposed newsletter recommendations in Goal #4, Task #10. Responsible Individual: Dave Scott's office. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
2. Charge a fee to post jobs or training from non-members (value added) [I believe we intended this for on the web page]. Responsible Individual: John Dunn. Deadline: Recommendation to board at March 26 board meeting
3. Raise annual conference and short course registration fees. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes, Jim Oppelt and Roy Ney to make recommendations to board. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
4. Prepare and respond to proposals involving grant money. Responsible Individual: Dave Fox. Deadline: as required
5. Gather information and develop plan to use "Seminar in a Box" and other training opportunities. Evaluate where this could fit. Contact Natl AWWA. Responsible Individual: Joel Mohr in coordination with Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
6. Identify timely and valuable specialty conferences. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt. Deadline: Evaluate quarterly and make recommendations to board at board meetings.
7. Review and make a recommendation on split of revenue for Spring and Fall short courses. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
8. Develop plan to promote teleconference (local mailings, area facilitator, e-mailing neighboring utilities, etc). Responsible Individual: Joel Mohr. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
9. Evaluate switching to electronic version of Newletter and other ways of reducing expenses. Responsible Individual: Dave Scott's staff. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
10. Annual conference- make every attempt to duplicate Iowa City's shortened conference as the board has implemented. Responsible Individual: Roy Ney. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
11. Increasing membership increases the contribution from the 10% surcharge, establish plans to increase membership. Responsible Individual: Leon Lamer with help from John Dunn and John Hays and Jon Martens. Deadline: March 26 board meeting
12. Evaluate and develop plan for regions to pay surplus revenue to Iowa Section account. Responsible Individual: John Hays and Jon Martens. Deadline: Progress report at quarterly board meetings, plan established by October 19 annual meeting
13. Evaluate and develop options for packaging opportunities for vendors. Consider regional, spring/fall short course and annual meeting. Consider website and newsletter advertising fees. Responsible Individual: Carla Schumacher and Tony Bilek. Deadline: June 4 board meeting.

Goal #6: COMMUNICATE VITAL INFORMATION TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Dale Acheson

Committees Involved: Board Region Chairs All Committees

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Dale Acheson. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Dale Acheson. Roy will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Dale and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Identify who in charge of distributing National AWWA Information. Responsible Individual: Carla to take lead with Dave Scott, Mark Duben and Dave Fox. Deadline: March 26 board meeting.
2. Educate committees on how to communicate information to general membership and board and importance of doing. Prepare plan to present to the board. Responsible Individuals: Board liaisons for each committee. Deadline: March 26 for presentation of plan to board - board members to have communicated and coordinated as needed - Dale Acheson to take lead. Communication with committees to take place within one week after March 26 board meeting.
3. Develop and maintain e-mail notification system, especially for breaking news. This would be for members only and addresses increasing the value of membership. ??Include training. Responsible Individual: Dale Acheson and Dave Scott's office. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
4. Committee chairs furnish quarterly reports to board and other committee chairs and other stakeholders as designated by board. Responsible Individual: Carla Schumacher to take lead with help from committee chairs and board liasons. Deadline: Quarterly board meetings starting with March 26 board meeting.
5. Request annual reports from chairs in electronic format, submit to John Dunn for putting on the web page. Consider eliminating printing of annual reports at annual meeting but have access to web page at the annual conference. Responsible Individual: Dave Scott and John Dunn. Deadline: Annual meeting Oct 19.

Goal #7: PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Board Member Responsible for tracking task completions: Dave Fox

Committees Involved: Regions Customer Service Education Management Manufacturers Newsletter Public Information Small Systems Student Activities Water Utility Council Young Professionals

Tasks Required to Reach Goal:

The "Responsible Individual" identified for each task will be responsible for meeting the deadline or revising the deadline as required and notifying Dave Fox. This individual will recruit the individuals and provide follow up to ensure that the tasks are completed within the deadline and provide feedback/report to Dave Fox. Dave will keep the board informed of progress at board meetings. Dave and Carla will coordinate sharing pertinent information with membership through the newsletter and "Splashes from the Chair" on the web page.

1. Market teleconferences. Responsible Individual: Joel Mohr to take lead in establishing a plan. Implementation will be Dave Scott's office. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
2. Annual conference- evaluate getting national speakers, establish speaker funding pool or sponsorships to support, identify other ways to support needs for large, medium and small utilities at the conference. Develop plan for submittal to board. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes, Jim Oppelt, Joel Mohr. Deadline: June 4 board meeting.
3. Send all conference programs to IDNR region offices for posting. Responsible Individual: Dave Scott's office and Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt for short courses and annual conference. Region chairs for regional conferences-is this being done already? Deadline: Starting with Spring 2004 short course and each short course and annual conference thereafter. Starting with 2004 regional conferences.
4. Promote membership at short courses, annual conference, regional meetings, etc through registration fees, membership table and visits by key individuals with an established message. Individual Responsible: Carla Schumacher to take lead, Carol Sweeting, Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt, Leon Lamer, Board Members, Regional Chairs. Deadline: All 2004 short courses, annual conference and regional meetings.
5. Work with Kirkwood Community College to develop partnership in educational opportunities regionally. Evaluate other opportunities if reasonable. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt. Deadline: June 4 board meeting.
6. Emphasize technical expertise available in Iowa Section AWWA. Develop a plan to do this. Responsible Individual: Roy Ney and Dave Fox
7. Target Career Development. Responsible Individual: Steve Sincox and John Dunn. Deadline: June 4 board meeting
8. Identify team to identify and go after grant money to support our training efforts in continuing education opportunities. Responsible Individuals: Dave Fox and John Hays. Deadline: Ongoing.
9. Promote all Iowa Section upcoming training opportunities on website. Responsible Individuals: Phil Propes and Jim Oppelt, Regional Chairs. Deadline: Two or more months in advance of training event.
10. Evaluate and develop plan for combined training with others including IWPCA, IAMU, Rural Water. Make sure pitfalls are well understood. Responsible Individual: Phil Propes to take lead, Jim Oppelt, Jon Martens, John Hays. Deadline: June 4 board meeting.

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