Strategic Plan
Task List of Assignments
 

STRATEGIC PLAN
of the Illinois Section American Water Works Association

Revision Date April 27, 2006    

I.          INTRODUCTION

The Strategic Plan provides a guide for the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) to meet the challenges facing the water supply industry in the coming years.  The plan takes a broad view of the Section’s activities, and is modeled after the Strategic Plan of the international American Water Works Association (AWWA).  The plan does not provide a detailed listing of all Section activities and programs. 

II.        VISION 

ISAWWA will be the leading force in the State dedicated to safe drinking water.

 III.       CORE VALUES 

Recognizing that water is the basic element of life, our values are:           

  • Safe and Sufficient Water for All People.  ISAWWA is committed to safeguarding public health by adhering to the principle that the public has an absolute right to safe drinking water in sufficient quantity to meet community needs.

  • Consumer Confidence and Satisfaction.  ISAWWA is committed to achieving consumer confidence and satisfaction with drinking water.

  • Honesty and Integrity.  ISAWWA is committed to honesty and integrity in all actions of our staff and members.

  • Total Water Stewardship.  ISAWWA is dedicated to assuring water is managed for the greatest good of people and the environment.

  • Commitment to Excellence.  ISAWWA is committed to the highest standards of service, product, and operation.

  • Diversity.  ISAWWA is dedicated to remaining inclusive, and expanding the diversity of our staff, membership, and leadership.

  • Trust and Teamwork.  ISAWWA members will openly share information and solve problems in a spirit of cooperation to promote safe drinking water. 

IV.       CORE PURPOSE/MISSION 

ISAWWA is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare in the provision of drinking water in sufficient quality and quantity.  ISAWWA is proactive in advancing the technology, science, management, and government policies relative to the stewardship of water. 

V. GOALS  

A.  Increase and diversify ISAWWA membership.

  1. Encourage and sustain membership growth. (Membership Committee)

  2. Provide avenues and encouragement for the involvement of young people and minorities in the section. (Young Professionals Committee)

  3. Develop programs to assist committees and members to recruit, train, and assimilate a changing work force. (Membership Committee)

  4. Develop and encourage student chapters (Student Activities Committee)

 B.  Ensure ISAWWA is effective in achieving its mission through effective leadership.

  1. Require greater involvement in Section work by Trustees.  (Section Chair)

  2. Improve communication with AWWA and improve coordination of AWWA and ISAWWA activities. (Executive Director)

  3. Generate appropriate revenue to support member programs and services.(Section Board)

  4. Ensure value for member dues through strategic planning and prioritization. (Section Board)

  5. Encourage coordination between the Board, committees, and staff. (Executive Director)

6.      Recognize and reward the efforts of volunteers. (Awards Committee)

7.      Ensure committee chairs are effective.  (Section Chair)

 C.  Increase ISAWWA’s participation in Water For People

  1. Create new and enhance existing WFP fund raising opportunities. (Water For People)

 D.  Position ISAWWA as the leader in the drinking water community.

1.      Develop and enhance partnerships with other water industry organizations.  (Section Chair-Elect)

2.      Use technology to improve communication within the water community and with our customers. (Executive Director)

3.      Increase ISAWWA’s role as an authoritative resource for drinking water throughout the state. (Water Utility Council)

  1. Market ISAWWA continuously to increase name recognition. (Public Information Committee)
               

E.  Improve general membership services.

  1. Improve the quantity and quality of communications with existing members. (Executive Director)

 F.  Increase existing members’ involvement in the Section.

  1.  Encourage active participation by members who in the past have not been active.
    (Section Past Chair)

  2. Add a Young Professional to each committee. (Section Chair)

 G.  Achieve safe drinking water through knowledge.

1.      Compile and transfer technological and managerial information to the water supply community.  (Education Committee)

  1. Provide the tools, education, and avenues needed to allow members to communicate and work together effectively from remote locations. (Executive Director)

  2. Provide statewide access to ISAWWA programs and opportunities. (Executive Director)

 H.  Promote an effective legislative and regulatory environment for the drinking water community.

1.      Support legislation, regulation, and policies at all levels that will benefit consumers, the environment, and the water community. (Water Utility Council)

  1. Participate in development of legislation and regulations. (Water Utility Council)

3.      Determine what additional resources are needed. (Water Utility Council)

4.      Promote the funding of statewide water resources studies. (Water Utility Council)

 

I.  Promote consumer confidence and satisfaction with drinking water through assistance to utilities.

  1. Assist water suppliers with their communications with the public. (Public Information Committee)

  2. Promote utility participation in training and improvement programs. (Section Chair)

3.      Increase public outreach. (Public Information Committee)

  1. Educate the consumer on the value of water and the need to fund the necessary infrastructure. (Public Information Committee)

  2. Educate the consumer as to the need to conserve water supplies.  (Public Information Committee)

 
 

Illinois Section American Water Works Association

2006 Strategic Plan Board Discussion of
Business Plan Task Assignments April 27, 2006 

 The Illinois Section has adopted a new strategic plan to guide the Section in the coming years.  With this new plan in mind, the Section Board considered means for allocating the tasks associated with the business plan to the Section’s committees.  The following are ideas for each of the listed committees to consider.  These tasks are in addition to the normal activities of the committees and can be taken on either as they are described; or modifications can be suggested; or new ones can be added; or the suggested tasks can be declined if they are not within the abilities of the committee.  In any case, each committee needs to review the tasks and develop details as to how each task will be accomplished, who will do the work, and how we will measure success. 

Section Board  

  • Make Trustees accountable for the tasks in their job descriptions.
  • Assign committee members to attend regional operators meetings.

 Education Committee 

  • Post on-line abstracts for talks that will be given at conferences and training programs.
  • Work on AWWA to increase Section revenue from national programs.  Work for greater coordination of section and national training programs.
  • Offer to provide educational programs at the regional operators meetings.
  • Make sure training session attendee lists are given to the Membership Committee for recruitment activities.

 

Membership Committee 

  • Enforce membership requirement for discounts to conferences and training sessions.  Instruct Conference and Education Committees to send names of scofflaws to the Membership Committee.
  • Include more Section and AWWA promotional information in the conference packets of non-members.
  • Identify other conferences at which the Section can exhibit. 
  • Provide speakers for community college operator training programs.  Partner with the Education Committee.

 

Public Information Committee 

  • Inform communities that this service is in place and available to them.
  • Increase the Section’s and AWWA’s name recognition with the general public.  Tell our story.  Advertise our resources.
  • Provide conservation tips.
  • Provide information on current issues.
  • Develop network of regional correspondents.
  • Add committee members.

 

Emergency Planning and Safety Committee 

  • Conduct a session at the Annual Conference each year.
  • Provide articles for Splash and for use by the Public Information and Education Committees.
  • Post weekly safety tips on the ISAWWA web site.
  • Focus on the needs of small systems, implementation of emergency response plans, and regulatory information.
  • Improve access and marketing of AWWA and APWA safety publications.

 

Small Systems Committee 

  • Develop contacts with the regional operators groups.
  • Bring training opportunities to their meetings.  Involve the IEPA in these programs.
  • Research availability of grant money for the small system programs. 
  • Make books and videos available to small systems.
  • Promote the availability of internet training programs to operators.  Consider scholarships for participation.

 

Source Water Committee 

  • Position committee to be an information resource to other committees (such as Education).  Act as a clearinghouse.
  • Develop links to other organizations with similar interests.
  • Post utility questions on the web site.
  • Develop educational programs for the Education Committee.

 

Student Activities Committee 

  • Provide programs for non-engineering students that can make careers in the water industry.
  • Develop contacts with teachers and offer services.
  • Participate in science fairs.
  • Contact minority and woman student organizations and provide them with information regarding the benefits of membership.  Partner with the Young Professionals and Student Activities Committees.
  • Contact new members.  Partner with the Membership Committee.
  • Attend job fairs.

 

Water For People Committee 

  • Prepare list of persons with specific skill sets that are interested in volunteering time to WFP.
  • Publish articles in Splash regarding programs in specific countries.
  • Get promotional materials from Denver.
  • Develop fund raising programs within utilities.
  • Encourage regional operator groups to do fund raising for WFP.  Celebrate them in Splash.

 

Young Professionals Committee 

  • Prepare materials for the new member packet.
  • Target young operators for inclusion.
  • Develop means to reach the young utility employees that are not direct members.
  • Make it clear that you need not be a member to attend activities.
  • Improve timeliness of mailed program notices.
  • Help new members with career path choices.
  • Provide encouragement to young members. 
  • Sell membership value for young professionals to managers.

 

Youth Education Committee 

  • Add committee members.
  • Develop a program that satisfies the requirements of the appropriate Boy Scouts badge.
  • Provide reference materials for speakers at youth groups and classes.