Strategic and Business Plans

Minnesota Section – American Water Works Association

Five-Year (more or less) Revision

April 14, 2009

Bloomington Fire Training Station

Past-chair Karla Peterson chaired a session to revise the section Strategic and Business Plans

Present: Karla Peterson, Section Past Chair; Stew Thornley, Secretary-Treasurer; Jon Eaton, Administrative & Policy Council; Lyle Stai, Central District; Rick Wanner, Small Systems Committee; Mark Sweers, Southwest District; Chris Voeltz, Water for People; Bill Spain, Section Chair; Terry Neuman, Public Information Committee; Doug Klamerus, Scholarship Committee; John Thom, Education Chair; Rod Ganther, Minnesota Associates Council; Pete Moulton, Section Chair-Elect; Myron Volker, Public Affairs Council; Dean Huschle, Southeast District; Gary Warner, Membership Committee; Phil Zollinger, Safety Committee; Lisa Vollbrecht, Central District; Pat Shea, Trustee-at-Large; Dave Brown, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.

Peterson had the assembly break into smaller groups to discuss Seven Measures of Success.

Strategic Plan: Vision

Eaton noted that the Association has changed its vision to be the leading force dedicated to “safe water,” not “safe drinking water.”  Eaton raised the possibility of dropping the word “drinking” from the section’s vision statement.  Discussion indicated a desire to not make this change.

Warner moved and Thom seconded to leave the section vision station as is.  Motion passed unanimously.

Strategic Plan: Mission

Stai moved and Shea seconded to move the phrase “to the drinking water community” from after the word “opportunity” to after “welfare.”  Motion passed unanimously.

Goals and Objectives

The overall group discussed the current goals:

1. Provide educational opportunities
2. Promote an active and diverse membership
3. Identify, develop, maintain, and enhance partnerships with others to leverage our resources
4. Optimize organizational structure and administrative practices
5. Promote an effective legislative and regulatory environment for the water community

Councils are assigned to provide oversight on each of these goals.  It was discussed whether these assignments were necessary or if the assignments should be modified.

Moulton moved and Stai seconded to maintain the oversight by councils and to add the Public Affairs Council to goals 1 and 3.  Motion passed unanimously.

Stai moved and Moulton seconded to add the words “volunteerism and” after the word “Promote” to goal 2.  Motion failed 1-20.

Eaton moved and Sweers seconded to add the words “information and” after the word “Provide” to goal 1.  Motion passed unanimously.

Moulton moved and Eaton seconded to add the Public Affairs Council to the oversight councils for goal 2.  Motion passed unanimously. 

The group broke into small groups to discuss the objectives under each of the goals.  The groups submitted their updates and changes to Peterson, who will process them for an updated strategic plan.