MICHIGAN SECTION, AWWA

STRATEGIC PLAN

  2003-2008

updated: January, 2004

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Mission:

Our mission is to serve our member’s needs by enhancing the knowledge, skills and technology necessary to manage water supplies to assure a safe, adequate, reliable and cost effective supply of drinking water, by promoting laws and regulations which protect public health and by promoting customer confidence in drinking water.

Membership:

Key membership sectors include water works personnel, consultants, regulators, vendors, students and manufacturers. 

Governance:

We are governed by the by-laws of the Michigan Section of the American Water Works Association as approved by the AWWA Board of Directors on January 23, 2000, as originally adopted in 1938 and most recently updated in 2000. 

Guiding Principles:

We are a volunteer member driven organization, managed through the strategic planning process.  The Section strives to be responsive to the needs and desires of membership and actively solicits membership input to determine priorities and develop new policies, procedures and products.  New programs and services are considered when there is the opportunity to serve the needs of the membership.

We consider ourselves members of the drinking water community and strive to work cooperatively with all water supply interest groups for the benefit of the drinking water public. 

We are committed to doing business openly by holding meetings open to membership and other interested parties. We strive to assist water supplies in communicating effectively with their public, their legislators and the media regarding drinking water issues.  

We recognize and value the diversity in our membership and strive to provide opportunities for participation and access to Section activities to all members.

Section History:

The Michigan Section, American Water Works Association (AWWA) was formed in 1938.  Prior to that, Michigan had participated in the Central States Water Works Association which included West Virginia, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and which joined National AWWA in 1915.  The Michigan Conference on Water Purification was formed in 1922 and began holding joint conferences on drinking water with the Michigan Section, AWWA in 1938.  The Michigan Conference on Water Purification was dissolved in 1947, leaving the Michigan Section, AWWA as the only technical and professional drinking water organization in Michigan.  Membership in the Michigan Section AWWA is approaching 2100 (as of June 2002).

The Strategic Planning Process:

The strategic plan is an integral part of the Section operations. The plan should be updated annually to incorporate changes and new action items.  The strategic plan includes the Section’s goals, objectives and action items needed to accomplish the mission.  The plan allows the Section to wisely allocate its resources, both people and money, and provides a means to measure progress.

Feedback from Section members on issues to be addressed through the strategic planning process is requested on an ongoing basis.  A major review of the plan occurs every five years, with the next major review scheduled for the year 2008. An annual review takes place at the end of each business year to determine the status of action items.

Responsibility for providing input to the strategic planning process lies with every Section member.  Responsibility to incorporate member needs into the strategic plan lies with the Planning Committee.  Responsibility to implement the provisions of the strategic plan lies with the Section officers and committees. 

The following goals suggest broad areas of direction for Section activities over the next five years.  Corresponding objectives narrow the goals to specific areas of concern within the broad goal heading.  Associated action items have specific time horizons and are assigned to a committee for implementation.

This plan shall be reviewed, updated and modified annually.  The coordination of these annual updates shall be done by the Planning/CQI committee with active involvement of the committee chairs, Board liaisons, Board of Trustees and others as needed.

MICHIGAN SECTION, AWWA STRATEGIC PLAN

ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

GOAL I:    TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATION AND REGULATION WHICH PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ASSIST MEMBERS IN ATTAINING AND MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE.

OBJ 1.      Emphasize the use of sound scientific principles in the development of meaningful and reasonable regulations and regulatory programs.

      ACTION ITEMS:

·        Maintain an active role during development and promulgation of State and Federal laws and rules.  Request Section participation as stakeholder in all water related rules and laws.  (Water Utility Committee, Board, Groundwater committee)

o       Active on MTBE legislation

o       Active in State senate groundwater legislation

·        Communicate effectively with affiliated organizations to assure coordinated input to State and Federal laws and regulations impacting the drinking water community. (Liaisons to MML, MTA, MWEA, MRWA, APWA, Mentoring committee)

·             Provided exhibits and presentations to a variety of organizations

·             Potential relationship with MISOHA in development (Board)

OBJ 2.    Continue to support State primacy with an emphasis on compliance assistance.

      ACTION ITEMS:

·        Collaborate with State on pertinent issues. (Education Committee, Water Utility Committee)

·        Ongoing training coordination and support

·        Monitor State programs and prepare contingency plan(s) to respond to changes.  (Board)

·        Annual financial planning includes contingency fund

·        Met with MDEQ regarding reorganization

·        Encourage involvement of new State staff and engage new State leadership in Section activities.  (Young Professionals Committee, Board)

·        Recruited 16 new committee members

·        Financial support for MDEQ training participation in AWWA courses (Board)

OBJ 3.    Provide timely information to the membership on legislative, regulatory and emerging issues.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Inform affected members and elected officials about important pending legislation and regulations and other critical items, by special mailing, e-mail or other means. (Water Utility Committee, Board, Liaisons)

·        Develop and promote activities to assist members in “grass roots” efforts to contact elected officials about the effects of legislative and regulatory issues.  (Water Utility Committee, Board)

·             Successful MTBE legislation

·        Assess Section’s need for Water Resources Committee to address issues such as source water protection, great lakes diversion and conservation.  (Board, Groundwater Committee)

OBJ 4.  Continue to foster positive relationship between MDEQ and AWWA (Board, all committees)

GOAL II:   IMPROVE AND ENCOURAGE THE TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL AND FINANCIAL (TMF) CAPABILITY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS

OBJ 1. Increase the awareness of local officials to support adequate rates to provide for the TMF system needs.

                        ACTION ITEMS:

·        Support MML and MTA educational activities for elected officials.  (Board, MML and MTA Liaisons)        

·           Funding and participation in MML education of local officials

·        Develop and distribute educational materials and publications to elected officials. (Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

·          Public officials training seminar

·        Contribute articles and information to MML and MTA publications. (Management/Administrative Practices Committee, MML and MTA Liaisons)

OBJ 2. Provide technical support and information to assess and develop TMF capacity.    (Mentoring Committee, Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

       ACTION ITEMS:

·        Share information and experience on alternative approaches to centralized treatment.  (Water Treatment Practices Committee, Distribution Practices Committee)

·        Share information and experience on alternative approaches for operating and maintaining distribution systems.  (Distribution Practices Committee, Water Treatment Practices Committee)

·           Presentations at regionals: on-line turbidity monitoring

·        Identify training needs and opportunities by AWWA and others.  (Management/Administrative Practices Committee, Maintenance Committee, Information Technology Committee, Lab Practices Committee, Education Committee, Customer Service Committee, Distribution Practices Committee)

·          Survey utility operators and maintenance personnel at Joint Expo to determine what services they need and how to reach them

·           On line rate survey

·        Provide information regarding obtaining funding for infrastructure needs to small systems.  (Small Systems Committee, Mentoring Committee)

·           Utilize the CAP program

·        Publicize TMF requirements to all (not just new systems and DWRF applicants).  (Mentoring Committee, Water Utility Committee

·        )

·          Promote CAP program to all utilities

GOAL III: PROMOTE CONFIDENCE IN DRINKING WATER.

OBJ 1.    Assist public water supplies in developing community dialogue and public involvement.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Encourage the exchange of Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs).  (Public Awareness /Community Relations Committee, Distribution Practices Committee)

·        Encourage innovative use of CCRs.  (Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

·        Promote Water Quality Awareness Week in Michigan.  (Public Awareness/Community Relations Committee).

·      Develop and implement new display booth

OBJ 2.    Expand efforts to educate youth regarding drinking water current/future issues.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Encourage careers within the water profession.  (Student Services sub- Committee, Youth Education Committee, Young Professionals Committee, Public Awareness Committee)

·        Annual Fellowship Award (Research and Technical Practices Committee)

·        Support and promote the water programs at community colleges.  (UP Coordinating Committee, Education Committee, Young Professionals Committee, Student Services sub-committee, Youth Education Committee)

·        Promote youth education activities regarding drinking water.  (Student Services sub-committee, Public Awareness/Community Relations Committee, Youth Education Committee)

·        Worked with MWEA serving as hosts and educating students on the section

·        Supported and participated in Science fairs

·        New High School scholarship for section family members (Membership Committee)

·        Represented AWWA at Michigan and Detroit Math and Science Teacher’s conferences

·        Focus on elementary and high school drinking water education.  (Youth Education Committee, Student Services sub-committee)

·        Provided grants to teachers for water science curriculum enhancements

·        Supported water festivals

OBJ 3.    Improve risk communication.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Identify risk communication opportunities.  (Research and Technical Practices Committee, Security Committee, Water Treatment Practices Committee)

o  Published articles in Water Works News

o  Distributed vulnerabilities statement and USEPA threat level guidance

o  Attend Water Security congress and disseminate information

o  Offer a Water Security Summit Workshop

o  Presentations at section conference

·        Request Research and Technical Practices ad hoc committee to identify timely security issues as action items.

o  Security committee created

OBJ 4.    Elevate the level of professionalism of personnel in the water supply systems.

·        Identify mechanisms to publicize individual and system achievements.  (Public Awareness/Community Relations, Safety Committee, Awards Committees, Conference Resolution)

o  Presentation of awards at City council meetings

o  Expand water taste off to international competition

o  Reform Faust scholarship award guidelines and develop methods to advertise availability

o  Addition of tapping contest to Joint Expo (Joint Expo committee)

GOAL IV.  ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER PROFESSIONALS.

OBJ 1.    Provide quality training based on current and future needs and promote continuing education.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Assure technical and educational opportunities to support certification and continuing education.  (Education Committee, UP Coordinating Committee)

oLab Practices Seminar, joint with MWEA (Lab Practices committee)

oHands-on Lab sessions at Regional meeting (Lab Practices Committee)

oNew conference on Terrorism (Management and Administrative Practices Committee)

oSupport training with presentations and recommended topics (Distribution Systems Practices Committee)

oUtilize and promote web site for training and committee activities (Distribution System Practices Committee

oNew conference to replace reduction in Regionals (Research and Technical practices committee and Lab Practices committee)

oImprove interaction between Education and UP Coordinating committees

oSeminar on computer related technologies (Information and Management Technology committee)

oMange additional growth of joint Expo due to new certification requirements for WWTPs (Joint Expo committee)

oPilot on-line S-4 certification exam review (Information & Technology Committee)

oDevelop cross connection course (UP Coordinating Committee)

oOffer Chemistry short course in the UP (UP coordinating Committee)

oFocus on Regional meetings to increase the cross section of water profession attending (Distribution System Practices Committee)

oSafety seminar, newsletter and web site (Safety Committee)

·        Promote the use of AWWA materials and programs.   (Education Committee, UP Coordinating Committee)

·        Expand and improve access to Section education/training materials.  (Education Committee, UP coordinating Committee)

oProviding seminar contents on CD ((Information and Management Technology committee)

oEnhance functionality of web site (Information and Management Technology committee)

·        Determine training needs of small systems. (Small Systems Committee, UP Coordinating Committee)

·        Explore innovative educational opportunities.  (Small Systems Committee, UP Coordinating Committee, Education Committee)

·        Offer University of Wisconsin seminar in Michigan

OBJ 2.    Promote activities and technologies essential for continuous improvement of water supplies.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Review AWWA continuous water quality improvement programs and promote implementation in Michigan as appropriate. (Management/Administrative Practices Committee, Education Committee, Research and Technical Practices Committee, Mentoring Committee)

·        Implemented CAP program

·        Work with regulatory staff to seek out and evaluate new water works technologies. (MAC, Water Treatment Practices Committee, Research and Technical Practices Committee)

·        Support and promote the GEWT.  (Historic Preservation Committee, Water Treatment Practices Committee, Board)

·        Partial funding from special projects

·        Secure major funding

·        Support efforts to improve the safety of drinking water worldwide.  (Water for People Committee, Public Awareness/Community Relations Committee)

·        Completed project in Ecuador

·        Successful new fund raising projects implemented

·        New education of Ecuadorian student program initiated

·        Complete a new project in Ecuador

·        Establish new Water Efficiency Committee

OBJ 3.    Educate Utility Boards, Councils and Management on the importance of professional                                  development.

               ACTION ITEMS

·        Provide educational opportunities to Boards, Councils and Managers.  (Education Committee, Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

o  Public Officials training seminar

·        Develop and use avenues for ongoing communication with Boards, Councils and managers.  (Public Awareness/Community Relations Committee, Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

o  Update section video

o  Workshop for committee chairs on actions for education of local officials (Planning/CQI committee)

·        Provide a mechanism to recognize and promote the professionalism of the water profession to Boards, Councils and managers.  (Public Awareness Committee, Management/Administrative Practices Committee)

GOAL V: ESTABLISH THE MICHIGAN SECTION, AWWA AS THE AUTHORITVE RESOURCE IN THE WATER SUPPLY FIELD

OBJ 1.    Determine the unmet needs of water supplies and seek ways to meet those needs.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Conduct focus groups with water systems to determine their unmet needs and report results to Board. (Planning/CQI Committee, All Committees)

·        Presentation of focus group results from regionals meetings

·        Annual report on strategic plan progress to the Board, committees and members

·        Provide networking opportunities to support water supplies with emphasis on small systems.  (Small Systems Committee, Mentoring Committee, Planning/CQI Committee).

OBJ 2.    Identify groups and organizations with an interest in water supply issues and establish the Michigan Section and AWWA as the experts.  (All liaisons, all committees)

               ACTION ITEMS:

·        Maintain a working relationship with MTA, MML, MRWA, APWA, MWEA.  (Board, Liaisons)

·        Joint seminars with MWEA (Safety Committee, Lab Practices Committee)

·        New Joint Committee and Fund raising efforts (Water for People)

·        Joint web server (Information and Management Technology committee)

·        Working with MWRA on CAP (Mentoring committee)

·        Developing relationship with MWEA (Youth Education committee, Young Professionals Committee)

·        Explore ways to partner with other organizations to best serve our members.  (Board, Liaisons)

·        Explore conference booth at Home Shows (Community Awareness/Public Relations Committee)

OBJ 3.    Publish information relative to water supply issues.

ACTION ITEMS:

·        Activate the Water Alert program as necessary. (Board, Water Utility Committee)

·        Publish position papers on specific topics as appropriate.  (Board)

·        Utilize all forms of media to educate the public on water supply issues. (Public Awareness/Community Relations Committee, Liaisons, other committees as appropriate)

·        Support International AWWA on their position papers and policies. (Board)

 GOAL VI.    DEMONSTRATE THE SECTION’S COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS.

OBJ 1:    The majority of water professionals in Michigan will be members of AWWA.

               ACTION ITEMS:

·        Identify new opportunities and approaches for increasing membership.  (Membership Committee, All Committees)

o   100 new members in 2003

o   Attend membership summit and bring back new ideas for recruitment and retention

·        Encourage diverse participation on committees and Board.  (All committees, Board).

·        Involve UP and other geographic representation in section activities; Maintain UP representation on the Board (Board)

OBJ 2.    Determine the member’s perceptions/needs/expectations and design Section activities to serve membership.  (Planning/CQI Committee)

               ACTION ITEMS:

·         Evaluate the results of efforts to solicit Section members’ participation on committee assignments and develop more effective programs.  (Board, Membership Committee, all Committee Chairs)

·        Develop a plan to meet the needs of new members.  (Membership Committee)

o   Survey on first year membership retention

·        Determine and utilize those membership services that are highly valued by the various membership sectors. (MAC, Management/Administrative Practices Committee, Small Systems Committee, UP Coordinating Committee, Membership Committee)

o  Identify new opportunities for improving service to section members (Planning/CQI committee)