SSSA Board Retreat

1
Sustaining SSSA Success Vision Planning
SSSA Board Retreat August 9-10,
2006 Headquarters, Madison, WI
2

• The objectives of the retreat were two-fold
  first, to visit headquarters and introduce the
  Board representatives to the staff, second to
  develop a strategic plan that involves vision
  planning rather than management planning.

3
The Relationship of Vision, Strategies, Plans,
and Budgets
Vision
A sensible and appealing picture of the future
Leadership Creates (2006)
A logic for how the vision can be achieved
Strategies
Specific steps and timetables to implement the
strategies
Plans
Management Creates (2004)
Budgets
Plans converted into financial projections and
goals
Reference Leading Change, J.P. Kotter
4
SSSA Board Discussed

• Where is SSSA going? Its future direction.
• Why is it going there? Its reason for existence
  and core purpose.
• How will it get there?
• What must we do in the future to be successful?

5

• The strategic planning session were broken into
  three sections
• strategic assumptions,
• long-range strategic planning horizon,
• three-to-five year strategic planning horizon.

6
Core Purpose of SSSA

• TO ADVANCE SOIL SCIENCE AS FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE

7
By 2011 SSSA will have

• increased membership that is very diverse.
• significantly expanded its certification program.
• a new name (e.g. Soil Science Society, Inc.).
• developed a closer relationship with education
  (K-12, high school, Universities) to develop a
  soil science interest and curriculum.
• increased its continuing education programs.
• received significant financial endowments and
  gifts.

8
By 2011 SSSA will have

• achieved significant international growth.
• additional societies as part of its unified
  organization with ASA and CSSA.
• received awards, citations and increased
  recognition for its publications.
• increased its capability and activities to
  position itself as a powerful advocate for the
  advancement of soil science.
• increased input into research priorities.
• expanded recognition, positive branding and media
  attention.

9
The Goals (not in any specific order)

• SSSA will be the indispensable resource for
  enhanced programs and services to its members.
• SSSA will be the resource for enhanced programs
  and services to practicing soil scientists and
  associated professionals.
• SSSA will be recognized as the most powerful
  advocate for soil science.

10
The Goals

• SSSA will be financially secure and capable to
  carry out its strategic direction and vision.
• SSSA will partner in a coalition of scientific
  societies to advance sustainability.
• SSSA will be known for its innovative
  infrastructure that advances and sustains its
  success.

11
Task Forces

• These goals are being addressed as Task Forces
• One Task Force has been established SSSA will be
  recognized as the most powerful advocate for soil
  science.
• Other Task Forces are being established.

12
SSSA will be recognized as the most powerful
advocate for soil science.

• John Havlin, Chair

13
Strategies

• Education
• (High) Organize a strategy session to develop
  plans for incorporating soil science into
  university curriculums (core courses).
• (High) Contact NASULGC to establish a strategy
  session to address the decline in soil science
  positions in academia (universitywide).
• (Medium) Develop and design K-12 curriculum
  resources.

14

• Policy
• (Medium) Contact (using the House Soils Caucus)
  government agencies to begin to address the
  decline in soil science positions.

15
Milestones

• An increase in
• K-12th grade curriculum resources.
• the recognition of soil science and the critical
  importance of the resource by government and
  agencies worldwide.

16
An increase in the number of

• soil science positions across academia worldwide.
• universities with soil science curriculums.
• academic institutions that recognize soil science
  as a stand alone science and career field.

17
Envision the Future (3-5 yrs)

• All 50 states have passed legislation registering
  soil scientists to perform activities that had
  been previously preformed by engineers and
  geologists.
• It has been announced at the 75th anniversary of
  SSSA in 2011, that we now have 10,000 members.
• Universities are once again naming departments
  Soil Science and hiring soil science faculty
  due to the growth in students.
• Successful introduction of soils courses in both
  rural and urban public school systems, as well as
  required soils courses for all university
  students in natural resource and environmental
  science majors.

18
Envision the Future

• Federal and state public policy makers seek out
  the Soil Science Society (new name) on all soils
  related information.
• I did see USA Today as well as Good Morning
  America news crews interviewing the President.
• Next year, we look forward to attending the SSSA
  International annual meeting in Brazil.
• How do you envision the future of SSSA?