HOW TO:

  CHAIR THE STRATEGIC PLAN/STANDARD PRACTICE MANUAL COMMITTEE

                                                               November 1995

1.         Introduction

            1.1       Committee selection

The Chair the Strategic Plan/Standard Practice Manual Committee (SP/SPM) is appointed by the Section Chair.  The immediate Section Past Chair generally will be appointed unless other mutual arrangements are made by the Section Chair.  The committee chair will form a SP/SPM committee comprised of members that have distinct interest in the Section and have some background and involvement in the conduct and history of the Section and AWWA.  A committee of 4 to 12 members is generally satisfactory.  Several present officers or trustees on the committee are considered desirable but Section members, both new and long-tenured, that may offer fresh perspectives on section affairs are also needed.  The committee chair will discuss possible committee member candidates with the Section Chair.

            1.2       Purpose of the Committee

The SP/SPM Committee annually reviews and revises the Section Strategic Plan for consideration and approval by the Board of Trustees.

The SP/SPM Committee annually reviews the Section Standard Practice Manual seeking to keep it updated to reflect the policies and practices of the Section and the Board of Trustees.  A concise, yet comprehensive, and well organized document is the goal.

2.         Committee Tasks

            2.1       Committee Plan

The committee chair shall develop a plan of action for the committee for the year.  This plan should be reviewed at the first committee meeting and changes made as appropriate. 

            2.2       Committee Meetings

The first committee meeting should be held within 45 days following the Annual Meeting.  Subsequent committee meetings shall be as required.

            2.3       Section Strategic Plan (SP)

The committee should review the previous strategic plan to determine if revisions are desirable or needed.  Special attention should be given to compatibility between the Section strategic plan and the current AWWA Strategic/5-Year Plan.  A revised strategic plan should be presented to the Board as early as possible for discussion and possible adoption.

            2.4       Standard Practice Manual (SPM)

The committee should review each section of the SPM for possible changes and expansion.  Careful attention should be given to apparent conflicts within the manual and conflicts or changes in actual practice.  Annual update of the Section organizational chart, budget, board policies, history, awards listing, and historical officer chart is required.  Depending on the extent of the SPM changes/revisions, new pages or a new manual should be distributed to officers, trustees, and committee chairs as soon as possible. 

The committee chair will provide the Section Chair and the Executive Manager with a current distribution list. 

            2.5       Master Copy SP/SPM

The master word processing copy of the manual shall be forwarded on diskette to the succeeding committee chair, the Executive Manager, and the Secretary-Treasurer.  The SPM shall be maintained using Word Perfect (WP) software.   

3.         SP/SPM Committee Chair responsibilities

            3.1       Committee Activities

The committee chair will direct and coordinate the activities of the committee members. 

            3.2       Committee Members

The committee members should be given explicit and specific assignments to accomplish the goals of the committee.

            3.3       Committee Budget

The committee chair shall make a committee budget request for the next calendar year to the Chair Elect not later than July.  Non-revenue committee activities must be accomplished within the Section budget allocation if possible.  Excursions beyond the budget allocation must be approved by the Section Board of Trustees.

            3.4       Report to the Membership

The committee chair shall prepare an annual report to the membership for inclusion in the annual committee reports assembled by the Executive Manager for distribution at the Section annual meeting.  The annual report should summarize the SP/SPM Committee activities during the year.