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AWWA-National

STRATEGIC PLAN

I. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

A. This Strategic Plan contains five major sections: Statement of Purpose; Mission Statement; Strategic Objectives; Goals and Action Plan; and Other Action Items.

B. Action items are specifically limited to 1) new programs, 2) programs which contain significant changes in emphasis and 3) programs which are of such importance to the Section that major emphasis is desired.



II. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

A. AWWA recognizes the need for its officers, Section Board of Directors, staff and membership to have well-established goals to provide continuity and guidance for the thousands of volunteers who make up the working committees of the Association.

B. The goals and actions in this plan have been developed for the purpose of guiding Section activities over the next five years to address the challenges to be faced by the water supply industry.

C. The Section Strategic Plan plays a key role in implementing AWWA's national priorities.


III. MISSION STATEMENT

The Missouri Section - AWWA is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare by assuring drinking water of unquestionable quality and sufficient quantity. AWWA, as a leader for the public drinking water profession, must be an efficient instrument of change by advancing the technology, science and governmental policies relative to the public drinking water profession's role in stewardship of water resources.

IV. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The following five areas have been identified as major priorities for specific action and continuing efforts by the Missouri Section.

1. Consumer Confidence - Foster communication and understanding between consumers and suppliers.

2. Water Quality - Promote the concept of supplying consumers the highest quality water practicable. Assist water utilities in achieving this objective while offering ways to fully manage water resources.

3. Small Water Systems - Develop and implement an effective program to assist small water systems in providing safe drinking water. Emphasize viability and compliance with regulations.

4. Governmental Affairs - Implement an aggressive approach to insure effective input to federal and state legislative and regulatory action impacting the water supply industry.

5. Primacy - Continue to help DNR obtain additional funding to retain primacy and to implement SDWA on state level.


V. ACTION PLAN

A. Water Quality - Promote the concept of supplying customers the highest quality water practicable. Assist water utilities in achieving this objective. Encourage treatment excellence based on self-assessment and initiatives like the Partnership For Safe Water.

- Implement a voluntary peer review system, based on the National QualServe program. Utilize websites to have a question/answer forum.

- Develop and Implement efforts to encourage qualified laboratories to acquire and maintain certification and assist other utilities.

- Develop programs to provide state utilities with information on new regulations and their impacts. Utilize Keeping Current newsletter.

B. Small Water Systems - Develop and implement an effective program to assist small water systems in providing safe drinking water.

- Promote state programs which encourage alternate management schemes for those small water systems which are not capable of operating in a manner that effectively serves the public. This can include a joint management and operations as well as a physical connection.

- Set up means to use Outreach Programs which section can use to provide assistance to small systems.

- Set up website to assist small systems.

- Work closely with Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA), Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference (MWWC) and Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) to coordinate activities and to develop joint projects to assist small systems.

- Develop, in conjunction with AWWARF, publications highlighting the practical operational aspects of published research reports.

C. Government Affairs - Implement an aggressive program to insure effective input to federal and state legislative and regulatory action impacting the water industry.

- Maintain an aggressive program based on the recommendations of the Section Water Utility Council.

a. Develop close liaison with Safe Drinking Water Commission and become a resource for water industry views on regulatory matters.

b. Maintain liaison activities, through the Water Industry Coordinating Committee, with public and private policy groups, to gain support and understanding of significant State issues.

c. Conduct periodic opinion surveys of key members of State legislature and utilities to update and establish issues and strategies. Utilize Keeping Current newsletter to keep these groups informed of changing industry needs.

d. Increase substantially the use of officer and Board member visits to Jefferson City as opportunities for briefing Legislative members and staff.

e. Actively involve the Board of Directors and the section in legislative/regulatory activities to stimulate a well-coordinated, active program.

D. Public Information - Provide information to achieve a broad-based understanding of drinking water issues and the true cost of safe drinking water. In Missouri, develop increased confidence in the quality of water delivered to the consuming public.

- Conduct active programs to disseminate AWWA positions on critical topics such as disinfection by-products, enforcement, home water treatment devices, and other current issues to special interest groups, government agencies, water utilities and the public at large.

- Develop and implement a program to use key AWWA members, section officers and water utility managers to speak for the industry on critical issues.

- Provide materials and services to assist water utilities in developing and implementing effective public information programs and Customer Confidence Reports.

- Support, at the annual Conference, a DNR State of Water Industry Report.

E. Education - Undertake an active program to assist State utilities in meeting the challenge of consistently providing safe drinking water.

- Develop and deliver timely training programs and material that will assist State water utility personnel in understanding and complying with the regulations.

- Provide mechanisms to deliver training programs, materials and packages designed specifically to assist small system operators and managers.

- Encourage participation in AWWA-s sponsored teleconferences and seminars and work with other organizations in providing joint training opportunities.

- Support National AWWA goal of providing educational materials in 50 percent or more of the school systems.

- Public four timely newsletters per year for information delivery.

F. Revenue Sources - Cultivate additional sources of revenue to support the increasing number of services required of an active, effective Section.

- Provide for executive management of routine section activities.

- Explore need and feasibility of Section dues.

- Investigate the possibilities of receiving funds from foundations for specific purposes.

G. Section Development and Support - Assist Committees to increase capabilities to implement effective performance.

- Encourage attendance at Regional Meetings of Section Officers.

- Develop and distribute materials to assist committee chairs and members with program development and implementation.
- Provide materials and orientation sessions on motivational techniques for volunteer efforts.

- Encourage continuing self-assessment of the Section with member involvement and committee oversight.

VI. OTHER ACTION ITEMS

A. Section Operation

- Evaluate Trustee-Committee structure.

- Develop minimum Committee performance standards.

- Conduct a minimum of four Section Board Meetings annually.

B. Information Services

- Provide access and make known to Section members the WATERNET database, Safe Drinking Water Advisor and AWWA Home Page. Enable this activity through establishing a Section Home Page and scheduling training sessions on the use of the various information sources.

C. Water Industry Personnel - Assure the entry and retention of qualified and talented individuals in the water industry and encourage its members to provide equal employment opportunity to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age.

- Develop a program to attract entry-level personnel and college students (Section Scholarships) to career opportunities in water supply.

- In cooperation with EPA and DNR, promote and encourage the certification of water system operators.

D. Membership - Maintain a vigorous recruitment and retention program to keep AWWA strong and growing in order to improve and expand services.

- Achieve a total membership of 1,000 with particular emphasis given to recruiting based on diversity.

- Aggressively recruit water utilities to become members to achieve a total Utility membership of 100.

E. Water System Funding - Promote adequate and equitable water system funding to provide sufficient water of unquestionable quality.

- Support regulations within State Revolving Loan Fund guidelines which will provide adequate funding for public water supplies.

- Support legislation to continue to provide adequate funding for State DNR operations.

- Encourage state and local governments to support the businesslike operation of water utilities.

Strategic Plan Procedures
1. Each year, the entire Plan will be reviewed and revised as necessary.

2. Highlights of the Plan will be presented to the Board during its Winter Meeting to obtain input.

3. Staff and Committee prepared estimates of the cost of the Plan's activities to give the Board an idea for Budget Committee action.

4. The Planning Committee develops and implementation schedule for the Plan. The schedule will provide additional details on specific action items, time frames, and funds needed for implementation. The activities will be prioritized to facilitate Budget decisions.

5. The implementation schedule is used to help frame the next year's budget.

6. On an annual basis, the Char develops and presents to the membership, through publication in the Show-Me Newsletter, a report on the progress and accomplishments of the Plan of the previous year.

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