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this page President's Perspective: APGO Going Forward By Steve Usher, P.Geo.APGO President  Every few years the APGO Council conducts a Strategic Planning Session to help set the priority goals of the Association. These sessions also allow the Association to consider progress made with respect to goals set previously and to consider APGO's current and future objectives. On April 4, 2008, the APGO Council and guests met for a very productive full day session in Mississauga. During the formative years of APGO, the basics, such as mandated regulations and registration, were the priorities. The organization is now beginning to mature and this year's session was able to look at mid-term goals and objectives, in addition to our immediate needs. The following few paragraphs will provide some insight into the current priorities set for the APGO resulting from the Strategic Planning Session.
The Strategic Planning Session was the responsibility of APGO's Vice President, Greg Finn, P.Geo., Councilor Doreen Weston (non-member appointee), and Executive Director Andrea Waldie, P.Geo.. Ms. Weston as moderator, led the session, mediated debates, solicited opinions, documented progress, and generally guided participants through the day's agenda. The agenda for the day was straightforward. The day started with a review of the APGO Vision and Mission statements, which have been the guiding principles for the APGO these past few years. The remainder of the morning session was devoted to a Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat/Risk (SWOT) analysis. After a brief review of the previous Strategic Plan from 2004, the priority areas for the next three years were determined by analyzing the SWOT results and considering those while bearing in mind the Vision and Mission statements. Everyone present actively participated. It was rewarding to hear from one of our new Councilors that he was impressed with the unity on Council and that discussion was open and without 'politics'. Three priorities emerged as a result of the process: communication, governance, and enforcement and compliance. A three-year plan is currently being developed based on the results of the Strategic Planning Session. A Strategic Plan document will be presented at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the APGO on Thursday, June 5, 2008. After the AGM, the document will be available online at the APGO website. Having a Strategic Plan in place will allow the Association to continue to build a vibrant, participatory and goal-oriented organization. The Strategic Plan will be reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis through a strategic management process. As president, I would like to publicly thank our Councilors and guests who volunteered their time to serve the APGO through the planning process. I could see that every one of them, Councilors, guests, and staff, came prepared to the Strategic Planning Session, and gave up even more than just this one day from their professional practice to contribute to the greater good of the Association. Thank you to Andrea, Doreen and Greg for organizing this most productive day. I encourage all members to consider volunteering some time to one of the many APGO committees that addresses issues important to all of us and to help make the APGO a leader in the world-wide geoscience community. |
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