Chapter President Jeannine Clancy - Spring 2012

In December, the Executive Committee met for the Chapter’s annual strategic planning session at the Old Historic Courthouse in Stillwater, courtesy of our host – Don Theisen, Washington County Public Works. The group included all of the incoming and outgoing officers and directors, as well as committee chairs. It was a really productive and enjoyable time.

Bonnie Morey, a facilitator from SEH, worked with our group to identify some of the most important issues facing our Chapter, determine the tasks to go about addressing the issues, and assigned champions to help guide and steer a group who is committed to working on the issue.

In keeping with our Chapter’s Vision Statement:

The Minnesota Chapter is the recognized leader in public works education, advocacy, and building better communities.

Here is the Chapter work plan for 2012:

1. Identify and Develop a Plan to Meet the Chapter’s Support Needs: We have tremendous support from volunteers who make our Chapter the vibrant organization that it is. We currently contract for administrative support, conference planning, and bookkeeping services. This strategic planning group, led by Lee Gustafson, is identifying outstanding support needs and will formulate a plan to best meet those needs.

2. Review Conference Structure and Make Recommendations for 2013: Jupe Hale and Bob Cockriel, Conference Planning Co-Chairs, are working with a group of members who will evaluate our approach to planning conference topics, as well as the number of conferences and the location in which they are held. Given that our conferences are a primary opportunity for learning and networking, and revenue from the conferences helps sustain Chapter operations, this discussion is of significant importance to the Chapter.

3. Expand and Enhance Educational Opportunities: Tom Montgomery will be working with the Education and Training Committee to determine if there are additional training needs that are currently not being met, review methods of delivering training sessions using new technologies, look to increase opportunities for training in Greater Minnesota, and review how our Chapter programs align with national certifications and accreditations.

4. Enhance Chapter National Involvement: Our Chapter is the eighth largest in the nation, and is recognized nationally for our local programs and activities. Chapter Delegate, Angela Popenhagen will look into opportunities to once again host the APWA Congress and the Snow Conference, continue our successful national awards program, and work with our members to share ideas in APWA’s publications.

5. Continue to Support MN 2050: This initiative, supported by the Chapter, is serving as a model of cooperation among organizations that support investment in public infrastructure. It is apparent that the initiative would benefit from being fully integrated into the Chapter’s long-range planning. Dan Gage will work with the group to help keep the Minnesota Chapter involved in this important endeavor.

6. Develop and Implement a Broad Communication Plan: This group, led by John Rodeberg, Brian Bourassa, and Eric Eckman, will be working to evaluate and improve our website. They will also review the chapter’s existing email distribution system, the Chalkline, and look at the opportunity for tapping into social media to enhance communication.

7. Review Committee Structure: Led by Mark Maloney, this group will be looking at succession planning within our committees and leadership development that will provide for beneficial volunteer opportunities for our members.

8. Enhance Membership Involvement: The Chapter currently has 919 members. The Membership Committee, led by Jason Sprague and Wayne Houle, will review how Chapter activities are reaching out to existing members, what additional activities could be developed to reach members currently not active, and look for potential areas of membership growth such as a Student Chapter.

Sound like a challenging work plan? It is, and we would appreciate your help in accomplishing it. Please take a look at Chapter Organization Chart. I am overwhelmed by the level of commitment from so many of you to the success of the Chapter, but we would love to have even more member involvement. If any of these topics pique your interest, contact an officer or a committee chair. We welcome your involvement!

Jeannine Clancy
President