ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future By: Cres Guzman, P.E. President ASCE Texas Section – Vikas Verma, P.E. Director-At-Large, ASCE Texas Section

Introduction March 2005:ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning: Revisiting the 21st Century Report June 2005:ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning: Priorities for the Future ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Introduction Goals that have been met have been established Priorities for the future have been proposed ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

21st Century Committee – Goals That Have Been Met 1.Distribution of Technical and Professional Information 2.Opportunities for the Exchange of Ideas, Information, and Knowledge 3.Promotion of Ethics within the Profession 4.Provide a voice with regards to Public Policy and Community Affairs 5.Increase Compensation Standards for Civil Engineers 6.Cooperation with Other Professional Societies 7.Expand Public Awareness and Appreciation 8.Committee Structure:More responsive to member desires and more officer leadership ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

21st Century Committee – Priorities for the Future 1.Members 2.Students 3.Community Support Mechanism:ASCE Texas Section Office ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Members 1.Strengthening of Branches 2.Improved Communications:New Design of the ASCE Texas Section Website 3.Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 4.Cost Control:Dues, Meeting Registration, Continuing Education Classes, and Membership Recruitment/Retention 5.Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Strengthening of Branches Branches are the heart of ASCE. Smaller branches often face challenges Membership Development of new activities Greater coordination between the Texas Section and Branches Branches will be assisted in sustaining activities ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Strengthening of Branches Mentor Branches Larger branches in the Texas Section can assist smaller branches with activities and events that may be difficult for the smaller branches to organize on their own. Examples:Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars Meeting Topics ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Improved Communications Continually-updated website that is a thorough source of information Members should also be able to purchase publications and pay for Texas Section Meetings, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Seminars, and other pertinent events and products Branches should be able to effortlessly coordinate their websites with the Texas Section ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Improved Communications -- Goals The ASCE Texas Section website will undergo a complete redesign. The Section has a new website provider that will help improve communications with the membership and provide more efficient services. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) In 2003, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers instituted mandatory Continuing Education requirements, otherwise knows as Continuing Professional Development (CPD), for all Licensed Professional Engineers in the State of Texas. This requirement requires all licensed Texas P.E.’s to obtain 15 Professional Development Hours (PDH) each year. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Attendance at Texas Section Meetings (specifically the technical program) Attendance at CPD seminars sponsored by the Texas Section Active involvement in the Texas Section (i.e. officer positions). ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) -- Goals Continue to expand the number of CPD Seminars offered and make this a year-round priority CPD seminars can be offered statewide Coordination with branches will help in the development of these seminars, as well as provide the branches with new and exciting activities ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control At the beginning of the 21st Century, the ASCE Texas Section faced a severe financial crisis. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Solutions to Financial Crisis Cost cutting The generosity of Texas Section members and companies Dues increases RESULTS:The Texas Section was able to solve its financial issues and move forward with financial stability. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Primary Sources of Income Dues Meeting Registrations ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – New Sources of Income CPD Seminars that supplement those provided at section meetings RESULTS:The Texas Section will have an additional source of reliable income and improved financial stability. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Membership The Texas Section strives to serve as many civil engineers as possible This requires a strong membership. Increased membership provides an additional source of income in the form of additional dues. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Membership Recruitment The ASCE Texas Section conducted an ambitious membership drive in Over 400 new members were added to the Section this past year. Membership Recruitment will continue to be a priority beyond the membership drive ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Membership Retention Membership Retention is critical to sustaining the dues revenue that the Section receives every year To achieve retention, the ASCE Texas Section must continue to strive to provide high quality services to our members and ensure that excellent communication with membership is implemented and maintained. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Cost Control – Increased Dues Allotment As early as , the ASCE Texas Section will see an increased allotment in dues from the national office of ASCE Both the Section and Branches will see the financial benefits of this increased allotment ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches The ASCE Texas Section holds its annual leadership conference every summer A concern is the lack of attendance by Branch officers This leads to coordination problems between the Section and Branches, and weakens the branches as a whole ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches There is a concern that Section officers are not getting the correct training A training program that addresses these concerns and works towards creating better leaders in the Texas Section is essential. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches The Rules of Operation of the ASCE Texas Section are currently being updated It is critical for the ASCE Texas Section Office to manage the business of the Section as the rules of operation are being updated The Texas Section Office must adapt to changes in the Rules of Operation as they occur ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches At the national level, ASCE is in the midst of a reorganization of its governance structure. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches One major change is the development of 10 regions that are each represented by one (1) director on the ASCE Board of Direction. The Texas Section is now part of Region 6 Region 6 consists of the Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico Sections. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches The Region 6 Board of Governors will be comprised of four (4) Elected Geographic Region Governors, one (1) Appointed Geographic Region Governor, and the Society Director. The Society Director will serve as the Region 6 Chair. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Training Program for Officers/Leaders of Texas Section and Branches It is important for Section and Branch leaders to understand the new regional structure implemented by ASCE. Members of the Region 6 Board of Governors have made presentations to the ASCE Texas Section Board of Direction and will continue to update the Texas Section and its branches as Region 6 continues to develop. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Students Students are the future of ASCE, and need to be involved in the ASCE Texas Section ASCE student chapters attend both the Spring and Fall meetings of the Texas Section In particular, the Texas-Mexico Student Conference holds its regional concrete canoe competition at the Spring meeting of the Texas Section ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Students The ASCE Texas Section needs to continue emphasizing student involvement in Section Activities and develop new ways of getting students involved Overall responsibility and direction for student activities rests with the Vice-President – Educational of the ASCE Texas Section ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Community Reaching out to the community at large is imperative for the profession of civil engineering. The ASCE Texas Section needs to continue to emphasize the role of the Civil Engineer in our society. The civil engineering profession needs to be involved publicly in matters that affect us and our communities. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Community Overall, the ASCE Texas Section needs to be influential at the grassroots level. Overall responsibility and direction for community-related activities rests with the Vice-President – Professional of the ASCE Texas Section ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Community State Public Affairs Grants (SPAG) The Section has made progress in community affairs using these grants, and needs to continue these efforts and be alert for new opportunities ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Community Examples of Use of SPAG Grants by the ASCE Texas Section In the past year, the ASCE Texas Section joined with the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and the Texas Council of Engineering Companies (Texas CEC) to oppose the abolition of the Qualifications-Based Selection of Professional Services (QBS). This piece of legislation was House Bill (HB) 2673 in the Texas Legislature. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Community Examples of Use of SPAG Grants by the ASCE Texas Section HB 2673 did not pass in this year’s Legislative Session. However, the Texas Section must continue to be vigilant on legislative issues such as QBS. It is likely that QBS legislation will be revived in the next session of the Texas Legislature. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future

Conclusions Members, Students, and Community comprise the focus of the strategic plan of the ASCE Texas Section The proposals made in this report will be further developed in stages The ASCE Texas Section Strategic Planning Committee has been formed as a standing committee to develop the priorities in this report in more detail and to continue to pursue strategic planning initiatives as an ongoing concern. ASCE Texas Section – Strategic Planning Priorities for the Future