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SAME STRATEGIC PLAN - MEASURES OF SUCCESSFUL POSTS
I have just returned from the SAME-hosted Infrastructure Security for
the Built
Environment (ISBE) Congress in St. Louis, and my hat is off to the St. Louis
and Scott Posts, and SAME HQ for a job well done.
As architects, engineers and related professionals, we look for ways to ensure America’s
security in the built environment, both in the United States and overseas. It’s essential
that we develop our plans and designs with security considerations
as an integral part of the process.
We also must be prepared for emergency response and recovery if an incident occurs. Our Readiness
& Homeland Security Committee is now interfacing with The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) and
developing strategies to integrate the SAME FAST START PLANS and readiness activities into the new homeland
security environment. Our Society supports TISP as a Contributing Member—if you are a member of SAME,
you are considered a member of TISP. Sustaining Members are eligible to also become corporate sponsors
of TISP, if they desire.
With the end of the calendar year fast approaching, Posts will be reviewing their performance during 2004 and competing for
the five Streamer Awards — Education & Training, National Security Programs,
Outreach & Communication, Relationships & Recognition and Membership —
as well as submitting deserving individuals for Society Awards. To plan for 2005 and
to tie these awards to our Society mission, vision and goals, let me take a moment to reflect on our
Strategic Plan and the intended impact of its elements.
Our Mission: “To promote and facilitate engineering support for national
security by developing and enhancing relationships and competencies among uniformed
service, public and private sector engineers, and related professionals.” Posts should be keeping this
mission statement in focus as they develop their programs; it represents the essence of why our Society
exists.
Our Vision: “To be a premier engineering organization leading the
professional and personal growth of all members in support of military readiness and development of
solutions to national security.” I look forward to our awards committee’s report on how well our
Posts are achieving this vision. A vision looks to the future, and I believe we have room for improvement
in our mentoring, education and professional development programs. While the uniformed services and private
sector each have their own internal programs, we must look for ways for SAME to provide relevant
programs that complement the Services and the private sector, and bring
the public and private sectors together.
- Goal 1. Education and Training. I commend those Posts that are hosting technical
workshops and training programs, sponsoring Young Members for a P.E. review course and actively pursuing
mentoring programs. These activities will attract and retain Young Members, particularly when Posts award
professional development hours (PDHs) at these events. Posts need to be innovative and plan their monthly
programs to include speakers and programs that achieve the Society’s education and training goals.
- Goal 2. Relationships. This is our Society’s strong suit. Posts that go the
extra mile to nurture new members and create networking opportunities for individual
and sustaining members are on target to achieve this goal. Post committees, social events and local
projects build strong relationships between the Society members and their communities. I
commend the Host Posts of this year’s regional conferences in helping our Society achieve this goal.
- Goal 3. Relevance. Issues that are relevant to one sector of our membership may not be
relevant to others. Effective execution of our construction programs, outsourcing and privatization,
and environmental sustainability are high interest topics these days. Posts need to tailor their programs
to best meet the interests of their members.
- Goal 4. National Security Programs. For many of us,
the Global War on Terrorism has our fullest attention. Our country’s readiness to respond to national
security and natural disaster events is always a relevant topic. Hosting a workshop involving
major stakeholders is an effective approach to fulfilling this goal.
- Goal 5. Recognition. As part of our new streamer criteria, we’ve asked Posts to
establish a recognition program — we still have work to do to achieve this goal. For those Posts that
have a program, keep it up! For those that don’t, I encourage you to adopt one. One approach is to
present Post awards in December and then submit the winners for our Society awards in January. We have many
members who are doing great things for the Society, the architecture, engineering and related professions,
and for the Nation. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve!
If your Post has demonstrated its achievements toward the above goals, you have
contributed to the success of our Society and will do well in the streamer competition. I look forward to
seeing you in my travels.
Sallie and I wish each and every one of you a
very safe and happy holiday season!
Maj. Gen. L. Dean Fox, F.SAME, USAF
SAME President, 2004-2005
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