Report of the Strategic Planning Committee
for the Year ending June 30, 2005

The Committee on Strategic Planning met at the Sigma Xi Center on 27 August 2004. Dr. W. Franklin Gilmore, Chairperson, presided with ten of the twelve committee members in attendance. Dr. Gilmore opened the meeting by lauding the strategic planning process and the progress to date. Executive Director Patrick Sculley then provided an overview of that process to provide context for the committee's new members and followed with an update of the many initiatives in the operational plan.

The 2003 member survey results were compared to the previous year. Unfortunately the survey revealed a lack of activity at many chapters and that many members have never attended a chapter meeting. This challenge provided a sense of urgency to the deliberations of the committee.

The mission, vision, and culture statements were reviewed. The direction in which these statements were carrying the Society was found appropriate. Only minor clerical changes were recommended to the Board of Directors. At the November 2004 Board meeting these recommendations were approved.

The Committee discussed many important ideas coming from the committee members. Dr. Thomas Wade in particular had numerous recommendations: creation of scientific interest groups; program enhancements for the annual meeting; improved marketing vehicles; enhanced recognitions program; and new membership classifications. The last recommendation engendered the most discussion. It was recognized that each of these enhancements required further study by the appropriate committees of the Society and they were referred for discussion and elaboration. Over the remainder of the year the proposals were discussed by the Committees on Membership and Qualification and Finances and by the Board with their response to the recommendations coming back to the strategic planning committee in FY2006 for final recommendation to the Board of Directors.

Stimulated by the progress on the initiatives contained in the operational plan, the Committee made the following additions to the operational plan: review the potential of providing health insurance; segment marketing efforts; create a "Young American Scientist;" increase international "pick up" of American Scientist articles to 50 per year; adjust objective to exceed American Scientist advertising benchmark by 20% rather than 10%; create a business plan for a transferable skills program. Each of these initiatives is a work in progress by the staff and committees of the Society. A report on each will be a part of the FY2006 committee meeting.

Clearly, our strategic plan is moving the Society forward to the achievement of our mission and vision while reflecting and sustaining our culture of companionship and excellence.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the members of the Committee for their efforts on the Society's behalf during the past year and particularly to Raymond Fornes, John Prados, Peter Raven, and Ann Williams who have served the Society so well and whose terms concluded on 30 June 2005. May I also extend a warm welcome to James F. Baur, Marlene e la Cruz, and Charles E. Kriley who joined the Committee on 1 July 2005.

Members of the Committee on Strategic Planning for the year ending 30 June 2005 were:

W. Franklin Gilmore, Chair
Francisco J. Ayala
Hilary S. Davidson
Raymond E. Fornes
Bertis B. Little
Lynn Margulis
Richard L. Meyer
John W. Prados
Peter H. Raven
Patrick D. Sculley
Thomas E. Wade
C. Susan Weiler
Ann H. Williams

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