american society of agronomy advancing agronomy through asa restructuring pittsburgh, pa
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American Society of Agronomy Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring Pittsburgh, PA November 1-5, 2009. Why consider a change in ASA structure?. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history. Division History. ASA. 1907. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
American Society of Agronomy
Advancing AgronomyThrough ASA Restructuring
Pittsburgh, PA November 1-5, 2009
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Why consider a change in ASA structure?
1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history
ASA 1907
Division History
Based on article by Lowell Moser
ASA 1907
Crops Section
Soils Section
I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use
1931
1931
ASA 1907
Crops Section
SSSA
I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use
1936
VII. Genetics, Cytology, and BreedingVIII. Physiology, Morphology, and EcologyIX. Miscellaneous Topics
1937
ASA 1907
Crops Section
SSSA
I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use
1936
VII. Breeding, Genetics, and CytologyVIII. Physiology and EcologyIX. Production and ManagementX. Seed Production and TechnologyXI. TurfXII. Weed ControlXIII. Agronomic Education
1947
ASA 1907
CSSA SSSA
I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use
1936
VII. Breeding, Genetics, and CytologyVIII. Physiology and EcologyIX. Production and ManagementX. Seed Production and TechnologyXI. TurfXII. Weed Control
1954XIII.
Agronomic Education
1954
ASA 1907
A1. Resident EducationA2. Land Use and ManagementA3. Meteorology and ClimatologyA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Plant Science ApplicationsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry
19671956196319671974197519841990200220072007
ASA 1907
A1. Resident EducationA2. Military Land Use and ManagementA3. Agroclimatology and Agronomic ModelingA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Integrated Agricultural SystemsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry
19671984197819671974197519841995200220072007
(division names changed shown in black)
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Key Developments Setting the Stage for Big Changes
• After years of discussion, the Boards approved in November 2004 restructuring, so that each of the Societies could operate independently
• In 2006 Boards of the Societies began meeting independently
• In May 2006 the ASA Board developed a new strategic plan with vision and goals specific to this restructured ASA
• In 2007 ACSESS (Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies) was incorporated to manage the shared resources of the Societies
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) Resource Managing Organization
Before 2004
SSSACSSA
ASA
After 2004
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Why consider a change in ASA structure?
1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history
2. Create better identity for both “seasoned” and potentially new scientists and professionals
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Division Identity Concerns
• Until 2005 all A, C, and S divisions were part of ASA with board representation
• Starting in 2009, members must have ASA membership in order to belong to an ASA division (but no requirement to belong to a division)
• ASA governance is based on division structure• Not all members represented• Disproportional representation
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Total Members
Decline in ASA membership may be, in part, due to lost identity for the science of agronomy.
ASA Membership Trend
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
0 -24
25 -29
30 -39
40 -49
50 -59
60 -64
65 -70
70 -75
75+ Age Group
2005 ASA Membership by Age
ASA is an aging society, illustrating the need for attracting younger members if we are to be viable into the future.
Crop Science
Soil Science Environmental Science
AgronomyAgronomy
Agronomy is the science of land management that integrates crop, soil and environmental sciences for the purposes of producing food, feed, fiber, fuels and environmental services.
Agronomy is the science of land management that integrates crop, soil and environmental sciences for the purposes of producing food, feed, fiber, fuels and environmental services.
To create identity for ASA membership, agronomy needs to be re-established as a stand-alone science.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Why consider a change in ASA structure?
1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history
2. Create identity for both “seasoned” and potentially new scientists and professionals
3. Enable responsiveness to emerging needs and interests of the members
“Responsiveness” means unshackling ourselves from constraints imposed by the presence of a structure (divisions) requiring bylaws to be changed whenever programs are added or revised.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Current Strategic Plan Language
“Innovate”
“… powerful advocate and voice for advancing agronomy (proactive) …”
“… supports new program and service introduction faster”
“…leading edge innovative forums”
“... articulate the vision…”
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
ASA
A1. Resident EducationA2. Military Land Use and ManagementA3. Agroclimatology and Agronomic ModelingA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Integrated Agricultural SystemsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry
19671984197819671974197519841995200220072007
The Problem? ASA organization and governance (and the supporting bylaws) did not evolve from an era requiring rapid response.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Conclusion: ASA restructuring is needed to:• Facilitate program development for
primary interests of all members• Provide an efficient and equitable system
for governance of the Society
To do so requires a decoupled structure facilitating both Society functions
GovernancePrograms/Services
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Restated as our Goal-
Develop a new ASA structure that:
1. Facilitates program development for primary interests of all members
2. Provides an efficient and equitable system for governance
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Five principles used to guide the reshaping of ASA:
1. Members should be able to readily identify their programmatic area of interest.
2. Programmatic areas will be nimble, easily changed to reflect emerging interests and problem areas.
3. Programmatic areas can be added or deleted easily, without disrupting or requiring governance change.
4. Governance through Board of Directors will reflect broad areas of membership interest.
5. Board of Directors structure for these broad areas will remain relatively stable over time to minimize the need for bylaw changes.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
What changes are being proposed?
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Organizational Structure
SectionsCommunities
GovernancePrograms/Services
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
What’s a Community?• A Community represents members with a
common interest or passion (“natural cluster”). • Here members will develop the majority of their
Society associations that magnify science and science delivery.
• Themes for Communities can be diverse in topic• specific scientific investigation• analysis tools• educational roles• geographic areas• communication techniques• emerging challenges
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
From feedback from the ASA 2008 Division Surveyandfrom refinement through the Realignment Task Force potential Communities have been proposed
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Agricultural Research Station Management Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Applied Agronomic Research Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Bioremediation Certified Production Systems Climate Change and Global Processes Continuing and Distance Education Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Extension Education Food Policy Geospatial Statistics
Integrated Agricultural Systems K-12 Education Landscapes, Watersheds, & Water Quality Military Land Use and Management Nutrient Management Organic Agricultural Systems Pesticide Management Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture Public Land Management Resident Instruction Scientific Cooperation and Exchange Statistical Computing Urban Land Management
Proposed Communities:
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
How will a Community work?• ASA members can elect to be associated in as few or
many Communities as they choose.• The number of Communities a member can affiliate
with will expand and contract to reflect member interests.
• Creation of a new Community will be relatively easy.• Not like the historic 3-4 yrs needed to create a division.• Simple petition to the ASA Board.• Petition includes name and description of the Community,
leader(s), likely activities (e.g., symposia, special functions), and names of interested members.
• Communities that show little or no activity over time will easily be dissolved.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
A few more points on Communities• Proposed Community names are not set in stone.
Discussion over the next year along with the “first meeting” of communities will be used to identify communities and the names the members want.
• Some Communities currently proposed might not even emerge through the restructuring.
• Community viability will require leadership. If that doesn’t develop (or it can’t be recruited), then the Community will not exist.
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Organizational Structure
Communities
GovernancePrograms/Services
What about Society governance?
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
What is Society governance?• Governance of the Society is accomplished through
the Board of Directors• Board consists of:
• Society-wide elected Presidents (Elect, President, Past)• Society-wide elected Board Reps (currently 11)• Ex officio members (editor-in-chief, CEO)
• Board functions:• Policy making and following Society bylaws• Strategic planning & implementation• Finance and resource management, including directing
ACSESS
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Organizational Structure
SectionsCommunities
GovernancePrograms/Services
What about Society governance?
Proposed Section Names
Environmental Quality
Climatology & Modeling
Global Agronomy
Agronomic Production Systems
Biometry & Statistical Computing
Education & Extension
Land Management & Conservation
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
SectionsCommunities
GovernancePrograms/Services
In order to provide broad representation for governance purposes and to facilitate communication/coordination of programs, aggregates of Communities will associate with a Section.
Proposed Communities (in likely clusters)
Applied Agronomic Research Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Certified Production Systems Integrated Agricultural Systems Organic Agricultural Systems Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture
Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Geospatial Statistics Statistical Computing
Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Climate Change and Global Processes
Continuing and Distance Education Extension Education K-12 Education Resident Instruction
Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioremediation Landscapes, Watersheds, and Water Quality Nutrient Management Pesticide Management
Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Food Policy Scientific Cooperation and Exchange
Agricultural Research Station Management Military Land Use and Management Public Land Management Urban Land Management
Proposed Communities (clustered) Proposed Sections Applied Agronomic Research Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Certified Production Systems Integrated Agricultural Systems Organic Agricultural Systems Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture
Agronomic Production Systems
Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Geospatial Statistics Statistical Computing
Biometry & Statistical Computing
Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Climate Change and Global Processes
Climatology & Modeling
Continuing and Distance Education Extension Education K-12 Education Resident Instruction
Education & Extension
Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioremediation Landscapes, Watersheds, and Water Quality Nutrient Management Pesticide Management
Environmental Quality
Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Food Policy Scientific Cooperation and Exchange
Global Agronomy
Agricultural Research Station Management Military Land Use and Management Public Land Management Urban Land Management
Land Management & Conservation
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
ASA 2008 Division Survey (~840)
• 79% agreed that Community and Section groupings make sense 62% agreed that Communities more effectively represent ASA than the current structure 77% agreed that they can see one or more Communities in which they would actively participate 64% support this new structure
Where are we and where are we going in the restructuring process?
2008 2009 2010 2011
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2
Division Alignment Task Force Co-Chaired by
L. Moser and L. Sommers
MemberSurvey
Transition Team(Board and HQ staff)
Co-Chaired by D. Osmond and N. Kitchen
Issues:- Communities and Sections- Community/Section leaders - Composition of Board- Program Enhancement- Communication to members- Member feedback- Re-write of bylaws
Membership Vote on bylaws change
Annual Meeting(Initiate
Communities)
Given approval
byMembers,
newASA
Initiated
Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring
Questions