Virginia Local Section Strategic Planning Retreat Summary Vision Statement:

The Virginia Local Section serves the community by advancing chemistry and communicating its impact on people’s lives.

Mission Statement: Inspiring, educating, developing, and connecting Virginia chemists and the community for the benefit of Earth and its people.

Environmental Scan (STEP) Social:

Shifting demographics (age, location, ethnicity, gender) &

multigenerationality

Changing attitudes and perceptions of membership organization

Time balance – other obligations

Changing nature of community influenced by technology

Societal view of chemistry

Technological:

• So many social media tools

• Bandwidth of people

• Tools have a learning curve

• Availability of webinars

• Resistance to technology

• More susceptibility to Hackers

• Young members prefer particular technology

• Loss of social interaction

Economic:

Consolidation of local chemical industry

State budgets

Shrinking grant funding

Cost of medical insurance – impacts career decisions

Lack of financial commitment for development

Financial uncertainty for the Local Section

Federal jobs

Shifting employment paradigm -- toward contractor/consulting jobs;

contingent faculty

Political

• State funding

• Industrial identity as chemists

• Safety (leading to paranoia/insurance)

• Polarization of science education

• Globalization

• Contractor jobs on the increase

• On-line/dry labs

• Boring K-12 science

• Regulation

Challenges and Opportunities (TOWS) Threats:

Bandwidth of people (T)

Tools have a learning curve

Resistance to technology (T)

More susceptibility to Hackers (T)

Cost of medical insurance – impacts career decisions (T)

Financial uncertainty for the Local Section (T)

Federal jobs (T)

Shifting employment paradigm -- toward contractor/consulting jobs;

contingent faculty (T)

State funding (T)

Industrial identity as chemists (T)

Safety (leading to paranoia/insurance) (T)

On-line/dry labs (T)

Opportunities: • Shifting demographics (age, location, ethnicity, gender) &

multigenerationality (O)

• Changing attitudes and perceptions of membership organization (O)

• Time balance – other obligations (O)

• Changing nature of community influenced by technology (O)

• Societal view of chemistry (O)

• So many social media tools (O)

• Tools have a learning curve

• Availability of webinars (O)

• Young members prefer particular technology (O)

• Loss of social interaction (O)

• Consolidation of local chemical industry (O)

• State budgets (O)

• Shrinking grant funding (O)

• Lack of financial commitment for development (O)

• Polarization of science education (O)

• Contractor jobs on the increase (O)

• Boring K-12 science (O)

• Regulation (O)

Weaknesses:

Activities/meetings are not engaging or multigenerational**

Ineffective Value Proposition

Lack of Communication//technology use**

Low Level of Participation/Involvement

Large Geographic Area

**Critical Flaws

Strengths:

Active Participation/Engagement/Passion of leaders/volunteers/sponsors

Good Outreach

Knowledgeable Members with broad background

Membership Diversity (academic/government/industry)

Strong Financial Health

Goals (SMART)

Goal 1: Establish, implement and maintain a technology strategy to ensure membership is engaged and informed of events, opportunities, and services. [Impact, High; Resources, High] Goal 2: Cultivate member involvement strategies to increase local section volunteerism, attendance, and leadership. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium] Goal 3: Provide members with opportunities for career and social networking, exchange of knowledge, and professional development, which span the broader chemical fields. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium] Goal 4: Provide community outreach that increases the positive perception of chemistry and the ACS. [Impact, High; Resources, High]

Goal/Strategies (SMART)

Goal 1: Establish, implement and maintain a technology strategy to ensure membership is engaged and informed of events, opportunities, and services. [Impact, High; Resources, High]

Strategy 1: Implement live stream of a minimum of four monthly meetings each year beginning in 2017. [Impact, High; Resources, Low] [Champion: Kathleen]

Tactics:

Strategy 2: Form a website taskforce that includes all demographics

(1/1/17) to conduct a needs assessment (6/1/17), obtain quotes for pro web designer/intern (9/1/17), and launch new site (1/1/18). [Impact, High; Resources, High] [Champion: Ann/Brandi]

Tactics:

Strategy 3: By June 2017, inventory and define how to integrate new

forms of communication strategies into the current constructs of the local section wherever possible. [Impact,; Resources,] [Champion: Janet]

Tactics:

Goal 2. Cultivate member involvement strategies to increase local section volunteerism, attendance, and leadership. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium]

Strategy 1: By May 2017 Executive meeting, Hospitality committee

will create an expanded on-boarding process for new members. [Impact, High; Resources, Low] [Champion: Todd]

Tactics:

Strategy 2: Define 4 to 5 regions within VA Section (1/1/17) to leverage universities in regions to provide high-end technical talks (beginning Fall 2017) through their established seminar program. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Low-Medium] [Champion: Joe]

Tactics:

Strategy 3: In 2017, hold two or three monthly meetings/events for

members on weeknights other than Friday. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Low] [Champion: Denise]

Tactics:

Goal 3. Provide members with opportunities for career and social networking, exchange of knowledge, and professional development, which span the broader chemical fields. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium] Strategy 1. By end of December 2016, re-evaluate current mentoring

strategies, assess needs, and present a proposal to Exec. Meeting. [Impact, High; Resources, High] [Champion: Kathleen/Colleen]

Tactics:

Strategy 2: In 2017, the VA LS will support/leverage at least two

ongoing networking, outreach, educational, and development events at local university and business partners across the region. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Medium] [Champion: YCC]

Tactics:

Strategy 3: Re-energize and re-name the Hospitality Committee

(coordination with G2,S1) with regional representation and hold a social activity in 3 to 5 of the regions. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Medium] [Champion: Todd]

Tactics: Goal 4. Provide community outreach that increases the positive perception of chemistry and the ACS. [Impact, High; Resources, High] Strategy 1. By Spring 2018, coordinate activity with Richmond

Math/Science Innovation Center and AACT. [Impact, High; Resources, High] [Champion: Krista]

Tactics: Ask what needs are

Advertising

Blast to teachers & parents

Door prizes to AACT membership

LS Education Grant workshop

Strategy 2: By January 2017, identify and support regional

coordinators for ACS branded community activities. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium] [Champion: Phil/Linette]

Tactics:

Measurers: # of ACS volunteers, # of non-ACS volunteers, #of participants, Costs.

Strategy 3: By the May Exec. Meeting, review activities already in place to identify/align current activities with objectives. [Impact, High; Resources, Low] [Champion: Stephanie]

Virginia Local Section Strategic Plan Graphic:

Virginia Local Section Strategic Plan

MEASUREMENT

MEASUREMENT

Mission: Inspiring, educating, developing, and connecting Virginia chemists and the community for the benefit of Earth and its

people.

GOAL 1:Establish, implement

and maintain a technology strategy to ensure membership is

engaged and informed of events, opportunities, and services.

[Impact, High; Resources, High]

MEASUREMENT

GOAL 3:Goal 3: Provide members with opportunities for career and

social networking, exchange of

knowledge, and professional

development which span the

broader chemical fields. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium]

1-1Implement live stream of a minimum of four monthly meetings

each year beginning in 2017.

[Impact, High; Resources, Low]

[Champion: Kathleen] .

GOAL 2:Cultivate member involvement

strategies to increase local section volunteerism, attendance, and leadership.

[Impact, High; Resources, Medium]

1-2. Form a website taskforce that includes all demographics (1/1/17) to conduct a

needs assessment (6/1/17), obtain quotes

for pro web designer/intern (9/1/17), and

launch new site (1/1/18). [Impact, High; Resources, High] [Champion: Ann/Brandi]

1-3By June 2017, inventory and define how to integrate new forms of

communication strategies into the current

constructs of the local section wherever

possible. [Impact,; Resources,] [Champion: Janet] .

2-1 By May 2017 Executive meeting, Hospitality committee will create an

expanded on-boarding process for new

members. [Impact, High; Resources,

Low] [Champion: Todd]

2-2. Define 4 to 5 regions within VA Section (1/1/17) to leverage universities in regions to

provide high-end technical talks (beginning

Fall 2017) through their established seminar

program. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Low-Medium] [Champion: Joe]

.

. 2-3 In 2017, hold two or three monthly meetings/events for members on

weeknights other than Friday. [Impact,

Medium; Resources, Low] [Champion:

Denise]

3-1. By end of December 2016, re-evaluate current mentoring strategies,

assess needs, and present a proposal

to Exec. Meeting. [Impact, High;

Resources, High] [Champion: Kathleen/Colleen]

3-2In 2017, the VA LS will support/leverage at least two ongoing networking, outreach,

educational, and development events at local university and business partners across the

region. [Impact, Medium; Resources, Medium]

[Champion: YCC]

3-3e-energize and re-name the Hospitality Committee (coordination with G2,S1) with

regional representation and hold a social

activity in 3 to 5 of the regions. [Impact,

Medium; Resources, Medium] [Champion: Todd]

Vision: The Virginia Local Section serves the community by advancing chemistry and communicating its impact on people’s lives.

Virginia Local Section Strategic Plan

MEASUREMENT

MEASUREMENT

Mission: Inspiring, educating, developing, and connecting Virginia chemists and the community for the benefit of Earth and its

people.

GOAL 4: Provide community

outreach that increases the positive perception of chemistry

and the ACS. [Impact, High; Resources, High]

MEASUREMENT

4-1By Spring 2018, coordinate activity with Richmond Math/Science

Innovation Center and AACT. [Impact,

High; Resources, High] [Champion:

Krista] .

4-2. By January 2017, identify and support regional coordinators for ACS

branded community activities. [Impact,

High; Resources, Medium]

[Champion: Phil/Linette]

4-3. By the May Exec. Meeting, review activities already in place to

identify/align current activities with

objectives. [Impact, High; Resources,

Low] [Champion: Stephanie]

-

. .

Vision: The Virginia Local Section serves the community by advancing chemistry and communicating its impact on people’s lives.

Opportunity Mapping of Goals/Strategies:

Opportunity Mapping

Re

so

urc

es

Probable impact

Lo

Hi

Hi

Lo

G3-S3

G1-S2

G3-S2

G1-S1

Avoid Pursue selectively

Tactical

(incorporate into

routine)

No-brainers

(unfortunately few of

these) G2-S2

G3-S1

G1-S3

G2-S1 G2-S3

Discussionisneededtodeterminethescheduleforthoseinthe“Pursueselec vely”quadrant.

G4-S3

G4-S1

G4-S2

G2-S4

Champions for Goal/Strategies:

What Champion

Goal 1, Strategy 1 Kathleen Sink

Goal 1, Strategy 2 Ann Sullivan & Brandi Ford

Goal 1, Strategy 3 Janet Asper

Goal 2, Strategy 1 Todd Koch

Goal 2, Strategy 2 Joe Pompano

Goal 2, Strategy 3 Denise Walters

Goal 3, Strategy 1 Kathleen Sink & Colleen Taylor

Goal 3, Strategy 2 YCC – Rhonda Butts McGee

Goal 3, Strategy 3 Todd Koch

Virginia Local Section Strategic

Plan Champions

American Chemical Society

What Champion

Goal 4, Strategy 1 Krista Weissbart

Goal 4, Strategy 2 Phil Burks & Linette Watkins

Goal 4, Strategy 3 Stephanie Mabry

Virginia Local Section Strategic

Plan Champions

American Chemical Society

Moving Forward and Ensuring Success with the VA LS Plan Pitfalls: [Special Attention Needed]

• Not delegating • Trying to all by yourself • No accountability system (timeline/reminders) • Not assessing and managing time available • Not involving other local section members • Not getting buy-in from the local section • Measuring activities instead of results • Not developing timelines and milestones • Not developing detailed action plans for strategies • No follow-up/follow-thru between face-to-face meeting work • Not using volunteers’ motivations when engaging volunteers for their skills • Not monitoring the progress of the strategic plan

Virginia Local Section Next Steps

What When VA LS Receives Plan September 15 Notify Executive Committee September 16 Write a newsletter article September 23 Plan placed onto website September 30 Notify VA LS membership October 10 Executive Committee open discussion

December 10

Rough Project Plans done January 15, 2017 Approval of plan January 20, 2017 KICK OFF January, 2017

Kickoff:

WHAT WHO BY WHEN Deliver “Plan” to VA LS members via website

VA LS Chair

September 30, 2016

Discuss and approve plan VA LS Chair, VA LS January 20, 2017 Plan is implemented VA LS January, 2017

Participants in VA LS SPR:

Janet Asper

Philip Burks

Brandi Ford

Thaddeus S. Hannel

Todd Koch

Stephanie Mabry

Rhonda Butts McGee

Joseph Pompano

Kathleen Sink

Ann Sullivan

Colleen Taylor

Denise Walters

Linette Watkins

Krista Weissbart

VOTING RESULTS

VOTING RESULTS FOR STRATEGIES (Copy from Excel File; highlight top 3) Goal 1: Strategy # Totals

1 0 2 0 3 14 4 0 5 17

6 8

7 3 8 0 9 0

10 17 11 24 12 3 13 11 14 5 15 5 16 0 17 10

18 11 19 3 20 5 21 0 22 13 23 0 24 0 25 0 26 4 27 0 28 0 29 0

30 12 31 3 32 0 33 0 34 0 35 0

Goal 2: Strategy # Totals

1 9 2 10 3 9 4 0 5 4 6 0 7 0 8 19 9 0

10 0 11 0 12 12 13 0 14 9 15 3 16 9 17 0 18 0 19 7 20 0 21 4

22 0 23 7 24 6 25 4 26 16 27 4 28 0 29 0 30 7 32 0 33 5

34 13 35 4 36 3 37 13 38 0 39 3

Goal 3: Strategy # Totals

1 17 2 5 3 0 4 3 5 0 6 0 7 0 8 12 9 0

10 4

11 6

12 18 13 6 14 0 15 17 16 0 17 0 18 0 19 16 20 9 21 0 22 9

23 27 24 3 25 0 26 4 27 0 28 0 29 0

Goal 4: Strategy # Totals

1 8

2 4 3 4 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 9

8 10

9 4 10 5 11 0 12 0 13 0 14 12 15 9 16 0 17 5 18 17 19 0 20 6

21 20 22 12 23 3 24 3 25 12 26 21 27 0 28 0 29 0

Brainstormed Strategies from VA Local Section SPR

Highlighted Voted [# votes] and Used to Write Goal Strategies

Goal 1: Establish, implement and maintain a technology strategy to ensure membership is engaged and

informed of events, opportunities, and services. [Impact, High; Resources, High]

Web site

1. By spring 2016(7) poll membership for what is needed or how to improve the website

/facebook tools

2. Coordinate through the website/facebook the NCW & CCED (outreach) activities to

increase member involvement

3. Set up task group to determine if we can outsource website and constant contact and

report on cost [14]

4. Identify ad hoc group to meet & communicate findings of activities and how they relate

to each other

5. Redesign web page [17]

6. Create web page similar to ACS strategy page that shows goals, activities and how to

get involved

7. Improve the section website

Webinars

8. Set up regular webinars w/ local broadcast hosts & dinners

9. Put 6 of 8 meetings a year online within a year

10. Offer at least 2 meetings in 2016/2017 as webinars; poll members about effectiveness of

meeting [10]

11. Addition of WebEx video-cast for section meetings and executive meetings [24]

12. Set up online payment for meetings/events

Create Tech Committee & Assess Current Needs

13. Assess what technologies are already available to the section/ Inventory tech capabilities

in each region - 6 months

14. Create list of available technologies and how they can be applied to communication

15. Identify communication preference of current and new members (Research)

16. Create a communication strategy that starts with why?

17. Develop a roadmap of the technology needs for the section

18. Form tech team to always have communication (2)

19. Establish technology chair to coordinate new technology

20. Develop and maintain lists of activities, opportunities and champion/leaders for each

21. Assess effectiveness of new technologies

New Ways To Communicate

22. Developing an "app" or more effective way to communicate with students/younger

members [13]

23. Improving the use of the Bulletin

24. Is there a selective group or person in charge?

25. Concise email communication to inform members - possibly through "tech &

communications" team

26. Increase frequency of meeting announcements and time initial notices at least 30 days

prior

27. Deliver messages via text to members who prefer text

28. Make an App for the local section

29. YCC social media survey? 6 months

30. Modernize communication; New and improved use of social media like Facebook and

Twitter. Clear communication and design on section website [12]

31. Publicize meetings and events using new technologies; Use Facebook to notify members

of meetings; Social media for meeting updates

Goal 2: Cultivate member involvement strategies to increase local section volunteerism, attendance, and

leadership. [Impact, High; Resources, Medium]

New Member Strategies

1. Adopt new strategies for increasing attendance

2. Establish team to propose new strategies to increase attendance and leadership

3. Develop new member welcome events

4. Run a recruiting campaign where every volunteer identifies and engages 2 to 3 new

volunteers

5. Create new member introduction activity to both network with new members and pair

interests and persons with section objectives

6. Think of new ideas to increase attendance

7. Welcome new members by phone calls and welcome strategy

8. Have an on-boarding process to get new members excited about the section [19]

9. Provide more socialization and interaction with new members

10. Incorporate more of an in depth buddy/mentoring system for new attendees

11. Recruit new members for committees to ensure each committee has at least two members

12. Revise welcome (hospitality) committee to include personal initiations and introductions at

events [12]

13. Develop and communicate value propositions that are demographically appropriate

Recognition of Volunteers

14. Include programming to thank and acknowledge volunteers

15. Provide awards and recognize excellent member involvement/attendance/volunteerism

16. Senior/Age Appropriate Senior Committee that will engage older members in social

activities and volunteerism

17. Planning events that can involve all age groups

18. Implementing new ideas to old events

19. Advertising events in new ways

20. Develop program to involve and engage retirees

21. Create a Senior Chemist group for both social and professional involvement

Meeting Innovation

22. Modernize what is existing

23. Three talk categories -- social, technical, non-technical

24. Innovation in meetings (classes of events)

25. Have a contest to solicit new ideas for meetings

26. Hold at least three meetings/events for members on weeknight other than Fridays in 2017

[16]

27. For 2017-18 year change 2 or 3 meetings from a Friday night schedule to a weeknight

schedule

28. We need social/technical leverage talks. Increase social interaction

29. Community involve of public in meetings/events/activities

30. Set up parallel event schedule for western section in 2017 and measure attendance effects on

all section events

31. Have multiple/different meetings to engage members

Location Based Strategies

32. Recognize faculty home institution department for leadership in student recruitment

33. Create key regional positions that are elected yearly to handle logistics of separate meeting

sites

34. Leverage university and industrial symposia or talks (speakers) to increase number of

specialized (technical) talks [13]

35. Develop sub-section hosts for ACS activities and events

36. Identify ambassadors in each region/school/major company

37. Develop subcommittees in other areas of the section to increase attendance [13]

38. Work with student affiliates to foster a play writing competition to create a chemistry-based

play

39. Redefine the hospitality committee’s goal and have a designated greater at each meeting

Goal 3: Provide members with opportunities for career and social networking, exchange of knowledge,

and professional development, which span the broader chemical fields. [Impact, High; Resources,

Medium]

New Members

1. Establish team to propose new opportunities for member development [17]

2. Assess effectiveness of new routes to member development

Career Development

3. Federal career opportunities

4. Have ACS career events in the LS

Events

5. Video record meetings and post them on web site

6. Hold a student-professional cocktail hour

7. Continue cross-sectional events; switch back and forth between tidal & ? & west

8. Partner with other professional organizations and promote joint events [12]

9. Include additional dinner/banquet networking events

10. "mixers" - to integrate young & experienced chemists. Communicate value in

mentoring

11. Coordinate current efforts under one umbrella (hold regular meetings to avoid

duplication)

12. Host multiple networking events in different regions of LS [18]

13. Social events for different constituencies

14. Inventory existing activities 6 months

15. Leverage activities of other entities & institutions under umbrella of ACS VA [17]

16. Education, courses, workshops

17. Offer 3-4 science cafes each year

18. Partner w/ local universities to provide talks or hands on learning of specific subject

19. Sponsor short courses; sponsor short courses for members at local colleges; Co-

sponsor short course with instrument vendors - half or full day [16]

20. Appendix F/#13: Work with area colleges to provide a summer short course for

members and local college students to broaden their knowledge of chemistry…;

Explore demand 1-2 years

21. Set up tour of research facilities at VCU or UVA

22. Provide development workshops to increase skill sets

Mentoring

23. Keep, support & invest in and expand mentoring program (3); Incorporate more of

an in-depth buddy/mentoring system to network & provide professional development

[27]

24. Mentoring not only college students but also expanding to high schools

25. Social events for the "much" younger crowd

26. Professional development workshops

Other

27. Member benefit webinar/newsletter

28. Insurance & goodies for contractors

29. Continue current activity programs

Goat 4: Provide community outreach that increases the positive perception of chemistry and the ACS.

[Impact, High; Resources, High]

Communicate to Public

1. Identify multidisciplinary activities to communicate chemistry (STEAM - science,

technology, engineering, arts, math)

2. Regularly send articles to local newspapers with local section news and positions

3. Develop and publish stories showing the positive impact of chemistry (publish on

website)

4. Compile experts guide and distribute to media

5. Continuously advertise about different programs

6. Develop radio blurbs

7. Start a scientific interest twitter account or other media and pass along fun chemistry

facts or notable news (molecule of the day/info of Nobel prize)

8. Communicate section activities through media

Community Activities

9. Sponsor outreach activities in other regions of Local Section

10. Provide fun but safe activities for the community

11. Various community based activities for certain events

12. Events for parents and their children

13. Open up to people in the community

14. Continue events for NCW but look at formats to move to smaller events in multiple

locations [12]

15. Develop list of community outreach activities and prioritize

16. Test effectiveness of community outreach activities

Inventory Activities

17. Inventory existing meeting activities in each region

18. Review activities already in place to identify/align current activities with objectives

[17]

Academic Involvement

19. Involve all aspects of academia to keep the focus on chemistry

20. Host an ACS on Campus event at UVA

K-12 Outreach

21. Connect actively with local K-12 programs to expand reach/involvement [20]

22. Coordinate an event with VA LS AACT teachers [12]

Leveraging on National Programs

23. Take advantage of underutilized national programs to provide support funding, etc.

24. Leverage the ACS Chemistry Ambassadors program to communicate value of the

ACS to Student Affiliates

Regional Representatives

25. Organize community activities committee to include regional representatives [12]

26. Restructure the community activities committee to have regional representative to

increase communication of activities [21]

Section-wide Activities

27. Have a section-wide activity that connects all constituents in the section

Student Awards

28. Expand student awards to high school students planning on majoring in chemistry

Interregional meeting

29. MARM/SERM Joint in northern Virginia in 2015