Do You Have a Strategic Plan?

Posted on by cguske

It’s that time again! You may not be aware of it, but your AIA Virginia embarks on a strategic planning process every 3 years. This year, the process will be shepherded by First Vice-President Bill Brown along with our consultant Sarah Milston with The Spark Mill. These folks will be aided by an 8-person workgroup who will really dig into the research and craft the details of plan.

Gina Robinson, Assoc. AIA, shares her team's responses to an exercise
Gina Robinson, Assoc. AIA, shares her team’s responses to an exercise

The planning process kicked off with a two-day Board retreat last Friday and Saturday (Feb. 26–27), where the group undertook a series of conversations about the future of the organization. We began by revisiting the last plan, considering AIA National’s new plan, and envisioning what AIA Virginia could look like in 10 years. Then, we dove a bit deeper and talked about what we could accomplish over the next 3 years, identified priorities, and organized the work into broad categories.

But, those were just our first steps. Following the retreat, the workgroup gave a few more hours of their Saturday to schedule out the remaining work and to identify a handful of key stakeholders intended to represent core audiences. Over the next 2 months, Sarah will conduct in-depth interviews with these 11 stakeholders and present her findings to the Board and workgroup. These findings may affirm or challenge some of the assumptions made by the board, and will be used to inform the work of the group.

Planning Ideas are shared and grouped in categories for a discussion on priorities
Planning Ideas are shared and grouped in categories for a discussion on priorities

Though the timeline is tight, the workgroup hopes to present the Strategic Plan to the Board in advance of their June meeting, so that it can be considered for approval on June 17. After approval, the staff will continue to work with Sarah to develop an implementation plan and, most importantly, a mechanism to keep the plan alive for the next 3 years.

If you have any questions about the strategic planning process, please contact Rhea George, rgeorge@aiava.org

 

Changes Coming to the AIA and VSAIA

Posted on by cguske

Alert members will have read recently of proposed changes in governance of the American Institute of Architects.  On Sept. 20, the AIA Board of Directors adopted resolutions that are expected to lead to the restructuring of the board, diminishing the Institute’s governing board to an 11-member group charged with overseeing the internal management and finances.  A larger council, with representatives of the diverse makeup of the AIA — regions, knowledge communities, and affiliated groups — will become the “think tank” for the profession, assessing where the profession and its professional society should be moving.

On the same day, the Virginia Society AIA Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan that will guide its work over the next three years.  Starting, of course, with the members, strategies and tactics will evolve from the fundamental statement that “Member needs, values, and aspirations will inform the Society’s programs and services.” Acknowledging that neither architects nor their professional society work in isolation, “The Society will strengthen and enrich its strategic relationships.” Addressing the profession’s expectations that the Virginia Society will act as advocate for the profession, “The Society will inform the public of its members’ concerns and achievements.” From that single statement, the Society will revisit and revise the way it talks to the public about architects and architecture.  Finally, in order to achieve all that members have come to expect of its statewide society, the Society must revisit and refresh itself as an operating entity.  Thus, “The Society will be structured and financed to ensure operational sustainability.”  In making this statement, the Board of Directors has committed to a rigorous examination of its programs and their effectiveness, of the structure of the board of directors itself, and of the funding mechanisms that are available to provide the wherewithal to fulfill its obligations to Society members.

While much remains to unfold in the AIA’s “repositioning” project, the Virginia Society’s launching of its new strategic plan promises — in the same year it celebrates 100 years of service to the profession and to society — to provide a way for Virginia to share in the careful recalibration of a profession that will continue changing in the 21st century.