LONG RANGE PLAN

Below is the most recent Long Range Plan for the Los Angeles Chapter ASSE.  Any suggestions for improvement should be sent to the Long Range Planning Committee via the Chapter President.

The Chapter's bylaws commit the Immediate Past-President to reporting the Chapter's long range plans. While this is to be done by a "Long Range Planning Committee" (with the Immediate Past-President serving as "committee chair") the process to the present has been informal (AKA one-person effort). So, this report continues in that tradition and is a collection of ideas, goals, and mechanisms that focus on the Chapter's future. This plan is prepared for reception and discussion at the 2005 summer planning meeting. It serves its purpose if it stimulates open discussion and ideas that are actualized in the future.

The LA Chapter---

Relies on ASSE National for the recruitment of new members.

Relies on ASSE National for the general administration of the membership in the Society.

Assumes some responsibility for the retention of members.

Relies on half-day conferences to generate non-dues revenue.

Is fiscally sound with about $17,000 in the Treasury.

Will continue to face competition from our changing world.

Will not to raise Chapter dues (currently $15 annual).

Has strong name recognition ("Los Angeles").

May need to consider its role in diversification as per the major success of SPALW and the other regulatory oriented half-day conferences.

Has a bright future with several great leaders on the Executive Board.

GOAL I - CHAPTER ORGANIZATION

Each Officer should write a functional job description to show what to do (a) before a meeting, (b) during a meeting, and (c) after a meeting in the respective job activity. The job descriptions should be passed on to future officers holding those positions so they can step in and do thing immediately or in the absence of an officer at a meeting.

The Chapter should continue to innovate and try nontraditional formats for meetings and programs to create a fresh and entertaining spin.

The Chapter gets major attendance spikes when it has programs that focus on current regulatory changes and the leaders of the regulatory agencies.

The meetings should be priced at $15 to $20 to remain competitive with the surrounding Chapters and other similar groups such as SCISS.

The $5 "program only" option was a success and should be mentioned in periodic meeting notices.

The Chapter should look at how the SPALW meeting was marketed and consider structuring future meetings that way. The writer was the Co-Chair of SPALW.

Officers should consider running for the same position two years in a row. Mike Marshall and Jay Preston are very good examples of how this works.

GOAL II - MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Broaden the Chapter's constituency by diversifying programs that include Spanish programming. Alternatives may include:

Forming a Spanish-speaking section

Holding meetings every month with alternating English-Spanish language formats.

Determine Hector Escarcega's availability for leading Spanish programming initiatives and / or "chairing" a position if one were created around him.

Mail postcards with simple "at-a-glance" lettering a week before the meetings.

Don't be bound to a "monthly newsletter." Try something different such as a simple one-page "Letter from the Chapter President."

Make the newsletter or anything we send out (postcards excepted) much more personal in nature and include such interesting articles on the biographies of the Board members, member accomplishments, and some positive news about the Chapter.

Send a short, effective E-mail "reminder" notification two days before the meeting.

Telephone members who never show up at meetings once a year.

Shift "Regulatory Updates" to the California Governmental Affairs Committee from the newsletter.

The Newsletter should serve more for human interest rather than a regurgitation of regulations found liberally elsewhere.

GOAL III - EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Board should consider creating ad hoc marketing teams consisting of 3 or 4 members each to organize and market the Chapter meetings. One team can handle the January meeting, another team the February meeting, and so forth. This would build in more spirited volunteerism, create diversity among the meetings, and place a strong value on the marketing effort.

The Board should encourage and assist the teams of meeting planners along the lines of obtaining individual figures of notoriety (e.g. John Howard).

It is highly recommended that most speakers be paid $100 as token of appreciation. This will compensate the speaker for poor meeting attendance and relieve the Chapter of potential embarrassment since the speaker comes at his/her own expense and with some speech preparation time.

GOAL IV - PUBLIC AWARENESS

Consider taking a Chapter meeting to a public "safety fair" to improve the identification and image of the Society and the Chapter. We could be along side of the LA County Sheriff's booth, for example, or be featured near

"Homeland Security" people.

Consider holding a meeting at one of the local colleges to foster interest in the safety profession at the "student" level. Students could be invited for a "free lunch meeting" as we have scholarship money that could be used for such purposes.

Consider holding a meeting at a local high school under the general auspices of "career day" or perhaps during "National Safety Week."

Continue to identify opportunities to issue "press releases" to local TV and newspaper organizations. Both Don Kramer and Hector Escarcega have appeared on local TV for the organization in the recent past.

GOAL V - MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Rely on ASSE National for greater support of membership services. Regard the fact that $120 of the annual $135 member's dues goes to National.

Ensure that Terry Norris, the new Region One VP, gets a big welcome when she comes to visit the Chapter.

Consider using the PO Box on a permanent basis. Currently, Don Kramer is funding this box at $48 / annum.

Consider doing Chapter activities that can become eligible for credit for such professional designations as the CSP.

GOAL VI - SOCIETY INVOLVEMENT

Support the concept of a Southern California Regional PDC.

Consider a one-day joint meeting of all Southern California Chapters as a precursor to an annual Southern California Governor's Safety and Health Conference. The focus should be on the regional needs of the small to medium sized business that aren't served internally by their insurance Loss Control rep, a full time Safety Director, or by the independent CSP.

Consider alternatives for the Chapter's "scholarship fund" that is essentially going unused.

GOAL VII - FISCAL VIABILITY

Consider having a "two tier" Chapter meeting cost--$15 "for members" and $20 for "non-members."

Consider a $5 "program only" admission price for those who come "just to hear the speaker."

Consider tax issues if we become fiscally larger than we already are, or if we have tax-triggering events (whatever they may be).