10-15 Year Planning Horizon

Outcome-Oriented Goals, Strategic Objectives and Strategies

The following thinking represents goal areas for the next one to 10 years. They are areas in which AAPG will explicitly state the conditions or attributes it wants to achieve. These outcome statements define "what will constitute future success." The achievement of each goal will move the organization toward realization of its vision. The goal areas are not necessarily in priority order.

Strategic Objectives and Strategies provide direction and actions on how the association will accomplish its articulated goals. Strategic Objectives are considered in the 3-5 year planning horizon while Strategies are considered within the 1-3 year planning horizon. The Strategies are listed under the Strategic Objective they support. Strategies are reviewed annually by the AAPG leadership.

The Strategies are prioritized to reflect the urgency of accomplishing them. Each strategy is labeled with a (H) high, (M) medium or (L) low rating. High Strategies are to be accomplished within the next operational year, medium Strategies are to be accomplished within the next operational year if resources permit, and low Strategies are to be accomplished within the following operational year. All Strategies included in the Strategic Plan should be considered accomplishable at some point in the future.

Goal Areas

Goal Area: Advance the Science

Foster, facilitate, and disseminate knowledge in leading-edge research and its practical application in the energy-related geosciences worldwide.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Encourage geoscience research
1. Increase effectiveness and role of the AAPG Research Committee in areas such as leading edge Hedberg Conferences, mini-conferences, joint conferences and multi- disciplinary symposia.(H)
2. Create a plan to increase grants-in-aid to students to fund research. (M)
3. Identify high priority areas of desired research and discuss with selected academic and government institutions and other societies. (M)
2. Encourage publication of geoscience research, both basic and applied.
1. Expand E&P Notes, Search and Discovery, and Explorer to publish concise and timely results of both leading edge and applied science and technology. (H)
2. Require Hedberg conveners to provide a summary article for publication and encourage speakers to provide expanded abstracts for publication. (H)
3. Solicit review papers for the Bulletin and Environmental Geoscience. (M)
3. Increase timeliness and focus of publications.
1. Create a strategic plan for publications (Bulletin and special publications). (H)
2. The Bulletin should maintain the policy of diverse topical papers. (M)
3. Review role of Publications Committee and Associate editors. (H)
4. Continue efforts to decrease the production time for publications. (H)
5. Shorten publications and papers for the purpose of faster editing and reading. (M)
6. Make special publications more accessible (Datapages and others to increase circulation). (M)
7. Investigate remote publishing sites and compare with sister societies' methodology. (L)
4. Promote the development of local study groups (e.g., Denver model) (M)

Goal Area: Continuous Professional Development

To be the provider of choice for education and career development for members worldwide.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Increase programs for personal career planning and professional growth.
1. Increase opportunities for management training, teamwork training, and career development. (M)
2. Promote life-long learning for career development by providing annual update opportunities. (M)
2. Increase the accessibility of AAPG educational opportunities.
1. Create opportunities to communicate the value of educational programs to company management using testimonials and personal visits. (H)
2. Discriminate and focus Education Forums and field conferences. (H)
3. Create a curriculum of courses in conjunction with global partners specifically for National Oil Companies (NOCs) and large independents. (H)
4. Input additional posters and papers onto Search and Discovery. (M)
5. Create materials for one-day courses with local affiliates. (M)
6. Evaluate distance learning programs. (M)
7. Coordinate with Sister Societies in presenting joint education and career development programs (e.g., "How To Be an Independent"). (M)
8. Develop programs for continuing education units (CEU) in response to regulatory/registration/licensing requirements. (M)
3. Increase the exposure of the Distinguished Lecture Series and Visiting Geologist Program globally.
1. Raise additional money for Distinguished Lecture series. (M)
2. Co-venture DLS and VGP with international affiliates. (M)
3. Create regional AAPG offices - better prepared to conduct business and service tours on different continents. (M)
4. Consider taping DLs and offering to an expanded audience. (L)
5. Develop web-based chat rooms focused on prominent geotechnical specialties (e.g., like SPE's TIG sites).(M)
4. Increase corporate support for member continuing education.
1. Increase the role of existing corporate liaison efforts to include promotion of continuing education programs. (M)
2. Develop grading and incentives systems to identify and promote quality educational offerings. (M)

Goal Area: Public Awareness and Understanding

Increase the public's awareness and understanding of the value that energy-related geoscience professionals bring to society.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Develop website for public, school teachers (K-12), and students covering the energy-related industries.
1. Coordinate efforts with other energy-related programs. (H)
2. Develop list of answers to most frequently asked questions (FAQs). (H)
2. Increase coordination of public messages developed by entities approved by the Executive Committee
1. Entities include the Public Outreach Committee, DPA Government Affairs Committee, GEO-DC, and CORE. (M)
2. Determine and implement optimal modes of communication within AAPG for formulating and projecting messages. (M)
3. Increase coordination of public messages among geoscience organizations.
1. Contact all energy-related geoscience organizations and determine existing outreach programs. (M)
2. Identify common messages between organizations and combine efforts. (M)
4. Support and emphasize Geoscience Week through the Public Outreach and Youth Education Committees and affiliated societies. (H)
5. Create a program to encourage members to develop a relationship with media on a local level. (H)
1. Create a media training program. (M)
2. Develop list of answers to media's questions. (H)

Goal Area: Membership and Member Services

Attract and retain members worldwide by providing programs and services that are essential to professional career development.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Attract new members
1. Redefine member requirements. (H)
2. Create "branding" ads and advertise in various sister societies (e.g., GSA, SEG, SPE). (M)
3. Promote AAPG to major corporations. (H)
4. Hold AAPG "town-hall" meetings at local societies. (M)
5. Go to major universities to promote student chapters and student expos. (H)
6. Work with faculty to promote AAPG. (M)
7. Develop a plan to increase the number of affiliated society members to become AAPG members. (M)
8. Conduct a membership recruitment event annually at affiliated societies. (M)
9. Develop a plan to increase the number of associate members. (M)
2. Improve focus of headquarters on service to members
1. Continue the Tactical Operations Committee program. (H)
2. Create and promote staff training programs. (H)
3. Reward staff for outstanding customer service (e.g., day off, bonus). (M)
4. Increase "performance" portion of employee bonuses. (H)
3. Increase member understanding of and participation in existing programs and services.
1. Highlight the value of an association program or service each month in Explorer. (H)
2. Conduct headquarters program assessment annually by Executive Committee and Headquarters staff and include membership trends in the review. (H)
3. Carry out membership surveys tri-annually. (H)
4. Increase AAPG presence and service at regional and sectional meetings.
1. Increase and lower cost of AAPG staff assistance at regional and sectional meetings. (H)
2. Increase AAPG leadership presence at regional and sectional meetings. (H)
3. Create distinguished keynote and luncheon talks for regional and sectional meetings. (M)
4. Offer AAPG-sponsored training for regional and sectional meeting organizers. (H)
5. Facilitate opportunities for member networking.
1. Expand networking opportunities at regional meetings. (M)
6. Increase value of web-based programs and services to members.
1. Expand digital access of publications. (M)
7. Increase retention of young professionals and students.
1. Develop and implement a plan to increase the number of student members transitioning to active membership. (M)
8. b.  Study needs of young professionals and develop plan to meet   these needs. (M)
9. c.  Develop a plan to get young members involved in committee     work early in their careers. (H)
10. Develop programs to retain semi-retired and retired members
1. Redefine senior dues and meeting pricing. (M)
2. Create distinctive emeritus ribbons for conventions. (M)
3. Hold senior member reminiscences following social/reception at Annual Meetings or luncheons at conventions. (M)
4. Create more Geotours. (M)

Goal Area: Financial Strength

Maintain an annual balanced budget surplus (3% to 5%).

Strategic Objectives:    

1. Increase the Foundation's fundraising program.
1. Develop a fundraising program to double the Foundation portfolio by 2008. (H)
2. Increase the diversity of AAPG's income stream.
1. Conduct financial assessment annually and develop multiple profit centers and eliminate non-essential programs. (H)
2. Research other associations for income diversification opportunities. (M)
3. Increase revenue from conferences, exhibitions and publications. (E.g., OTC, APPEX London, NAPE, ICE, Annual Meeting, GEO, IPTC.)
1. Improve publication selection process using a value vs. income generation approach. (H)
2. Develop and implement a plan to offer continuing education units (CEU) at annual meeting. (H)
3. Identify and implement opportunities to substantially increase revenue from meetings and expos.(M)
4. Increase training partnerships with companies, NOCs, and government agencies.
1. Continue to partner with sister societies in offering training courses. (H)
2. Continue to develop training partners program. (H)
3. Develop strong curricula with highly qualified instructors and state of the art courses. (H)
5. Reduce expenses utilizing zero-based budgeting and overhead allocation. (H)
6. Increase profitability of educational programs by improving quality. (H)
7. Increase economic viability of Research Conferences by improving quality and appeal. (M)
8. Increase profitability of Datapages/GIS. (M)
9. Review opportunities for capital investment (broaden Investment Committee portfolio options). (H)
10. Review exposure and solutions to financial liabilities (reduce and/or control). (H)

Goal Area: Global Presence

Evolution of a global strategy that demonstrates responsibility for, and has direct benefit to, the membership and upholds the goals of AAPG.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Increase members' knowledge and understanding of globalization.
1. Conduct rigorous analysis of membership dynamics both current and future in order to underpin the future planning and development of AAPG. (H)
2. Increase member support for the advantages of a global organization.
1. Gather information on associations that have transitioned to globalization. (H)
2. Gather information on worldwide economic development, petroleum industry activities and geoscience educational trends. (M)
3. Sustain value and participation in all sections and regions.
1. Analyze the structural, financial, and organizational changes and impact in becoming a more global organization. (L)
2. Develop an adoption scheme for regions and sections. (M)
3. Instigate and maintain regular global tours by AAPG leadership. (M)
4. Increase participation in existing commercial conferences (IPTC, GEO). (M)
5. Create regional AAPG offices. (M)
6. Increase the financial autonomy of regional groups. (M)
7. Expand VGP and DL programs internationally. (H)
8. Explore the option of discounted membership fees. (M)