The EAPA Strategic Plan

from Jeffrey Christie, CEAP; President, EAPA International

I admit that I have a certain inherent mistrust of anything that resembles ivory tower business writing, for often it smacks of pompous, lofty ideas lacking any attachment to reality. This is why I find myself excited about the EAPA Strategic Plan for 2010 – 2014.

As an ongoing member of this Association since 1979, I, like many of you, am well aware of the issues that challenge not only our association, but our valuable profession too.

This revised strategic plan -- a year-long exercise in perseverance, persistence, and perspiration – represents the distillation of many ideas, debates, and perspectives, for we did not want to exemplify the adage, “I climbed to the top of the ladder only to realize it was against the wrong wall.” We sought tremendous input and invited extensive deliberation to ensure we got the goals right.

This column, in effect, is a call to arms. If you are one of those, like me, who have strong feelings about the value of the EA profession and strong concerns about its present challenges, please study the EAPA strategic plan. Then open up your mental satchel containing your collection of “If only EAPA would…” sentiments. Examine those sentiments against the goals of the plan. I suggest a high likelihood that, for whatever you believe is needed, it’s in there, encompassed in one or more of the five major goals.

This is where the lofty meets the real. We are embarking on a very aggressive plan to enlist all believers, advocates, practitioners, bellyachers, and malcontents to accomplish what we know is so needed.

Metaphors aside, here are the specific steps:

• For each of the five major goals, we are creating a task force.
• Each task force will be supported by one or more EAPA board members who will be held accountable for reporting on the task force’s progress at each monthly board meeting.
• Each task force will appoint its own chair(s) and be responsible for developing and undertaking the actions steps necessary to goal fulfillment (a collection of potential action steps can already be found in the 2010 – 2014 Strategic Plan Workbook).

Because we recognize that we all are working “leaner, meaner” (a euphemism for understaffed), we are asking only for a 6-month commitment to serve. Of course, re-enlisting will be gratefully accepted. An announcement of this plan has already been sent to EAPA chapter and branch officers. A second issuance is forthcoming. However, no one needs to await an invitation to the Ball. If you have some allegiance to this profession, please go to your nearest computer keyboard and indicate such to our EAPA International president-elect Steve Haught at SHaught@afscme31.org, and express your interest in one of the goals.

We have great people in a great profession – the Board and I look forward to the opportunity of working with you.

Please feel free to contact me at Jeffrey.christie@halliburton.com or 281-575-3903.