The
leadership of the Association has the responsibility of responding
to members' ratings of services and popularity of products.
Usually
our understanding of your collective priorities comes anecdotally.
That is, leaders in the Executive Committee (EC), House of Delegates
(HoD), Advisory Council (AC), divisions, sections, regions, affiliated
societies, committees and staff receive kudos and complaints from
individuals. Often, unless it's a "no brainer," we have to question
whether this properly reflects the members' collective attitude
or at least a majority opinion.
Of course,
accurate information on member likes and dislikes is critical to
developing tactical and strategic plans (your input has been requested
recently regarding our developing Strategic Plan). Fortunately,
the 2003 All-Member Survey by Anderson Marketing Services gave the
leadership good data in "Exploring Member Attitudes." A total of
1,461 members responded.
The survey
showed that members ranked the EXPLORER, BULLETIN, North American
conventions and special publications as numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in
importance, respectively. Government affairs ranked number 5, followed
by K-12 support, the Web site, short courses, field trips and certification.
Interesting
to me was that government affairs (5) outranked certification (10).
Completing
the list in descending importance were scholarships, AGI support,
international conventions, group insurance, division membership,
technical training centers and Hedberg research conferences (number
17).
Your EC
is challenged to deal directly with 15 of these member services.
We work with the committees in performing routine maintenance, doing
minor repairs and occasionally initiating major overhauls. Indirectly,
the EC also is involved with certification and with division membership
(approves officer candidate nominations and budgets and reviews
medium- to long-range plans).
Not on
the survey list are other important areas of focus, such as career
member services, plans for our 100th anniversary celebration in
2017, co-operation with sister societies and associations, etc.
In many of these activities the EC involves the Advisory Council
and interfaces with the House of Delegates where appropriate.
Most of
the surveyed activities are alive and well. Quite a few have a venerable
history, e.g., Visiting Geologist Program and Distinguished Lecturers.
However,
at least two appear to not have been meeting our members' expectations.
Respondents "voted" 89.84 percent for AAPG to be "active," "very
active" or "extremely active" in informing the public concerning
geoscience and energy issues. So, our nascent Public Outreach program
needs more encouragement, participation and support.
Similarly,
respondents indicated by an average score of 4.22 ("1" equals not
important and "5" equals very important) that AAPG inform governmental
officials in the United States about technical policies and issues
that may affect our membership.
The same
question regarding informing non-U.S. governments showed an average
score of 3.64.
On the
question of informing U.S. government officials about non-technical
policies and issues that may affect or membership (e.g., tax reform),
the average score was 3.63. The same question informing non-U.S.
governments scored 2.95.
By a ratio
of 680 to 436, respondents indicated AAPG should inform government
officials about other issues besides scientific ones (258, or 18.78
percent, were uncertain).
Based on
survey results versus Association actions, we have not responded
fully and effectively regarding governmental affairs.
As president,
I consider this an obligation to pursue. However, solutions must
preserve AAPG's outstanding geoscience reputation.
Do you
want to help in this endeavor? If so contact me at (214) 744-3869
or GRATTON.
Together we can make a difference!
And, thanks
to those who have already contributed in many ways to this remedial
work.