[amsat-bb] Strategic Planing

[VEFRH@xxxxxxx]

To All Members,
In the following "AMSAT" refers only to AMSAT-NA except where specifically  
shown.
Forward by Robin
February 21 and 22, 2004 may be considered as critical dates in the  
continuing development of AMSAT.
Most of the Senior Officers together with most of the Board of Directors  met 
to start developing the "New AMSAT Strategic Plan". It is now some 5 years  
since the last plan was developed and since that time your Board of Directors  
has undergone a radical change, at the same time the world has also changed  
dramatically with 9-11, Enron, Worldcom and a turn down in the economy of the  
USA.
Your Board thought that a new Strategic Plan should be developed taking  
these changes into account, and the differences in thinking of the "New Board of  
Directors".
The theme of the meeting was to decide what the our membership (you) wanted  
from AMSAT and what AMSAT must do to remain an active organization and  
survive the next 8 to 10 years. It was agreed that the strategic plan will be  under 
constant review thus continually pushing the 8 to 10 year time  period  
outwards.
A short Board meeting was held (Minutes to follow later) at which Dick  
Jansson brought the BOD up to date on his thinking on Eagle, then we tabled a  
motion on minutes, until all had a chance to discuss the matter, for 24 hours.  
The BOD meeting was adjourned and  we 
commenced the strategic Planning meeting.
In addition to the Board members Stan Wood VP Engineering, Martha  Saragovitz 
Corporate Secretary, Art Feller Treasurer, Bill Burden VP Strategic  
Planning, Jim Jarvis Marketing Manager, Steve Diggs Assistant to the President,  and 
Lee McLamb BOD Alternate were present. Apologies were received from Gunther  
Meisse who was sick. The session was held under the direction of and with the  
assistance of Gerald Youngblood who has held many such sessions with similar  
organizations and was recommended to the Board.
After reviewing the Strengths/Weaknesses/ Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)  
to AMSAT we were able to determine a Mission  and Vision for AMSAT which  
includes a long range plan, and to which all present were able to commit  
themselves.
This plan assumed  launching ECHO later this year, and the  successful launch 
of P3E by AMSAT-DL within the next 2 or 3 Years. It takes into  account the 
possible launches of one or more Low Earth Orbit  satellites from one or more 
of New Zealand, Australia, and India  together with other LEO satellites at the 
same time as Eagle.
The plan assumes that although there will be AMSAT interest in AMSAT-DL's  
P5E (to orbit Mars) there will be very few AMSAT members who will have suitable  
equipment to work that satellite.
AMSAT MISSION.
AMSAT is a non-profit volunteer organization which designs, builds and  
operates experimental satellites and promotes space education.
We work in partnership with government, industry, educational institutions  
and fellow amateur radio societies.
We encourage technical and scientific, innovation and promote the training  
and development of skilled satellite and ground system designers and  operators.
AMSAT VISION
Our Vision is to deploy High Earth Orbit satellite systems that offer daily  
coverage by 2009 and continuous coverage by 2012.  AMSAT will continue  active 
participation in human space missions and support a stream of LEO  satellites 
developed in cooperation with the educational community and other  amateur 
satellite groups.
Commentary by Robin.
In both the mission and the vision we discussed using specific names (such  
as ARISS ) but decided it would be better to leave the statements generic.
Daily coverage by 2009  means two satellites in orbit such as P3E and  Eagle 
well enough spaced apart then there would be one available everyday.
Continuous coverage means there will always be a high earth satellite for  
some form of operation in North America (probably elsewhere too, but orbits have 
 to be developed for this).
These would include P3E, Eagle and another as yet un-named satellite.
Although all present gave their agreement to these plans, much detailed  work 
remains to be done over the next several months to determine implementation  
methods, your BOD will be meeting bi-monthly by teleconference to work on 
these  issues.
Our first Teleconference will be to "Define Roles and Expectations for BOD  
and Officer positions".
Meeting these goals will require a great effort, particularly on behalf of  
the members of the Board of Directors. Each BoD member will have to become an  
active AMSAT representative and fund raiser, we will be looking for support 
from  all of the membership financially, technically and administratively.
.
73
Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT
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Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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