PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE
FORWARD PLANNING COMMITTEE

Rush E. Choate, Chairman

Introduction

The forward planning committee was appointed by the chairman, Florida Caribbean section ASAE July 31, 1987. The committee was given a charge to: "Develop some forward planning for our professional and Section".

This preliminary report is the result of many hours of individual and collective concentration by the committee members. The scope of this report has been limited primarily to agricultural engineering. Time and other resource available to the committee have prevented a thorough and complete consideration of other professional interest within the Section. The Agricultural Operations Management interest should be addressed immediately. The results of that study would become a part of this report, perhaps Part II.

From the outset, there has been strong agreement within the committee, and among individual members of the Section with whom we were able to discuss the concepts of forward planning, that the development and implementation of a long range plan was timely and desirable.

The committee has not prepared a statement summarizing in-depth evaluation of the present situation. It has been taken as self-evident that a meaningful long range plan followed by effective implementation and execution would:

1. Strengthen the Section in existing activities, encourage new activities and be a manifestation of the Section’s reason for existing.
2. Improve delivery of Engineering services to clientele.
3. Advance the public image of the profession.
4. Return rewarding benefits, tangible and intangible, to the individual member.

The body of this report contains four elements:

1. Statement of mission for the Section.
2. A list of goals which support the mission.
3. Specific strategies and fundamental actions essential to the achievement of each goal.
4. Recommendations, outlook and expectations.

The Mission

To advance the use of professional agricultural engineering and related services in traditional agricultural situations and expand agricultural engineering services into allied and emerging technological areas.

Statement of Goals and Specific Strategies and Fundamental Actions

Goal No. 1:

Advance the public understanding of the relative value and overall importance of agricultural engineering services to the general welfare and quality of life.

Strategies and Actions for Goal No. 1.:

1. Develop an information program, for presentation to decision making bodies; i.e.: the governmental, industrial, and the private practice sectors.
2. Identify the agricultural engineer’s unique qualifications for addressing problems of major societal concern: food, water, waste, energy and environmental?
3. Develop effective communication with prospective employers.

Goal No. 2:

Increase visibility of agricultural engineering practitioners in the Florida-Caribbean region.

Strategies for Goal No. 2:

1. Become involved as technical advisors to regulatory board, planning committees and in legislative matters pertinent to agricultural engineering. Establish a standing legislative committee within the Section and increasing the section’s participation level within FES.
2. Broaden the Section external activities. Establish a speakers bureau. Encourage member participation in task forces, advisory groups, etc.
3. Develop a coordinated career guidance plan involving member participation that will promote student recruitment and job placement of agricultural engineers.
4. Encourage agricultural engineering practitioners and employers to adopt job titles which correlate to and connote professional agricultural engineering performance.
5. Intensify and strengthen the existing scholarship program.
6. Develop engineering standards for the various Florida conditions which are not adequately covered by present standards.

Goal No. 3:

Promote the concept of inherent benefits, economic and others, resulting from the application of agricultural engineering services within the Florida-Caribbean region in both the traditional specialty areas and in allied and emerging technology situations.

Strategies for Goal No. 3:

1. Sponsor joint sessions and liaison relationships with other professional societies and appropriate commodity organizations and trade associations.
2. Develop special symposium and workshops for clientele groups which highlight the areas of expertise within agricultural engineering.
3. Present papers and programs at other Engineering Society meetings.

Goal No. 4:

Expand the Florida-Caribbean ASAE Section membership program and membership services.

Strategies for Goal No. 4:

1. Develop a membership development and recruitment program directed to:

1. Agricultural Engineers who are presently non members of ASAE.
2. Other engineers who have professional interests within agricultural engineering specialty areas.
3. Non-engineering professionals from government, industry, commodity organizations, and trade associations who hold job responsibilities that interface with agricultural engineering.

2. Conduct continuing education activities specific to the needs of practicing agricultural engineers in this region.
3. Develop a comprehensive mailing list (with updating capabilities) to include appropriate clientele groups, governmental agencies and other professional groups.
4. Serve as a focal point for individuals holding interest in engineering and related technological applications in the diverse field of Agriculture and allied emerging technological situations.
5. Present technical programs of in-depth subject content, designed to appeal to specific membership background.

Goal No. 5:

Identify the professional profile of the members to be served by the Florida-Caribbean Section, ASAE.

Strategies for Goal No.5:

1. Maintain an updated directory of agricultural engineers in the Florida-Caribbean region.
2. Develop mechanisms for advertising agricultural engineering services available in the Florida-Caribbean region.
3. Reach out to those who use the products, information and services we generate.
4. Analyze trends and adjust to the dynamics in modern day technology.

Goal No. 6:

Strengthen the executive structure of the Florida-Caribbean Section ASAE to promote vitality and sustain continuity of program.

Strategies for Goal No.6:

1. Establish an executive direction for the Section.
2. Have all committees meet jointly with and report to the executive committee at least two times per year. Re-structure committees and standing activities as needed to be effective.
3. Published yearly an executive report, which includes a report of the activities by each committee in addition to a report by the officers.
4. Operate a well coordinated committee system that is structured and motivated for the delivery of effective service. Provide each committee with a list of duties and responsibilities.
5. Establish a financial base to support additional Section activities.
6. Create chapters within the Section.

Goal No. 7:

Promote professional registration for agricultural engineers in the Florida-Caribbean region.

Strategies for Goal No.7:

1. Identify the situations where professional registration status is required (or should be required) for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
2. Conduct educational programs directed toward receiving (P.E. registration) and maintaining and developing professional engineering skills through involvement in the FES continued professional development program (CPCD).
3. Monitor compliance an/or lack of compliance with Florida Statue Chapter 471, whenever engineering services are delivered to the agri-business industry.

Recommendation and Implementation

It is recommended that the mission statement, the seven major goals and the strategies and missions listed in this report be adopted and declared to be the official "Long Range Action Plan of Florida-Caribbean Section, ASAE."

It is recommended that the Executive Committee move rapidly into the work of implementing each of the actions called for in the report.

Should practical reasons dictate implementation through a timely sequence of action, it is recommended that Goal No. 1 and Goal No. 2 be given major emphasis early in the sequence.

Expectations and Outlook

Fulfillment of the stated mission and, therefore performing this work which must be obligated to the Long Range Action Plan, will require individual dedication to the ideals and commitment of personal time and effort form a large number of members.

Some actions are expected to produce favorable results early on. However, in other cases a persistent effort over a much longer time will be required for desired results to become evident.

The act of carrying-out the Long Range Action Plan effectively is a continuous and never ending process. Once a plateau of success is attained, the work of maintaining that success is never ending.