July 2007 Issue
President’s Notebook
New Relationship With ASET Will Put Process to the Test
BY JOHN McLEOD, P.ENG.
APEGGA President
My time as President of this great organization is just getting underway, but I can already say that my time at the helm is blessed. Why? Because of the hard work that has come before me, which now allows Council, the Executive Committee, managers and staff to put more energy into creating a better future for our professions and to better serve the public.
I’m talking about two entirely different, yet intrinsically connected areas of APEGGA business С our relationship with ASET, and our ability to plan, implement and monitor policies and programs strategically, now and into the future.
The power and importance of this connection became apparent during a reception at Government House, last month. A small group gathered to celebrate third reading and Royal Assent of Bill 39, which enshrined the One Act, Two Associations model for the regulation of engineering and geo-science in Alberta.
ASET is joining us in the self-regulatory family, and the joint actions of our organizations will make a new designation available to those technologists who have the experience and expertise, and who want to practice independently. Now that Bill 39 has been passed, regulations must be prepared and approved to allow technologists to apply for the designation Professional Technologist (P.Tech.) Professional Technologists will be able to take responsibility for the routine application of industry-recognized codes and standards.
Foundation of Rock
During the reception, ASET President Larry Stone, C.E.T., and I both made reference
to the sometimes tumultuous relationship our two organizations have had over
the years, on the way to this new and positive development in self-regulation.
I particularly like Larry’s metaphor that a foundation of rock С our
rocky past С lends itself to good roads.
And Larry and I are the lucky presidents in charge of the first bit of paving. I’m not implying that the work to come will be easy. It won’t be, and we both realize that, but I truly believe your Association and ASET can put these good words and good feelings into cooperative actions to implement this new model, which will provide improved protection of the public.
It is apparent that the internal structure of ASET will need to be enhanced, although I have every confidence ASET is up to the challenge. I can vouch for APEGGA, though С Council, staff and our committees are ready for implementation of the job ahead.
Strategic Link to Budget
Over the last five years or so, APEGGA Council and staff have pondered, re-evaluated
and restructured our system of budgeting, strategic planning, business planning
and monitoring. I came along as President-Elect in the latter stages of this
development, and now, as your President, I’ll be a part of putting this
new system to its biggest test.
In May, your Council, Executive Committee and management staff met, retreat-style, to discuss strategy. In some years, these sessions have seemed really productive at the time but it’s been difficult to measure what they actually accomplished.
That disconnect is gone. Here’s why.
Early each year, we confirm that our 10-year vision in the APEGGA Strategic Plan is still focused on the right strategies. In April we review our annual performance, based on the yearly goals and strategies in the APEGGA Business Plan of the year before. We look at where actual accomplishments line up with the plan and where they don’t, and staff report to Council and the membership in the Annual Report.
In May, it’s time to look at the three-year horizon. New councillors are introduced to the rest of us and to managers at the strategic retreat, and are required to take part in the strategic planning process. This year our sessions were also guided by the results of excellent research by Ipsos Reid, which you’ll read more about in the September PEGG.
At the June Council meeting, we look at focusing priorities into the next APEGGA Business Plan. Staff creates the plan based on the earlier input, including measurables. Council approves the plan in September, and the Executive Committee proposes a budget around the objectives Council has already approved.
At the November meeting, Council completes the circle by considering and approving the budget for the upcoming year.
Sight Lines Needed
We’re going to need these clear sight lines to make the One Act, Two Associations
model work. In fact, its implementation is a category of its own in the list
of strategic priorities we have now approved for the 2008 APEGGA Business
Plan.
To read more about the APEGGA Strategic Plan 2008 to 2017, see Council Briefs on page 6 of this edition of The PEGG. On the same page, we’ve printed a diagram of the process, which will give you a visual for what I have described earlier in this column.
Many of you have told us the devil is in the details. I agree. I believe, however, we have a process in place to handle the details С and therefore keep the devil at bay.
I look forward to the coming year. The negotiating team did exemplary work to reach agreement on the new regulatory model, Minister Iris Evans and her staff expedited approval through the Legislature, and now it is up to our two associations to implement One Act, Two Associations.
Contact me at president@apegga.org. All feedback is much appreciated.