Our Vision:
The Virginia Section of AWWA (VA AWWA) will be the recognized leader in the Commonwealth on drinking water issues.

Our Mission:
The VA AWWA of AWWA is dedicated to assuring the ample supply of safe, affordable drinking water to the public through education and training.

Goals of the VA AWWA

Objectives and Strategies to attain these Goals:

Goal 1 Increase and retain membership, encourage participation and improve diversity.

Objective A
Initiate efforts specifically to increase the number of members representing Operators, Contractors, and Manufacturers/Manufacturers Representatives.

Example Strategy 1
Promote and advertise VA AWWA at events conducted by targeted trade societies (e.g. HRUHCA, VMA, etc.).

Example Strategy 2
Evaluate potential partnering opportunities with targeted trade societies.

Objective B
Support the VA AWWA's efforts to promote diversity, keeping in mind the broad definition of the term.

Example Strategy 1
Include a past or sitting Diversity Chair on the Strategic Planning Committee.

Objective C
Through new members and retaining members, increase the membership of the VA AWWA to 1800 within 5 years.

Example Strategy 1
Encourage VA AWWA member involvement at the VA AWWA and national level.

•	Advertise committee openings in the VA AWWA website and newsletter.
•	Encourage all members to apply for positions.

Example Strategy 2
Promote membership and committee opportunities on the website.

Objective D
Enhance support of Committee Chairs.

Example Strategy 1
Formalize an annual Leadership Training Workshop with Committee Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Board members with standing agenda items that review the Strategic Plan and VA AWWA business practices.

Example Strategy 2
Develop a formal program that routinely communicates with corporate leaders to show appreciation for employee participation.

Example Strategy 3
Use e-mail and website to communicate with membership regarding committee vacancies and other matters.

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Goal 2 Participate effectively in the legislative & regulatory process.

Objective A
Develop programs to increase VA AWWA and VA AWWA members' effectiveness and participation in the legislative and regulatory process. [Process is meant to include and go beyond the promulgation of laws and regulations.]

Example Strategy 1
Inventory and review current VA AWWA activities for participating in the State legislative and regulatory process.

Example Strategy 2
Review and modify, as needed, the Water Utility Committee structure (objectives, membership, and duties, especially the committee's organization and ability to participate in a timely manner during meetings of the General Assembly).

Example Strategy 3
Consider combining the VA AWWA legislative and regulatory activities with other professional organizations.

Example Strategy 4
Explore opportunities to leverage resources with other professional organizations such as ASCE, VSPE, VWEA, CEC, etc.

Objective B
Develop programs to establish the VA AWWA as the water industry spokesperson in the State in close coordination with Virginia regulatory agencies.

Objective C
Promote and participate in the development of a State Water Policy and its implementation.

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Goal 3 Promote education, training, and technology exchange programs.

Objective A
Provide accessible, affordable, and timely education programs that meet the requirements of all diverse segments of the drinking water community.

Example Strategy 1
Assign Training Coordinator to work with all Committees to develop an Annual Action Plan that addresses VA AWWA needs yet allows for flexibility to add relevant programs during the year. (This can be incorporated into the Calendar of Events for the VA AWWA for maximum exposure by the Education and Public Information Committees.)

Objective B
Structure education programs to meet professional development and education requirements for members.

Example Strategy 1
Encourage Committees to jointly sponsor activities with other VA AWWA Committees and/or other professional organizations.

Objective C
Promote the use of technically sound and innovative drinking water technologies and practices.

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Goal 4 Increase public awareness of drinking water issues.

Objective A
Devise programs to assist members in effective and timely communication with the public and public education.

Example Strategy 1
Increase the level of coverage of drinking water issues through timely press releases.

Example Strategy 2
Assist members in establishing positive and proactive media relationships.

Example Strategy 3
Educate the public by promoting the positions of the VA AWWA. Examples include:

•	Place VA AWWA position papers on the Web.
•	Direct interested people to VA AWWA websites through links from related web pages.
•	Promote specific messages (such as watershed protection, conservation, water supply planning, etc.) through radio, newspaper, and other information outlets during Drinking Water Week and other appropriate occasions.

Objective B
Increase the dialogue with consumer groups on drinking water issues.

Example Strategy 1
Identify consumer leaders and extend invitations to attend VA AWWA activities such as seminars, workshops and conferences.

Objective C
Increase consumer confidence in public water supplies.

Example Strategy 1
Encourage the use of timely bill inserts or other appropriate mailers, on subjects of interest to the customer that are both informative and educational.

Example Strategy 2
Promote innovative methods to improve customer service levels.

Example Strategy 3
Discuss strategies for on-going evaluation of consumer needs and attitudes for use by member utilities.

Example Strategy 4
Assist utilities in developing effective consumer confidence reports that address specific consumer information needs.

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Goal 5 Promote sound environmental and public health practices.

Objective A
Identify and be at the forefront of all issues involving drinking water.

Example Strategy 1
Identify technical issues surrounding environmental and health policies. Examples of topics include:

•	Drinking water quality/water treatment
•	Regulatory issues
•	Water resources

Objective B
Address technical issues and communicate best practices.

Example Strategy 1
Educate the membership through the following forums utilizing the talents of multiple committees wherever possible:

•	Committee meetings/actions
•	Email, listservs or forums on website
•	Education, professional development, training, and technology exchange programs
•	Newsletter
•	Sessions/presentations/panel discussions at the VA AWWA's Annual Meeting

Example Strategy 2
Serve as a resource for the Board and other committees on technical issues.

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Goal 6 Promote effective VA AWWA management.

Objective A
Continually adapt the structure and day-to-day operation of the VA AWWA to respond effectively to the diverse and changing needs of the membership.

Example Strategy 1
Periodically review and adjust leadership succession process to assess its success in promoting leadership, diversity, competency and continuity in support of the VA AWWA's mission.

Example Strategy 2
Maximize the use of communication technologies to involve the entire membership in the VA AWWA's activities.

Example Strategy 3
Periodically review and adjust VA AWWA employee roles, responsibilities, compensation, and benefits to accommodate association activities and training, annual publications and the daily affairs of the VA AWWA.

Example Strategy 4
Continually update and improve managerial/ leadership orientation and training.

Example Strategy 5
Monitor all joint activities and opportunities with other organizations to ensure that VA AWWA membership's interests are preserved.

Objective B
Promote the financial viability and longevity of the VA AWWA.

Example Strategy 1
Develop additional revenue sources to provide sufficient funds to expand member services.

Example Strategy 2
Annually agree on priorities and allocation of sufficient funds to support these strategic Goals.

Example Strategy 3
Continually champion new programs to serve and attract a broad spectrum of drinking water professionals.

Example Strategy 4
Establish a financial operating plan regarding revenues, expenditures and monetary reserves.

Objective C
Periodically review the long term (5 year horizon) objectives and goals of the VA AWWA.

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Goal 7 Promote effective utility performance and management practices.

Objective A
Educate utility managers and employees on the pathways to improved performance.

Example Strategy 1
Establish a new "Effective Utility Practices" Committee (the charge should be connected to supporting AWWA's Utility Quality Programs and should consider a joint activities with other professional organizations).

Example Strategy 2
Sponsor an entire session with presentations on utility management practices at the annual conference and organize every other year a one or one-half-day Workshop.

Example Strategy 3
Develop an "Effective Utility Management Practices" site on VA AWWA website to include information on books, publications, articles and related websites.

Example Strategy 4
Implement programs that inform employees of the value of their work and individual contributions.

Objective B
Promote effective practices dealing with aging infrastructure and asset management.

Example Strategy 1
Create a network for sharing information on the latest diagnostic and infrastructure rehabilitation technologies available.

Example Strategy 2
Promote operations know-how and the practices required in the future to achieve improved service delivery, particularly to pre-empt regulatory compliance actions.

Example Strategy 3
Identify techniques that effectively achieve stakeholder support for ensuring adequate financial resources to achieve high performance.

Objective C
Encourage utilities to incorporate and adopt effective management practices.

Example Strategy 1
Establish VA AWWA Award for implementing Effective Utility Management Practices.

Example Strategy 2
Promote AWWA Accreditation programs, QualServ (Self-Assessment, Peer Review and Benchmarking) and the Partnership for Safe Water.

Objective D
Form and support a Water Infrastructure Security Committee.

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Goal 8 Address the needs of small surface water systems and groundwater systems.

Objective A
Clearly define the roles of committees dealing with small surface water systems and groundwater systems.

Example Strategy 1
Gain a better understanding of National AWWA's support of small systems through their small systems programs.

Example Strategy 2
Contact AWWA Section outside Virginia to assess approaches to small systems, successes/ failures and "lessons" learned.

Example Strategy 3
Monitor Small Systems Committees at National AWWA to assess activities and publications that can support VA AWWA small systems directly or through adjunct committee activities.

Objective B
Develop conferences and regional programs to address small systems issues and encourage attendance from small system owners and operators.

Example Strategy 1
Encourage participation in regional activities from small systems by presentation of pertinent topics such as innovative technologies, regulatory issues, and compliance requirements.

Example Strategy 2
Assess Virginia small system issues with State Regulators and tailor topics to meet the informational needs of small systems.

Objective C
Explore and develop small systems communication opportunities.

Example Strategy 1
Address small system issues in the VA AWWA newsletter on a routine basis.

Example Strategy 2
Explore internet communications with small systems AWWA members.

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