Turning the AAVSO Mission and Vision Into a

Strategic Plan

Turning the AAVSO Mission and Vision Into a

Strategic Plan

Mike Simonsen

April 2008Mike Simonsen

April 2008

Why Bother?Why Bother? Fundraising More than anyone in the organization, I need

to be able to explain clearly and concisely what we do now and why it is important to individuals, foundations, and corporations to garner support

We need to establish priorities to decide which new programs/activities to fund

Some foundations actually require a written strategic plan in proposal documentation

Fundraising More than anyone in the organization, I need

to be able to explain clearly and concisely what we do now and why it is important to individuals, foundations, and corporations to garner support

We need to establish priorities to decide which new programs/activities to fund

Some foundations actually require a written strategic plan in proposal documentation

Financial DecisionsFinancial Decisions

How can council decide how to allocate funds, bequests, etc., responsibly and realistically, if we don’t have a set of clear priorities and a plan?

How will we decide what to keep, add or cut if we don’t know where we are going and how we will get there?

How do we know how well we are doing if we don’t know what we are supposed to be doing?

How can council decide how to allocate funds, bequests, etc., responsibly and realistically, if we don’t have a set of clear priorities and a plan?

How will we decide what to keep, add or cut if we don’t know where we are going and how we will get there?

How do we know how well we are doing if we don’t know what we are supposed to be doing?

Because it’s our jobBecause it’s our job “after thinking about it, I’d rather leave much of the generic long-

term goals for the Council to decide without influence from me, and instead give you short-term goals that I am currently working towards. These are specifics, not general comments, and so will be different than what you are considering. They will be modified according to Council’s wishes.”

Arne Henden

Short-term AAVSO Vision and Goals, March 13, 2006

We never did establish short-term, intermediate or long-range

goals to guide our decision making process and provide guidance to the Director after our ‘Futures Session’.

“after thinking about it, I’d rather leave much of the generic long-term goals for the Council to decide without influence from me, and instead give you short-term goals that I am currently working towards. These are specifics, not general comments, and so will be different than what you are considering. They will be modified according to Council’s wishes.”

Arne Henden

Short-term AAVSO Vision and Goals, March 13, 2006

We never did establish short-term, intermediate or long-range

goals to guide our decision making process and provide guidance to the Director after our ‘Futures Session’.

So where do we start?So where do we start? Examine the mission and vision statements and

see if we are living up to either of them, or if are they just words on our website.

Decide what the priorities of the organization are for the future.

Set long range goals. Weigh what we are doing against what we

should be doing. Plan for now, next year and five years from now.

Examine the mission and vision statements and see if we are living up to either of them, or if are they just words on our website.

Decide what the priorities of the organization are for the future.

Set long range goals. Weigh what we are doing against what we

should be doing. Plan for now, next year and five years from now.

The AAVSO Vision StatementThe AAVSO Vision Statement

“The AAVSO seeks to be the world-recognized leader in information and data on variable stars.”

Three important parts:1. World-recognized leader2. Variable star Information3. Variable star Data

“The AAVSO seeks to be the world-recognized leader in information and data on variable stars.”

Three important parts:1. World-recognized leader2. Variable star Information3. Variable star Data

Variable Star Information(world recognized leader)

Variable Star Information(world recognized leader)

VSX- International Variable Star Index Does this mean VSX is a core project in our

mission; or should be? Are we out to replace the GCVS as the prime

source (world recognized leader) for accurate information on variable stars?

Then, should VSX be better supported, staffed, funded, executed, prioritized, publicized and promoted?

If not, why do it?

VSX- International Variable Star Index Does this mean VSX is a core project in our

mission; or should be? Are we out to replace the GCVS as the prime

source (world recognized leader) for accurate information on variable stars?

Then, should VSX be better supported, staffed, funded, executed, prioritized, publicized and promoted?

If not, why do it?

JAAVSOJAAVSO

Does this mean JAAVSO should be THE place to publish and find information on variable stars?

Then why don’t our Director, President, staff PhD, and professional astronomer council members publish anything in it?

How do we change the perception of the Journal so it IS the leading variable star publication?

If we don’t, why spend all the money we spend on staff time, editing, publishing and mailing?

Does this mean JAAVSO should be THE place to publish and find information on variable stars?

Then why don’t our Director, President, staff PhD, and professional astronomer council members publish anything in it?

How do we change the perception of the Journal so it IS the leading variable star publication?

If we don’t, why spend all the money we spend on staff time, editing, publishing and mailing?

AAVSO NewsletterAAVSO Newsletter

AAVSO Newsletter Advertised as membership

benefit Published infrequently Black and white No variable star information or

science news Mailed to membership -very

expensive Costs staff time to publish

AAVSO Newsletter Advertised as membership

benefit Published infrequently Black and white No variable star information or

science news Mailed to membership -very

expensive Costs staff time to publish

Astronomy Club Newsletters

Member benefit Published monthly Color, graphics Science news, observing

notes, sky charts and more 99% pdf available online-

FREE! Free writing content Published and written by

volunteers- FREE!

Astronomy Club Newsletters

Member benefit Published monthly Color, graphics Science news, observing

notes, sky charts and more 99% pdf available online-

FREE! Free writing content Published and written by

volunteers- FREE!

Observing ManualsObserving Manuals Visual Manual Updated in 2001 Many translations now

available Needs chart references

and explanations updated with VSP information

Needs submission info updated

Visual Manual Updated in 2001 Many translations now

available Needs chart references

and explanations updated with VSP information

Needs submission info updated

CCD Manual Updated several times,

most recently 2004 Needs to be upgraded to

more instructive, thorough manual

Online version only Needs chart references and

explanations updated with VSP information

Needs submission info updated

CCD Manual Updated several times,

most recently 2004 Needs to be upgraded to

more instructive, thorough manual

Online version only Needs chart references and

explanations updated with VSP information

Needs submission info updated

The LPV BulletinThe LPV Bulletin Still published in outdated format NEVER published on time Expensive, time-sink to produce Dubious methodology and results We don’t even know if the predictions are

correct. In fact… We claim not be able to predict the behavior

of almost half the stars (NMO list) The real science by-product of this work,

Monographs, sits unpublished for 30+ years

Still published in outdated format NEVER published on time Expensive, time-sink to produce Dubious methodology and results We don’t even know if the predictions are

correct. In fact… We claim not be able to predict the behavior

of almost half the stars (NMO list) The real science by-product of this work,

Monographs, sits unpublished for 30+ years

Should we re-consider our publishing practices, priorities and investment altogether?

“Rather than publishing CCD Views, Eyepiece Views, the twice-yearly newsletter, many campaigns, etc., we might consider publishing a 6-annual-issue magazine much like JRASC, Mercury, JBAA, etc. This would be a definite membership benefit (don’t put it on the web), but comes at significant cost. You could sell advertising for it, though. It would be the only variable-star magazine in the world, and would advertise the AAVSO just in itself. I have tasked Mike to find out the cost of such a publication and may try a pilot issue to see the demand,

sometime in the next year or two.” Arne Henden, March 2006

What else do we need to do to be the world-recognized leader in information?

Should we re-consider our publishing practices, priorities and investment altogether?

“Rather than publishing CCD Views, Eyepiece Views, the twice-yearly newsletter, many campaigns, etc., we might consider publishing a 6-annual-issue magazine much like JRASC, Mercury, JBAA, etc. This would be a definite membership benefit (don’t put it on the web), but comes at significant cost. You could sell advertising for it, though. It would be the only variable-star magazine in the world, and would advertise the AAVSO just in itself. I have tasked Mike to find out the cost of such a publication and may try a pilot issue to see the demand,

sometime in the next year or two.” Arne Henden, March 2006

What else do we need to do to be the world-recognized leader in information?

Variable Star Data(world recognized leader)

Variable Star Data(world recognized leader)

Does this mean we should have all the data? If not, then which data are the most important,

valuable, etc? Historical data, survey data, other data like

spectroscopic data, FITS files? How do we work with the surveys coming online? How do we fit into the NVO picture? Is the comparison star DB valuable? Can it be

turned into a source of funding?

Does this mean we should have all the data? If not, then which data are the most important,

valuable, etc? Historical data, survey data, other data like

spectroscopic data, FITS files? How do we work with the surveys coming online? How do we fit into the NVO picture? Is the comparison star DB valuable? Can it be

turned into a source of funding?

Mission StatementMission Statement

“The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is: to observe and analyze variable stars; to collect and archive observations for worldwide access; to forge strong collaborations and mentoring between amateurs and professionals that promote both scientific research and education on variable sources; and to promote international collaboration.”

“The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is: to observe and analyze variable stars; to collect and archive observations for worldwide access; to forge strong collaborations and mentoring between amateurs and professionals that promote both scientific research and education on variable sources; and to promote international collaboration.”

“to observe and analyze variable stars”“to observe and analyze variable stars” Should we provide guidance and direction as to which

stars to observe? Should we provide more (different, better) training for

our observers? Who is analyzing variable stars? Where do they publish their results? Should we be doing more analysis, research and

publishing? Wouldn’t this help improve the perception of AAVSO and the Journal if we did?

Should we do workshops to teach our members and others how to analyze variable star data?

Should we provide guidance and direction as to which stars to observe?

Should we provide more (different, better) training for our observers?

Who is analyzing variable stars? Where do they publish their results? Should we be doing more analysis, research and

publishing? Wouldn’t this help improve the perception of AAVSO and the Journal if we did?

Should we do workshops to teach our members and others how to analyze variable star data?

“to collect and archive observations for worldwide access”

“to collect and archive observations for worldwide access”

Who is accessing the data and for what? Where do they publish their results? Do we have the data people want? What other data should we have? How will we get it? How does the world know we have data?

Who is accessing the data and for what? Where do they publish their results? Do we have the data people want? What other data should we have? How will we get it? How does the world know we have data?

“to forge strong collaborations and mentoring between amateurs and professionals that promote both scientific research and education on

variable sources”

“to forge strong collaborations and mentoring between amateurs and professionals that promote both scientific research and education on

variable sources”

How are we forging these relationships? Who is doing the work? How do these collaborations promote research? How will professionals help amateurs promote

education? Do we have any programs in place that do any

of this? Do we need to create new programs to do this?

How are we forging these relationships? Who is doing the work? How do these collaborations promote research? How will professionals help amateurs promote

education? Do we have any programs in place that do any

of this? Do we need to create new programs to do this?

“to promote international collaboration”“to promote international collaboration”

Are we really invested in international collaboration?

Didn’t we just have an international meeting? How many of our council participated/attended? In what ways do we (will we) collaborate with

other international groups or individuals? What can we offer? What will we get out of it? Why is this important?

Are we really invested in international collaboration?

Didn’t we just have an international meeting? How many of our council participated/attended? In what ways do we (will we) collaborate with

other international groups or individuals? What can we offer? What will we get out of it? Why is this important?

Education and OutreachEducation and Outreach Where does education fit into the AAVSO

mission? Are we going to commit thought, time, energy,

staff or money to education now or in the future? We need a clear mission and a plan. I don’t see

any professionals collaborating with amateurs to promote anything.

Do we buy into the idea that outreach is a good way to connect with the future generation of observers, members and supporters?

What are we doing, and how are we supporting outreach?

Where does education fit into the AAVSO mission?

Are we going to commit thought, time, energy, staff or money to education now or in the future?

We need a clear mission and a plan. I don’t see any professionals collaborating with amateurs to promote anything.

Do we buy into the idea that outreach is a good way to connect with the future generation of observers, members and supporters?

What are we doing, and how are we supporting outreach?

What next?What next? Decide on our real vision and goals for the future Prioritize the things we do that will help us get there.

Do them more and better. Change, fix or eliminate the things that do not help us

get there. Set short term goals. Set intermediate goals. Make a plan for achieving those goals. Continuously evaluate the plan and our performance,

and make course corrections as needed.

Decide on our real vision and goals for the future Prioritize the things we do that will help us get there.

Do them more and better. Change, fix or eliminate the things that do not help us

get there. Set short term goals. Set intermediate goals. Make a plan for achieving those goals. Continuously evaluate the plan and our performance,

and make course corrections as needed.

“Was that in the plan?”

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“Was that in the plan?”

end