 STRATEGIC PLAN 2000: THE PROCESS
The Federal Power Bar
Association, established in 1946, was sharply focused on those few lawyers
practicing energy regulatory law at the federal level. With about 1800
members, two formal chapters, and rampant change in the energy industry,
the association's leadership decided it needed to take a fresh look at why
we are in business and for whom.
From September 1998
through March 1999, a Board Ad Hoc Committee conducted interviews of
association members, lapsed members, prospective members, committee
chairs, and staff. To supplement this information, baseline membership,
fiscal data and the leadership's own extensive knowledge of the
association and of energy law were also explored. All of this helped
assure that the association's plan would respond to the identified needs
of current and potential members and be flexible enough to deal with
emerging situations. Participants at every step were encouraged and
willing to explore new ideas and approaches. Diverse opinions were invited
and respected as the planning process unfolded. The leadership retained
what works best for members and in order to be attuned to the most current
ideas, initiated a planning process that would:
- Examine current
realities
- Make reasoned
assumptions about the future
- Review the
association mission
- Develop goals which
reflect the needs of its members
- Assure the ability
of the association to achieve its goals
- The Board Ad Hoc
Committee who helped shape and develop the strategic plan included:
| Miriam Swydan
Erickson |
Robert S.
Fleishman |
| M. Frazier
King, Jr |
Daniel L.
Larcamp |
| Jeffrey A.
Gollomp |
William A.
Mogel |
| Charles D.
Gray |
Carol A.
Smoots |
| Sheila S.
Hollis |
Jennifer N.
Waters |
| John E.
Holtzinger, Jr |
Joel F.
Zipp |
| David M.
Hunter |
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EBA'S MISSION
The foundation of the
EBA's Strategic Plan 2000 is provided by EBA's Mission Statement. This
statement establishes criteria for the EBA's major areas of activity and
provides the framework for selecting action priorities.
"THE MISSION OF THE
ASSOCIATION IS TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF THOSE WHO
PRACTICE AND ADMINISTER ENERGY LAW."
This mission positions
EBA to:
- Provide an ongoing
forum and network for the discussion and communication of energy issues
among all segments of the energy industry.
- Focus its efforts
on serving the changing needs of current and prospective members.
- Remain the
preeminent bar association for energy law.
HOW ENERGY LAW IS
CHANGING
No one can predict the
future. Nevertheless, participation in a forum that monitors and discusses
today's trends can certainly enhance one's ability to make sound
projections about tomorrow. Consider these widely accepted theories and
assumptions about the near future.
BY 2002, THE ENERGY
INDUSTRY AND ENERGY LAW WILL:
- be redefined in
part by innovative rules and policies developed by state and federal
regulators
- continue to respond
to an evolving competitive environment
- be driven less by
regulation and more by transaction variety
- find that US
regulatory models are used as templates by other countries
- see more dependence
on dispute resolution
- see dramatic
changes because of customer choice options
- be involved with
more mergers and disaggregation involve global markets for energy and
related products
- see new business
opportunities at all levels of the unbundled energy chain
- need to reflect new
sources of energy
- find more work in
the environmental arena due to the search for "green" energy
- have to deal with
emerging technologies
- involve more
internet-based businesses and services
- use new, faster
tech-based research methods and decision-making tools
EBA STRATEGIC PLAN
2000 AN EXPANDED VISION
To carry out its
mission and vision for the future, EBA identified specific goals in six
areas:
- Programs and
Services
- Membership
- Association
Governance
- Law Students and
New Attorneys
- Government
Relations
- Image and
Identity
Achieving these goals
will drive EBA's structure, governance and budgeting. Many of the
following programs and activities are already in motion, with others in
varied stages of implementation. These goals not only reflect our strategy
for the future, but our vision of success.
PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES
PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS:
We envision an increase in the number of high quality, timely, affordable
educational programs and seminars offered by the association, its
chapters, and its committees in Washington, DC, and across the United
States. Program content will often focus on pertinent local, state and
federal issues as well as antitrust, financing, international, regulatory,
contractual and transactional issues. Programs will be evaluated for
relevance on an ongoing basis.
WEB SITE: A frequently
visited, interactive web site linking members and the public at large to
useful information.
JOB BANK: An expanded
job bank available to benefit EBA members.
JUDICIAL OPINIONS:
Timely dissemination and synopses of judicial opinions.
ENERGY LAW JOURNAL:
The Journal's increased scope reflects EBA's expanded vision.
DIRECTORY: The
Directory continues to be published each year.
ASSOCIATION AND MEDIA
ALLIANCES: Strong alliances with related associations and the media
continue to be developed.
NEW COMMITTEES: As
needed, new committees will be established.
MEMBERSHIP
EXPANDED OUTREACH: EBA
will identify and focus on recruitment from new member segments, such as
state and local practitioners and regulators across the United States and
lawyers specializing in all aspects of the changing energy industry.
CHAPTERS: EBA will
have at least three chapters fully operational by 2001.
DIVERSITY: Through
outreach programs, gender and racial diversity will be increased across
the association.
CONTINUED HIGH
MEMBERSHIP RETENTION: EBA retention rates remain above the national
average (85-90%) for professional organizations, and include the retention
of more senior members of the association.
GROWTH: Membership
numbers will surpass 2000 by 2001.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
AND OPPORTUNITIES: A large pool of leaders in both the public and private
sectors will be recruited, relying heavily ontask forces and committees as
a training ground and the openness of the new nominating procedures to
encourage upward mobility of members.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:
EBA's superior administrative staff will be expanded to meet the growing
program and service needs of members.
ASSOCIATION
GOVERNANCE
NEW NOMINATING
PROCEDURES: Greater access and opportunity for involvement in EBA's
nominating processes which have been revised by the general membership to
include: (1) The open nomination of candidates in addition to those
presented by the Nominating Committee; (2) The publication of criteria for
each board of directors and officer position; (3) A thirty-day notice
requirement for dissemination of the slate prior to voting; and (4)
Announcement of the process used by members of the Nominating Committee.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE
TRAINING: Annual board and committee training enhances members' knowledge
and effectiveness.
LAW STUDENTS AND
NEW ATTORNEYS
OUTREACH: Energy law
students will continue to be actively recruited, and a vital network with
energy law professors will be developed.
TUTORIAL PROGRAMS:
EBA's outreach to entry-level attorneys and others new to the field will
be expanded through special tutorial programs.
REGULATORY AGENCY
INTERNSHIPS: Support of internships at federal regulatory agencies will
continue with possible expansion to state commissions.
GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS
AN APOLITICAL
ASSOCIATION: EBA's non-partisan political posture remains firmly in place.
AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP:
EBA's membership participates in public policy initiatives and activities
at local, state and national levels.
A VALUABLE RESOURCE:
EBA's role as a valuable resource to government is reinforced and
relationships with other pertinent government agencies are established.
EBA IMAGE AND
IDENTITY
NEW NAME: A new name,
the Energy Bar Association, reflects changes in the industry, the
profession, the association, and helps promote broad-based membership.
NEW VISUAL IDENTITY: A
new, dynamic and visually engaging logo reflects image and identity
changes.
ANNUAL REPORT: An
"Annual Report"will be developed in either print or electronic format to
inform members about the activities and finances of the association.
EBA AWARD: The Board
will explore the establishment of a prestigious award to recognize
outstanding achievement in the energy law profession.
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