As the gas station attendant said to
the lost driver, "If you don’t know where you’re goin’, it’s
kinda hard to get there from here." Sure, you will get somewhere if you just keep on
driving, but probably not where you really wanted to go. It is better to have a
destination in mind. Then you can map out the best route to get there and chart your
progress on your road map.
For organizations, this process is called strategic
planning, and the Board of Governors has been doing it. The Board recently adopted a draft
Strategic Plan 2000, codifying the mission of the State Bar of Arizona and setting forth
six major goals for our organization.
The mission statement embodies the State Bar’s
fundamental reasons for being and establishes the scope of its major activities. It
provides the framework for selecting goals and strategies required to move the State Bar
towards achievement of its mission. As articulated by the Board:
The State Bar of Arizona is dedicated to serving Arizona
and
its citizens by fostering fairness and justice.
That is what we do every day as lawyers — foster
fairness and justice — and the State Bar of Arizona is here to help us do it. But
what about our concerns as members? Well, we are citizens, too; and a number of the
plan’s goals address our concerns.
The six specific goals adopted by the Board to implement the
mission statement are:
State Bar programs, services and benefits will be market
driven and fiscally responsible.
The State Bar will position itself as a credible and
indispensable resource to the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of Arizona
state government.
The State Bar will have the fiscal resources necessary to
accomplish its strategic objectives.
The State Bar will value its members, leaders and staff.
The State Bar will be structured and governed
efficiently, effectively and equitably.
The State Bar will take all necessary steps to improve
the internal and external perception of lawyers and of the State Bar.
To make the strategic plan even more specific, the Board
articulated a number of desired outcomes under each goal.
A copy of the complete plan is available upon request from
Carrie Sherman at the State Bar of Arizona, 111 W. Monroe, Suite 1800, Phoenix, AZ
85003-1742. Her phone number is (602) 340-7201, and her email address is Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.
I encourage you to obtain a copy of the plan and to comment
on it. The Board has adopted it as a draft precisely in order to obtain the input of
members, State Bar entities and others before finalizing it. This is your opportunity to
help shape the future of your State Bar. You may send your comments to me at the above
mailing address or by email at Stuart.Forsyth@staff.azbar.org.
I look forward to hearing from you.
