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National
Directives------------------------------
DIRECTIVES
As NSBE continues to forge a path into the next
millennium, we must continue to increase the number of culturally responsible
Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively
impact the community. It is our mission that defines the purpose of the
organization and determines the Society’s priorities. Our Vision, as printed
in the National Long-Rang Plan, defines where the organization is going and what
it will be when it gets there. NSBE is a very dynamic organization that has
known phenomenal growth and prosperity in the past 26 years. We are now
positioned to exceed our past triumphs if we continue to get the support from
our members and supporters alike. The 2000-2001 National Directives, as listed
below, are the first steps to bringing our plans of success in the new
millennium to fruition.
STAKEHOLDER DEVELOPMENT
Action Statement:
Increase the resources, effort and attention focused on
the development of the National Society's stakeholders through documentation,
training, programs and activities.
Explanation:
NSBE's stakeholders are as varied as the very members that
comprise this organization, but for the purposes of this directive, they are
defined as members (PCI, student, alumni), chapters, leaders, and National
Office staff. Realizing that these stakeholders are the core of this
organization, it is imperative that NSBE offers institutionalized personal,
professional, academic, and technical enhancement methods to help each
stakeholder reach their full potential. Although some of the most beneficial
lessons in NSBE are intangible or come from the experience of being involved,
NSBE must do a better job at structuring learning experiences for its
stakeholders. For this reason we are making a concerted effort to address this
opportunity area. A membership/chapter taskforce has been formed to develop a
separate member and chapter module that will serve as a "how to"
development guide to NSBE excellence. A similar taskforce is being formed to
develop a leadership assessment and evaluation process that will afford NSBE
leaders the opportunity to assess their skills, work towards there enhancement,
and evaluate their progress. There are also a variety of Pre-College Initiative
enhancements being developed to increase our PCI efforts and the overall value
of the program. Increased activities that further enhance our stakeholders are
perfect actions for this directive, although your willing input and feedback to
these taskforces when approached is the easiest way to assist in this effort.
Additionally, once the taskforces have completed their modules, your active
participation and adherence, as well as your feedback, will be much appreciated.
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
Action Statement:
Increase the National Society's domestic and international
sphere of influence through programs, activities, and events that positively
position the organization to elevate our community.
Explanation:
The last statement in our mission is to "positively
impact the community" and nothing can effect that statement more than our
sphere of influence. I submit, it is our civic and organizational responsibility
to continually strive to this goal. If we consider this organizations' greatest
asset, our members, and the enormous knowledge base and talent pool we
represent, it is clearly apparent that our influence can benefit our community.
As our influence increases, so does our ability to effect the positive change
our mission clearly states. To accomplish this, we have begun developing
partnerships and alliances with other organizations that offer strategic
organizational benefit. These organizations include government agencies,
academic institutions, and community-based organizations. Additionally, NSBE is
engaging in efforts related to closing the gap of the "Digital
Divide". If these efforts successfully exit the planning and approval
phase, NSBE will be launching a major campaign to correct the digital divides'
adverse effects on minority communities by executing strategies to educate our
community on the value and utilization of technology. The success of this
pending program will rest on commitment and active participation of every
member, supporter, and affiliate of NSBE, so be expecting detailed information
shortly.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEASUREMENT
Action Statement:
Develop and execute measurement tools to appraise the
National Society's membership demographics and program performance for
organizational improvement.
Explanation:
Every NSBE program seeks to aid our members academically,
personally, and/or professionally. However, our methods for evaluating program
effectiveness in accomplishing their goals need to be improved. Additionally, we
need to become proficient at collecting statistics for and about our
stakeholders. This type of information not only allows us to understand exactly
how effective we are at what we do and have a clearer picture of our
demographics, but also positions NSBE as a research center for data on African
and African-American engineers. As we grow older, larger, and more influential,
these data become increasingly important and valuable. We are currently creating
more precise measurement tools for capturing this vital information.
Additionally, there will be an increased focus on collecting data of all sorts.
Your help in this effort is extremely important to its success. Tracking
membership demographics, program activities, offering feedback, communicating
successful and unsuccessful ventures, etc. are all ways each and every one of
you can help build a better NSBE. There is never too much information, but
frequently too little information, so please help to eliminate this phenomenon.
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Action Statement:
Increase the National Society's financial stability
through the development of sound financial processes, diversification of income
sources, and objective based spending practices.
Explanation:
I think we all recognize the importance of spending,
saving and investing wisely to accomplish our long-term financial goals. This
philosophy is of making sound financial decisions is crucial to NSBE and our
financial dealings also. It is imperative that we make wise financial decisions
today to afford future NSBE members the same opportunities we experience today.
For this reason, we have begun an aggressive saving and investing strategy that
should prove to benefit NSBE for years to come. The finance zone has developed
Financial Policies and Procedures that ensure sound decisions are made. An
investment committee has also been formed to identify investment opportunities
for last year's reserves as well as the reserves planned for this fiscal year.
Additionally, we are aggressively pursuing non-corporate income sources because
not only is this diversification in the Long Range Plan, it simply makes good
financial sense. Each entity of NSBE can assist in this effort by creating a
realistic budget reflecting your objectives, adhering to this budget, and
actively seeking a variety of funding options, as to prevent depending on one
income source. If we diligently work towards this goal, overall NSBE will become
the financially stable organization we strive to be.
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