american society of agronomy advancing agronomy through asa restructuring pittsburgh, pa

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

American Society of Agronomy

Advancing AgronomyThrough ASA Restructuring

Pittsburgh, PA November 1-5, 2009

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Why consider a change in ASA structure?

1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history

ASA 1907

Division History

Based on article by Lowell Moser

ASA 1907

Crops Section

Soils Section

I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use

1931

1931

ASA 1907

Crops Section

SSSA

I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use

1936

VII. Genetics, Cytology, and BreedingVIII. Physiology, Morphology, and EcologyIX. Miscellaneous Topics

1937

ASA 1907

Crops Section

SSSA

I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use

1936

VII. Breeding, Genetics, and CytologyVIII. Physiology and EcologyIX. Production and ManagementX. Seed Production and TechnologyXI. TurfXII. Weed ControlXIII. Agronomic Education

1947

ASA 1907

CSSA SSSA

I. Soil PhysicsII. Soil ChemistryIII. Soil MicrobiologyIV. Soil FertilityV. Soil GenesisVI. Soil Science Applied to Land Use

1936

VII. Breeding, Genetics, and CytologyVIII. Physiology and EcologyIX. Production and ManagementX. Seed Production and TechnologyXI. TurfXII. Weed Control

1954XIII.

Agronomic Education

1954

ASA 1907

A1. Resident EducationA2. Land Use and ManagementA3. Meteorology and ClimatologyA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Plant Science ApplicationsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry

19671956196319671974197519841990200220072007

ASA 1907

A1. Resident EducationA2. Military Land Use and ManagementA3. Agroclimatology and Agronomic ModelingA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Integrated Agricultural SystemsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry

19671984197819671974197519841995200220072007

(division names changed shown in black)

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Key Developments Setting the Stage for Big Changes

• After years of discussion, the Boards approved in November 2004 restructuring, so that each of the Societies could operate independently

• In 2006 Boards of the Societies began meeting independently

• In May 2006 the ASA Board developed a new strategic plan with vision and goals specific to this restructured ASA

• In 2007 ACSESS (Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies) was incorporated to manage the shared resources of the Societies

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) Resource Managing Organization

Before 2004

SSSACSSA

ASA

After 2004

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Why consider a change in ASA structure?

1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history

2. Create better identity for both “seasoned” and potentially new scientists and professionals

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Division Identity Concerns

• Until 2005 all A, C, and S divisions were part of ASA with board representation

• Starting in 2009, members must have ASA membership in order to belong to an ASA division (but no requirement to belong to a division)

• ASA governance is based on division structure• Not all members represented• Disproportional representation

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Total Members

Decline in ASA membership may be, in part, due to lost identity for the science of agronomy.

ASA Membership Trend

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

0 -24

25 -29

30 -39

40 -49

50 -59

60 -64

65 -70

70 -75

75+ Age Group

2005 ASA Membership by Age

ASA is an aging society, illustrating the need for attracting younger members if we are to be viable into the future.

Crop Science

Soil Science Environmental Science

AgronomyAgronomy

Agronomy is the science of land management that integrates crop, soil and environmental sciences for the purposes of producing food, feed, fiber, fuels and environmental services.

Agronomy is the science of land management that integrates crop, soil and environmental sciences for the purposes of producing food, feed, fiber, fuels and environmental services.

To create identity for ASA membership, agronomy needs to be re-established as a stand-alone science.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Why consider a change in ASA structure?

1. To understand the need of restructuring, one needs to first understand our history

2. Create identity for both “seasoned” and potentially new scientists and professionals

3. Enable responsiveness to emerging needs and interests of the members

“Responsiveness” means unshackling ourselves from constraints imposed by the presence of a structure (divisions) requiring bylaws to be changed whenever programs are added or revised.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Current Strategic Plan Language

“Innovate”

“… powerful advocate and voice for advancing agronomy (proactive) …”

“… supports new program and service introduction faster”

“…leading edge innovative forums”

“... articulate the vision…”

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

ASA

A1. Resident EducationA2. Military Land Use and ManagementA3. Agroclimatology and Agronomic ModelingA4. Extension EducationA5. Environmental QualityA6. International AgronomyA7. Ag Research Station Mgmt.A8. Integrated Agricultural SystemsA9. Professional PractitionersA10. Bioenergy and … SystemsA11. Biometry

19671984197819671974197519841995200220072007

The Problem? ASA organization and governance (and the supporting bylaws) did not evolve from an era requiring rapid response.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Conclusion: ASA restructuring is needed to:• Facilitate program development for

primary interests of all members• Provide an efficient and equitable system

for governance of the Society

To do so requires a decoupled structure facilitating both Society functions

GovernancePrograms/Services

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Restated as our Goal-

Develop a new ASA structure that:

1. Facilitates program development for primary interests of all members

2. Provides an efficient and equitable system for governance

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Five principles used to guide the reshaping of ASA:

1. Members should be able to readily identify their programmatic area of interest.

2. Programmatic areas will be nimble, easily changed to reflect emerging interests and problem areas.

3. Programmatic areas can be added or deleted easily, without disrupting or requiring governance change.

4. Governance through Board of Directors will reflect broad areas of membership interest.

5. Board of Directors structure for these broad areas will remain relatively stable over time to minimize the need for bylaw changes.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

What changes are being proposed?

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Organizational Structure

SectionsCommunities

GovernancePrograms/Services

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

What’s a Community?• A Community represents members with a

common interest or passion (“natural cluster”). • Here members will develop the majority of their

Society associations that magnify science and science delivery.

• Themes for Communities can be diverse in topic• specific scientific investigation• analysis tools• educational roles• geographic areas• communication techniques• emerging challenges

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

From feedback from the ASA 2008 Division Surveyandfrom refinement through the Realignment Task Force potential Communities have been proposed

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Agricultural Research Station Management Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Applied Agronomic Research Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Bioremediation Certified Production Systems Climate Change and Global Processes Continuing and Distance Education Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Extension Education Food Policy Geospatial Statistics

Integrated Agricultural Systems K-12 Education Landscapes, Watersheds, & Water Quality Military Land Use and Management Nutrient Management Organic Agricultural Systems Pesticide Management Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture Public Land Management Resident Instruction Scientific Cooperation and Exchange Statistical Computing Urban Land Management

Proposed Communities:

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

How will a Community work?• ASA members can elect to be associated in as few or

many Communities as they choose.• The number of Communities a member can affiliate

with will expand and contract to reflect member interests.

• Creation of a new Community will be relatively easy.• Not like the historic 3-4 yrs needed to create a division.• Simple petition to the ASA Board.• Petition includes name and description of the Community,

leader(s), likely activities (e.g., symposia, special functions), and names of interested members.

• Communities that show little or no activity over time will easily be dissolved.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

A few more points on Communities• Proposed Community names are not set in stone.

Discussion over the next year along with the “first meeting” of communities will be used to identify communities and the names the members want.

• Some Communities currently proposed might not even emerge through the restructuring.

• Community viability will require leadership. If that doesn’t develop (or it can’t be recruited), then the Community will not exist.

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Organizational Structure

Communities

GovernancePrograms/Services

What about Society governance?

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

What is Society governance?• Governance of the Society is accomplished through

the Board of Directors• Board consists of:

• Society-wide elected Presidents (Elect, President, Past)• Society-wide elected Board Reps (currently 11)• Ex officio members (editor-in-chief, CEO)

• Board functions:• Policy making and following Society bylaws• Strategic planning & implementation• Finance and resource management, including directing

ACSESS

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Organizational Structure

SectionsCommunities

GovernancePrograms/Services

What about Society governance?

Proposed Section Names

Environmental Quality

Climatology & Modeling

Global Agronomy

Agronomic Production Systems

Biometry & Statistical Computing

Education & Extension

Land Management & Conservation

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

SectionsCommunities

GovernancePrograms/Services

In order to provide broad representation for governance purposes and to facilitate communication/coordination of programs, aggregates of Communities will associate with a Section.

Proposed Communities (in likely clusters)

Applied Agronomic Research Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Certified Production Systems Integrated Agricultural Systems Organic Agricultural Systems Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture

Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Geospatial Statistics Statistical Computing

Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Climate Change and Global Processes

Continuing and Distance Education Extension Education K-12 Education Resident Instruction

Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioremediation Landscapes, Watersheds, and Water Quality Nutrient Management Pesticide Management

Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Food Policy Scientific Cooperation and Exchange

Agricultural Research Station Management Military Land Use and Management Public Land Management Urban Land Management

Proposed Communities (clustered) Proposed Sections Applied Agronomic Research Bioenergy and Agro-Industrial Systems Certified Production Systems Integrated Agricultural Systems Organic Agricultural Systems Precision Agriculture Production Agriculture

Agronomic Production Systems

Experimental Design and Applied Statistics Geospatial Statistics Statistical Computing

Biometry & Statistical Computing

Agroclimatology Agronomic Modeling Climate Change and Global Processes

Climatology & Modeling

Continuing and Distance Education Extension Education K-12 Education Resident Instruction

Education & Extension

Atmospheric Pollutants and Trace Gases Bioremediation Landscapes, Watersheds, and Water Quality Nutrient Management Pesticide Management

Environmental Quality

Agronomy in Tropics and Subtropics Food Policy Scientific Cooperation and Exchange

Global Agronomy

Agricultural Research Station Management Military Land Use and Management Public Land Management Urban Land Management

Land Management & Conservation

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

ASA 2008 Division Survey (~840)

• 79% agreed that Community and Section groupings make sense 62% agreed that Communities more effectively represent ASA than the current structure 77% agreed that they can see one or more Communities in which they would actively participate 64% support this new structure

Where are we and where are we going in the restructuring process?

2008 2009 2010 2011

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2

Division Alignment Task Force Co-Chaired by

L. Moser and L. Sommers

MemberSurvey

Transition Team(Board and HQ staff)

Co-Chaired by D. Osmond and N. Kitchen

Issues:- Communities and Sections- Community/Section leaders - Composition of Board- Program Enhancement- Communication to members- Member feedback- Re-write of bylaws

Membership Vote on bylaws change

Annual Meeting(Initiate

Communities)

Given approval

byMembers,

newASA

Initiated

Advancing Agronomy Through ASA Restructuring

Questions