RSSeNEWS to be determined...

The 2010 business plan, which was ratified by Council in December, is the first under the new process recommended by the long-term strategy working group. An article describing the work of the group has been written by the committee chairman, Deborah Ashby. In addition for 2010, budget holders have been asked to complete a new budgeting and planning process. This enables them to more accurately record their budgets and map their projects onto the new strategic targets.

This focus on strategic targets, which are mapped against our charitable objectives, allows the Society to more closely align and then monitor project and financial planning, an imperative in financially challenging times.

The business plan continues to differentiate between core activities that the Society funds each year and those projects developed by the themes and Council on a project by project basis.

Key projects in the business plan for the 2010 session include:

• establishing a new statistical literacy campaign
• implementing a change in strategic direction for the education theme
• expanding the activities of the Statistics User Forum
• developing a collaboration with the American Statistical Association around our magazine Significance
• running professional development training courses directly from the Society
• expanding the ‘excellence’ awards to include the Government Statistical Service as well as journalism.

Considering 2009 was a financially difficult year, it is prudent that only strategically important new projects should be started in 2010. In addition, any new projects will require external funding to make them at least cost neutral for the Society.

Core activities, the projects planned for 2010 and the new long term strategic targets can be found in the 2010 business plan document.

Martin Dougherty, executive director