STRATEGIC PLAN

Of what do we speak?
Wikipedia’s definition says; “An organizations process of defining, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.”
Some history; I can think back over several years of discussions with either Byron, former or current Sheriffs and Chiefs, during which we expressed the need for a “strategic plan” and how to implement this much needed direction for our Association, WASCOP.
At lunch during a legislative session a couple of years ago Don Pierce, the Executive Director for the Washington (State) Sheriffs and Chiefs Association, offered to assist us with this project. We discussed his organization which is “very healthy” and compared their growth and direction to our Association.  Don pointed out that until his Association implemented a strategic plan they struggled with and wasted resources in their attempts to prosper.  Don offered to return to Wyoming, help us develop our own strategic plan and hopefully alleviate some of the issues that they dealt with during the infancy stages of their efforts.
Fast forward to earlier this year when via an invite Don returned to Wyoming (Casper) and met with the WASCOP Executive Board and the Executive Officers of the Association.
Don was our sounding board as we worked to create this document which will carry our Association into the future.  You would think transferring our short and long term goals, identifying resources and directing funding would have been an easy process, not so, there were a lot of glazed stares during the process, but it worked and we have a strategic plan in place for WASCOP. One question that has been posed, “why do we need a strategic plan?” ... read more