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KP4IG > SAT 29.02.04 14:42l 95 Lines 4958 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-060.01
Read: GUEST
Subj: AMSAT Strategic Plan Announced
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0AAB<F6KFT<F6KMO<KP4IG
Sent: 040229/1239Z @:KP4IG.#JD.PR.USA.NA #:47297 WFBB7.00h $:ANS-060.01
From: KP4IG@KP4IG.#JD.PR.USA.NA
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 060.01 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. February 29, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.01
To All Members,
In the following "AMSAT" refers only to AMSAT-NA except where specifically
shown.
Forward by Robin
February 21 and 22, 2004 may be considered as critical dates in the
continuing development of AMSAT. Most of the Senior Officers together with
most of the Board of Directors met to start developing the "New AMSAT
Strategic Plan". It is now some 5 years since the last plan was developed
and since that time your Board of Directors has undergone a radical change.
At the same time the world has also changed dramatically with 9-11, Enron,
Worldcom and a turn down in the economy of the USA. Your Board thought
that a new Strategic Plan should be developed taking these changes into
account, and the differences in thinking of the "New Board of Directors".
The theme of the meeting was to decide what the our membership (you) wanted
from AMSAT and what AMSAT must do to remain an active organization and
survive the next 8 to 10 years. It was agreed that the strategic plan will
be under constant review thus continually pushing the 8 to 10 year time
period outwards. A short Board meeting was held (Minutes to follow later)
at which Dick Jansson brought the BOD up to date on his thinking on Eagle,
then we tabled a motion on rules for "Electronic Board Meetings", until all
had a chance to review the matter for 24 hours. The BOD meeting was
adjourned and we commenced the strategic Planning meeting. In addition to
the Board members Stan Wood VP Engineering, Martha Saragovitz Corporate
Secretary, Art Feller Treasurer, Bill Burden VP Strategic Planning, Jim
Jarvis Marketing Manager, Steve Diggs Assistant to the President, and
Lee McLamb BOD Alternate were present. Apologies were received from Gunther
Meisse who was sick. The session was held under the direction of and with
the assistance of Gerald Youngblood who has held many such sessions with
similar organizations and was recommended to the Board.
After reviewing the Strengths/Weaknesses/ Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)
to AMSAT we were able to determine a Mission and Vision for AMSAT which
includes a long range plan, and to which all present were able to commit
themselves. This plan assumed launching ECHO later this year, and the
successful launch of P3E by AMSAT-DL within the next 2 or 3 Years. It takes
into account the possible launches of one or more Low Earth Orbit
satellites from one or more of New Zealand, Australia, and India together
with other LEO satellites at the same time as Eagle. The plan assumes that
although there will be AMSAT interest in AMSAT-DL's P5E (to orbit Mars)
there will be very few AMSAT members who will have suitable equipment to
work that satellite.
AMSAT MISSION:
AMSAT is a non-profit volunteer organization which designs, builds and
operates experimental satellites and promotes space education. We work in
partnership with government, industry, educational institutions and fellow
amateur radio societies. We encourage technical and scientific, innovation
and promote the training and development of skilled satellite and ground
system designers and operators.
AMSAT VISION:
Our Vision is to deploy High Earth Orbit satellite systems that offer daily
coverage by 2009 and continuous coverage by 2012. AMSAT will continue
active participation in human space missions and support a stream of LEO
satellites developed in cooperation with the educational community and other
amateur satellite groups.
Commentary by Robin:
In both the mission and the vision we discussed using specific names (such
as ARISS) but decided it would be better to leave the statements generic.
Daily coverage by 2009 means two satellites in orbit such as P3E and Eagle
well enough spaced apart that there would be one available everyday.
Continuous coverage means there will always be a high earth satellite for
some form of operation in North America (probably elsewhere too, but orbits
have to be developed for this). These would include P3E, Eagle and another
as yet un-named satellite.
Although all present gave their agreement to these plans, much detailed work
remains to be done over the next several months to determine implementation
methods, your BOD will be meeting bi-monthly by teleconference to work on
these issues. Our first Teleconference will be to "Define Roles and
Expectations for BOD and Officer positions". Meeting these goals will
require a great effort, particularly on behalf of the members of the Board
of Directors. Each BoD member will have to become an active AMSAT
representative and fund raiser, we will be looking for support from all of
the membership financially, technically and administratively.
73,
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
President, AMSAT
[ANS thanks Robin, VE3FRH, for the above information]
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