Strategic Plans

Governance // Strategic Plans

ZRA Goals for 2020-2025

Building Our Future

In April of 2019, the ZRA Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) created and distributed a Member Value Survey as they prepared to draft a new Strategic Plan. 107 members completed the survey with a 95% completion rate. Members expressed their overall satisfaction with ZRA was 8.59 out of a possible 10 and 9.46 of 10 would recommend ZRA membership to their colleagues in the profession. They also communicated to the Committee what they would like ZRA to be able to do:

Top 5 services that the members want:

Access to a professional “listserv” or network with online discussion
Education, professional development, and networking at conference
Communication of standards and best practices for the profession
Setting standards and best practices for the profession
General permit information

Top 5 services ZRA provides well:

Access to a professional “listserv” or network with online discussion
Education, professional development, and networking at conference
Setting standards and best practices for the profession
Government representatives at conference
Industry-specific record-keeping software training

Top 5 services with the biggest gap between importance and performance:

Permit application assistance (US specific)
General permit information
Mentorship programs to develop aspiring professionals
Communication of standards and best practices for the profession
Reimbursement opportunities to attend annual conference

Areas where performance is rated higher than importance:

Recognition and awards for professional excellence
ICRM certification scholarship opportunities
Leadership development and volunteer opportunities
AZA IRK scholarship opportunities

After analyzing the results of the survey and determining where the gaps in performance were, the SPC developed the following objectives:

Develop resources to assist members with permits
Strengthen the mentorship program
Improve communication regarding standards and best practices
Provide additional assistance for educational opportunities and professional development
Increase international engagement
Improve the functionality and usability of the website

These are the six planks of the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

How close is the Association in achieving the goals set out in 2019? We'll describe that in this section - in the near future. Come back later to find out!

It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.

- Leon C. Megginson (paraphrasing Charles Darwin's 'Origin of the Species')

This section is another work-in-progress. In the coming months, we will describe each of the prior strategic plans: their goals and their accomplishments. Stay tuned!

Ideas for Our Next Strategic Plan

The Strategic Planning Committee has already started work to develop the next Strategic Plan. Do you have any brilliant ideas for our next plan? Do you see areas where the Association could improve or grow? Please tell us your thoughts! The Strategic Planning Committee will consider all comments at the next planning session. ZRA's President and/or Vice-President are the best people to contact for questions, thoughts, ideas, and vibes.

If you have any questions about Strategic Planning, check out the SPC’s page to learn more!

Strategic Planning Committee