The Gerontological Society of America
2005-2008 Strategic Plan

Purpose:

To provide researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with expanded opportunities to understand, advance, integrate and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life during processes of aging.

Major Methods:

Disseminating information on aging research, policy, education and practice and their interrelationships

Providing networking opportunities for researchers, policy makers, educators and practitioners

Linking research with policy, practice and education

Advocating for increased public and private funding for research and training on aging

Promoting career development and advancement of our members and the development of the next generation of leaders

Strategic Principles:

Ensuring that our priorities are driven by our members and constituents

Encouraging high quality in everything we do

Strengthening disciplinary excellence as a base for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, practice and education

Pursuing partnerships that can help us fulfill our purpose.

Goal 1: Strengthen Multi-Interdisciplinary Interaction and Understanding.

Key Results:

• Annual increase in the number of jointly-sponsored sessions at annual meeting
• Expanded role of Interest Groups and interdisciplinary task forces within GSA
• Increased number of GSA multi-interdisciplinary products

Strategies:

• Examine how the annual meeting program might be restructured to encourage greater cross disciplinary dialogue and exchange. Potential avenues to explore include, increasing the number of invited sessions that focus on providing overviews on state-of-the-art and research breakthroughs, (e.g. conceptual paradigm shifts), developing new session formats ( e.g., debates, point-counterpoint sessions, controversial and cutting edge issues), and greater use of interest groups in program planning.
• Engage in an assessment of the level of interest among GSA membership in implementing regional symposia as a strategy to promote the conduct of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary aging research and training.
• Publish summary reports on major advances in aging research to promote mutual understanding among the disciplines. This will require the identification of public or private funding for an annual or bi-annual review of scientific issues. These summaries should be written in a style that will be understandable to members of all sections of the GSA.
• Explore potential for new multi-interdisciplinary publications (journal and non-journal). As a first step, for the Gerontologist, create a brief (250-500) word column of high quality write ups on exemplars of current multidisciplinary research endeavors, educational/training activities or other activities with an interdisciplinary focus.
• Create a formal mechanism to ensure communication among the Chairs and Chair-elects of the Sections in order to promote and facilitate greater collaborative activities.

Goal 2: Improve the Value of GSA and AGHE Memberships and Expand Opportunities for Member Involvement.

Key Results:

• Increase regular membership by 5% over the 3 year period of this plan
• Increase average GSA annual meeting attendance
• Increase average AGHE membership
• Increase average AGHE annual meeting attendance
• Maintain/Increase impact factor of the journals
• Increase number and involvement of GSA and AGHE student members
• Increase involvement of GSA Fellows
• Increase number of international members (5%) and their involvement

Strategies:

• Conduct and evaluate targeted membership promotions, as well as continuing and increasing retention efforts
• Continue to expand services and communications through listserv, website and production of materials useful to members, including the availability of more publications online, online directory of members
• Conduct a review of the annual meeting format to evaluate the effectiveness of each aspect of the meeting
• Develop ongoing mentoring program with Sections and with AGHE, to encourage interaction of GSA fellows with students and emerging professionals.
• Expand Campus Representatives program and Careers in Aging Week activities
• Create new opportunities for students and early career professionals in GSA and AGHE
• Increase visibility of students and emerging professionals in GSA,, for example publish in Gerontology News the student award winners with short bio sketch and abstract of their winning paper.
• Honor prestigious long-term GSA fellows, for example, in Gerontology News via brief interviews, including what GSA has meant to them, and/or a symposium at the annual meeting that includes mentors and mentees describing their work together and the meaning to each.
• Improve careers activities at GSA & AGHE annual meetings to include more career consultation/advice from members and corporate representatives
• Expand international activities and opportunities, including providing more information on web site, newsletters, etc.
• Secure funding for at least two scholarship programs
• Consider initiating an AGHE journal or regular publication
• Enhance GSA/AGHE/NAAS awards programs Better utilize and promote the products and services of GSA's two units
• Create new AgeWork member-only benefit (e.g., previews of new jobs)
• Create members-only section on GSA and AGHE websites
• Better coordinate and create synergy between GSA/AGHE/NAAS websites
• Provide at least one special publication each year at no charge to members in addition to regular membership journals
• Explore new article formats for our journals, e.g., debates, reviews.
• Assist our members in understanding and using emerging research methodologies and technologies through activities like workshops.
• Better cross utilize and promote the products and services the two special units and GSA.
• Expand annual member drive effort

Goal 3: Influence Larger Systems on Behalf of our Aging Society.

Key Results:

• Increase fiscal soundness of GSA, including staff, projects and services
• Increase fiscal soundness of NAAS, including project levels and staff
• Increase fiscal soundness of AGHE, including staff and members services
• Increase media coverage for GSA/AGHE/NAAS and their activities
• Develop a business plan to allow us to move towards open source publishing of journals
• Increase public awareness of GSA programs
• Increase GSA's reputation as premier organization for translating and disseminating aging research to policy makers, professionals and the public.

Strategies:

• Continue publication of the Public Policy and Aging Report securing funding to cover publication costs for at least one issue per year
• Seek funding to develop and disseminate at least two white papers on critical issues in aging research and/or education and training,
• Sponsor annually at least three Congressional or Press Briefings on critical issues in aging research and/or education training.
• Increase involvement with other coalitions, Friends of NIA, foundation representatives, etc.
• Secure funding for at least two additional grants (GSA) and two (AGHE) that will provide opportunities for significant member involvement
• Fully operationalize the Research Task Force
• Bring major research findings and their practical implications to greater national attention through media coverage, print material, and websites (ensure staffing).
• Upgrade our approach to NIA, NIMH and other appropriate federal agencies including involvement of GSA members in strategic planning processes, National Advisory Committees, review panels, and as supporters of increased funding and increased involvement in GSA's annual meeting
• Publish summaries of research findings that speak to information briefings and issue identification for policy makers.
• Work towards the development of an Endowment fund, beginning with part-time employment of a Developmental consultant or staff This should have a particularly high priority.
• Begin to plan for property ownership to enable a shift from that of rentor to that of landlord
• Use the annual meeting platform as a vehicle for local fund-raising
• Begin the process of considering business plans that will permit open source publishing of GSA journals.
• Develop and publicize open forums on topics in aging for the general public at each annual meeting

Goal 4: Increase Organizational Capacity.

Key Results:

• Increase individual donations to GSA, for example by adding an option for each membership renewal to donate $25 or more to be designated for a "growth fund"; the option should include language that the donation would be tax-deductible.
• Work toward a $100,000 endowment for AGHE
• Work toward an endowment for GSA.
• Increase collaboration amongst GSA/AGHE/NAAS
• Increase in number of job postings on AgeWork (5%)

Strategies:

• Staff the development function.
• Conduct research on the special "niches" that GSA occupies and build upon those in fund-raising efforts.
• Mount formal fundraising campaign for GSA and AGHE to build organizational capacity
• Upgrade attempts to fund annual meeting symposia and regional meetings.
• Implement new web-based computer system with capability to manage membership processing more efficiently, provide special member-only features, regularly update and expand information available on GSA and AGHE websites,
• Analyze staff skills currently with an eye to what is needed to operate as a cutting edge organization to ensure better matching and development of staff skills and organizational needs
• Acquire and apply integrated data management/information technology more aggressively to achieve efficiencies in office operations, to enhance membership communications, to improve accounting and production, and to better integrate GSA, AGHE, and the NAAS,
• Develop GSA website to be the most functional and respected website among aging organizations.
• Conduct more interdisciplinary regional events beyond the annual meeting for increased networking and marketing, including building tighter relationships with state and regional research-focused organizations (provide presenters, co-sponsor events)
• Develop Annual Meeting promotional materials that highlight topical areas, rather than breaking into just section highlights.
• Expand promotion of AgeWork