NKBA COLUMBIA RIVER CHAPTER STRATEGIC PLAN - 2008
By Judith Adams, Chair of Long Range Planning

On April 22, 2007, our elected chapter board members met in Spokane, Washington for the Region 5 Chapter Officers’ Development Workshop. It was a weekend that occurs every other year for chapter officers, and during that time we were asked to develop our chapter strategic plan. Every year we turn this in to National and we build our plan upon National’s 6 goals. Here are some ideas of what we created then, and how we are building upon what we said was important for our chapter.

Our goals are to help you reap personal and business benefits from being part of this Columbia River Chapter no matter what your segment. We welcome your suggestions as well.

GOAL 1: KNOWLEDGE SOURCE: There will be a higher level of education and professionalism in the industry worldwide. NKBA members will be the most highly skilled and recognized for their expertise.

Strategic Objectives for knowledge source:

• The success of our study group last year was unmatched as nine passed the test, and with Jennifer Crawford’s capable leadership, we will continue to encourage designers to sit for the NKBA exams.
• We're still working on how we can mentor new members so more people will get involved in making our chapter beneficial to all.
• Students have always been in the forefront since they are our future chapter members. Our web page gives them an opportunity to let us know what they are doing. These students have chapter members and officers as well.

GOAL 2: CONSUMER AWARENESS: There will be greater awareness and preference for products and professional services from NKBA members worldwide.

Strategic Objectives for consumer awareness:

• Encouraging our members on how to use the NKBA logo to increase brand awareness, working on creating seminars and participating in community events was high on our list in this regard.

GOAL 3: MEMBERSHIP: The kitchen and bath industry worldwide will find NKBA membership and involvement in the association essential to their professional success.

Strategic Objectives for membership:

• Our plan was to increase membership by 10%, which we succeeded in doing so and retention of current members remained high. Our goal this year is to continue that trend and use the web site to increase the perceived value to every member segment with an opportunity to promote their products and services.

GOAL 4: ADVOCACY: Public policy and legislation affecting the kitchen and bath industry will be positively influenced through the NKBA leadership role in monitoring and affecting industry issues.

Strategic Objectives for advocacy:

• Our officers stay involved in IDC, the Interior Design Coalition that was formed by members of ASID, NWSID and IIDA to explore raising the professionalism of the interior design trade. Diane Plesset, CMKBD heads our legislation for our chapter along with our Chapter Rep, Dorothy Harter, CKD, CBD and our President, Diane Foreman, CKD.

GOAL 5: INFORMATION SOURCE & RESOURCE: The NKBA will be the information source and resource for the industry worldwide.

Strategic Objectives for Information Source & Resource:

• Our web site and our chapter magazine have been the two most ambitious tools we have created to keep our membership informed and give access to consumers for information and help in involving our members for consumer projects. These tools will become more powerful as we continue to develop them for members.

GOAL 6: K/BIS: The NKBA will continue to develop a higher level of awareness and continued enhancement of international exhibitions, education and networking opportunities for the kitchen and bath industry.

Strategic Objectives for K/BIS:

• Our board this year has made a concerted effort to encourage member and student participation in K/BIS. And we continually discuss how we can help members attend. This is our event and the impact is unmatched both within and without our membership.