The TSA Board convened on February 11, 2007,
to review and revise the organization’s first Long Range
Plan (2004-2009), which was developed by the Board in October
2003 and February 2004, based on a long-range planning questionnaire
submitted to the Membership in summer 2003. The current Long
Range Plan (2007-2011) affirms the Mission Statement, Planning
Assumptions, and Organizational Priorities established in 2004,
and reflects revisions approved by the Board in February 2007.
As
in the past, the present Long Range Plan is construed as a
guide for the future of TSA, subject to revision by future TSA
Boards of Directors to reflect changes in organizational goals,
priorities, and strategies for implementation.
1) TSA is a professional organization. Its
constituency is made up of those who work with textiles on a
professional basis and those whose interests are personal.
2)
TSA Membership currently numbers about 700 and fluctuates between
symposium years and off years. TSA needs to encourage
growth and stability in the Membership.
3) Members are attracted
to TSA by the quality of its programs. TSA is committed to excellence
in all of its programming.
4) A high-quality Biennial Symposium
and the subsequent publication of its Proceedings are the cornerstone
of TSA’s mission.
5) TSA Membership includes people with
varied backgrounds and diverse interests. Diversity is one of
the organization’s
strengths and should be maintained.
6) TSA has a worldwide constituency
and will address the interests and incorporate the expertise
of its international membership.
7) TSA Programs and Publications
will reflect its mission and the needs of its members.
8) Expansion of benefits, services, and activities will require
additional revenue sources for implementation and sustainability.
TSA has identified five priority categories:
Membership Expansion and Involvement, Education and Professional
Development, Organizational Outreach, Financial Development,
and Advancement of the Field.
These priorities take into account
the Mission Statement, current TSA activities and areas of
potential growth, as well as the
need for human and financial resources to plan for the future,
to sustain current initiatives, and to implement new initiatives.
Goals, implementation strategies, task assignments, and a
timeline are identified for each of the five priorities.
I.
Membership Expansion and Involvement
TSA depends upon Membership dues for most
of its annual operating budget. Membership is derived from
professionals in the academic, museum, gallery, artist/designer,
international development and NGO communities, manufacturing
and design industries, fiber artists, and textile practitioners.
According to the 2003 Membership Survey results, Membership
is heavy with mid and late career professionals. Most current
members reside in North America. Membership fluctuates between
symposium and off-symposium years.
A. TSA will work to create
a larger and more stable membership base. This will provide
both a broader base from which to draw
Directors and volunteers to run the organization and a larger
pool of financial resources with which to provide new services
to members.
B. TSA will work to encourage members from
diverse academic, professional, geographic, and cultural backgrounds
and a
variety of career levels. A diverse membership strengthens
opportunities
for the exchange of information and for professional networking,
growth, and development.
C. TSA will work to involve members
more fully in the organization through programs and volunteer
opportunities.
II. Education
and Professional Development
TSA recognizes that its members
and potential members come from many different backgrounds
and have varying interests
and levels of expertise within the textiles field. TSA
offers opportunities to members and potential members to
enhance their knowledge, present their scholarly and creative
work
in formal
and informal venues, enlarge their network of contacts,
and
expand their horizons in the field.
A. TSA is committed
to its current program of Education and Professional Development
opportunities. These consist
of
a Biennial Symposium and published Proceedings; Study
Tours, Workshops, and volunteer opportunities to write articles
and
reviews for the Newsletter and Website.
B. TSA will
work to further develop workshop and study tour offerings,
and create new programs to appeal to
its diverse
constituents.
C. TSA will work towards expanding its
professional development offerings outside the boundaries
of the
United States and
Canada.
D. TSA will work to establish awards and
other opportunities to recognize and acknowledge the
achievements of
its members.
III. Outreach
TSA works to educate the public
about textiles as a field of study and creative output,
and to encourage members
to broaden
their horizons within the field.
A. TSA will publicize
its programs and the achievements of its members to a wider
audience. Raising awareness
of the
organization should have a positive impact on
membership and create more
multidisciplinary opportunities for professional
development.
B. TSA will encourage its members
to participate in the programming of other professional organizations,
and establish
connections
with other organizations.
IV. Financial Development
TSA is committed
to further stabilizing the finances of the organization.
TSA recognizes
that members
who work
for educational
and cultural organizations may have conflicts
of interest in regards to fundraising
and should act
in these matters
according
to the ethical standards of their institutions.
A.
A Finance Committee is in place to determine investment strategies
for an endowment
to help achieve financial
stability.
B. TSA will develop a financial
plan and related fundraising strategies
in order
to implement
new programming.
V. Advancement of
the Field
TSA will strive for leadership in
advancing the fields of textile
studies, in all
its many facets.
A. TSA will
work to increase awareness of textiles as a field
of study
and creative endeavor.
B.
TSA will work to create opportunities for interdisciplinary
dialogue.
C. TSA will recognize
excellence in the field to foster
high standards of scholarship.
