This Network Update was distributed via the Exchange Network email alerts list on June 29, 2007.

EN Governance Seeks Comments on Draft Strategic Plan

The Exchange Network Governance has published their draft Exchange Network Strategic Plan and is seeking comments from you, the Exchange Network partners. This plan identifies objectives and strategic targets for the Exchange Network for the next five years (2007-2012). On the whole, the objectives and strategic targets in the Plan describe an ambitious and achievable future of the Exchange Network. Highlights include:

• By the end of calendar year 2007, all 50 state’s nodes are operational;
• Significant growth in the number of available data exchanges and the number of partners implementing available data exchanges on the Exchange Network;
• Increased Exchange Network relevance and availability to a growing number of partners; and
• Sustainability of the Exchange Network through sound financial planning.

While this plan is a tool for the Exchange Network Governance, the audience for this plan is you, the Exchange Network partners. The Exchange Network is at an important juncture. It is vital to the long term success of the Network for partners to make a focused, collective commitment to ensuring that the Network will continue to grow and support better environmental decision-making.

This Strategic Plan is a living document intended to guide the maturation of the Exchange Network as it continues to transition from initial implementation into an operational system. The Exchange Network partners can expect the Exchange Network Governance to use this plan to guide decision-making, as a mechanism to ensure accountability, and to evaluate the Network’s growth trajectory on the whole.

To date, tremendous progress on the Network has been achieved through the hard work of the Network partners and an incredible spirit of collaboration. This Plan is developed in that same spirit. The work required to achieve all of the objectives in this Plan is considerable, but we have no doubt that with the same level of work and collaboration the Exchange Network will fully realize its potential.

The Network governance is asking for your feedback on this Strategic Plan. You can download a copy of the Plan at http://www.exchangenetwork.net/ENStrategicPlan.pdf. Please send your comments by July 18, 2007 to either Michelle Schutz at schutz.michelle@epa.gov or Mary Blakeslee at maryb@sso.org. The Exchange Network Governance will consider these comments and produce a final document by August.