Inside APHIS / United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

10 Pages·1995·0.87 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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Solomon's Island Group Envisions the Agency in 2005
By Sue Wilkinson, Public Affairs, LPA fulfilled and inspired tepm ployees
carefully balancing their personal
Come with me on a journey of and work responsibilities and their
the imagination inside the collec¬ supervisors actively encouraging
tive brain of APHIS. It’s a pretty the effort.
amazing place. I had the privilege At a rather dark and harrowing
of taking this journey by joining 80 juncture, we saw diminishing
or so APHIS employees who met resources. But we soon saw this
January 30 through February 2 in situation as a wonderful chal¬
Solomon’s Island, MD, to create a lenge—an opportunity to pull
vision for the future. The combined together and show the world what
brainpower of this group propelled a motivated team can accomplish.
us into the world of APHIS in the As a result, we saw people
21st century. And I can tell you, we helping their coworkers in a united
found some pretty heady stuff there. effort to fulfill an ever-expanding
In the collective APHIS brain, we mission. We saw satisfied custom¬
found a place where veterinarians ers thanking the APHIS leadership
tackle plant pest problems. We for excellent service. We saw APHIS
found a place where wildlife employees sitting down at tables
damage control specialists help with environmental groups and
fight devastating livestock diseases. grower organizations, with animal
We saw regulatory analysts an¬ welfare proponents and medical
swering calls from the media and researchers. We saw grateful
Capitol Hill. We saw biotechnolo¬ stakeholders appreciating our efforts
gists sitting down at negotiating to work cooperatively with them.
tables with representatives from After completing this journey,
foreign governments. We saw your colleagues and I were ener¬
budget personnel assisting training gized and uplifted. To know more
specialists and vice versa. about how our imaginations took
At a wonderful stop along our us to this wonderful, busy world of
'putcc'ie Search
trip, we saw a diverse workforce APHIS in the year 2005 and
receiving critical training to beyond, turn the pages of this
Visioning Conference
broaden their skills. We saw special edition of Inside APHIS. It
progressive leaders empowering will explain how we got there. And
their employees to take initiative more importantly, how we’re all
and get the job done. We saw going to get there. ♦
We bring food to your table, stimulate global
economies, and protect and enhance ecosystems. We
are a highly motivated and capable team of diverse
individuals who share leadership within an
agency community that cares about our
professional and personal lives.
—from the APHIS Vision Statement
So What Is a Future Search Conference Anyway?
By Sue Wilkinson, Public Affairs, LPA
“I came home
exhausted,” said
Tolani Francisco, VS
(left), “but after I
digested the material, I
realized we had really
accomplished a lot. My
colleagues were pleased
to have a representative
from our region (New
Mexico).” Also from left,
Elly Cleaver, VS;
Kevin Walker, VS;
Gary Larson, ADC; and
Joe Annelli, VS.
APHIS photo by
Kevin Conner.
On the cutting edge of manage¬ chugged into the room saying, "We conference participants that APHIS
ment processes, future search think we can. We think we can . . serves a diverse, demanding, and
conferences allow managers to plan On Tuesday, the participants ever-expanding customer base and
comprehensively, empower employ¬ were divided into 12 groups that that we need to keep the voice of
ees, and look at organizational cut across organizational lines. our customers in mind in crafting
plans from both internal and Each participant had brought to the our future vision.
external viewpoints to achieve a conference a symbol that repre¬ The participants then plastered
high degree of buy-in. To date, few sented to that person the most a paper-covered wall with impor¬
public sector organizations have significant change that had occurred tant events that occurred both in
engaged in future search confer¬ in APHIS in the last 10 years. Each and outside of APHIS during the
ences. The APHIS conference was group then presented their favorite
the second in USDA; PPQ held the symbol to the entire conference.
first in 1994. Observers from the Many groups presented symbols that Inside APHIS
National Aeronautics and Space represented changes in technology;
Administration and the Federal fax machines and electronic mail
Quality Institute attended the have become important parts of the Inside APHIS is published by:
APHIS conference to study the APHIS culture. King discussed the Legislative and Public Affairs
methodology for possible use in AMTs expectations for the confer¬ 4700 River Road Unit 51
other organizations. ence (excerpts from his remarks are Riverdale, MD 20737
During the APHIS Future Search printed elsewhere in this publica¬ Phone: [phone]
Visioning Conference, the roughly 80 tion). He also explained the AMTs
participants, the APHIS Management role in the conference: The AMT Director:
Team (AMT), and the conference would participate as individuals and, Patrick Collins
facilitators and support staff met as a body, would endorse the final
almost nonstop—mornings, after¬ vision statement. Managing Editor:
noons, and evenings. The sessions Speakers from many APHIS Rick McNaney
were alternately exhausting and stakeholder groups made presenta¬
energizing, frustrating and inspiring. tions on their expectations for Editor:
The conference opened Monday APHIS in the next century (their Mary Yurkouich
night. Acting Administrator Lonnie thoughts are presented in a sepa¬
King and Pat Jensen, acting assis¬ rate article). Next, the participants Designer:
tant secretary for marketing and witnessed a “town hall meeting” of Mary Ann Hines
regulatory programs, welcomed the APHIS customers, thanks to PPD
participants and set the tone for the and many other employees. The Photography Editor:
meeting. Afterward, the participants meeting included producers, Laurie Smith
got to know each other. By program importers, environmentalists, and
area, they presented skits to depict animal welfare advocates, among Future Search theme art:
each program’s culture. For ex¬ others. The skit and stakeholder Heather Cooney
ample, the APHIS trainers (R&D) presentations served to remind the
2/Inside APHIS March 1995
■s
last 10 years. This exercise have responded to that group’s Riverdale, MD. The purpose of this
helped the group focus on where issue. The groups presented their conference will be to develop strate¬
the agency has been to help us see statements, and then each partici¬ gies for implementing the vision.
where we should be going. The pant had the opportunity to While the conference will develop
participants used this information comment on each statement. The broad organizational strategies, a
to help select societal trends and groups considered all of the com¬ major element of this process will be
current issues important to APHIS’ ments received and then fine-tuned to encourage all employees to devise
future. The conference facilitators their statements. Many volunteers strategies to help make the vision a
plotted the group’s input on a worked late into the night to come reality within their own realms.
huge "mind map.” The partici¬ up with statements that would Therefore, the conference partici¬
pants then voted individually on help tie the 12 separate statements pants will be looking for ways to fully
what they believed were the five together. These participants came engage everyone in APHIS to partici¬
most significant issues or trends up with three statements that pate actively in realizing the vision.
facing APHIS. answered King’s what, how, and An advisory team of individuals who
For the final event of day one, who questions. attended the first conference will
the participants reunited with help select attendees for the second
their program colleagues and Flies on the Wall conference. Attendees will be
came up with lists of “prouds and On the final day, the partici¬ selected based on their knowledge of
sorries.” Each program group pants discussed the first draft of the elements in the vision statement
then presented to the rest of the the vision statement that had been and ability to help implement them.
conference three accomplishments completed the night before. They Congratulations to those of you
of which they were most proud were then treated to the unusual who attended the visioning confer¬
and three things that they wished opportunity of eavesdropping on an ence and best wishes to those of
they could improve. Many of the AMT meeting. The AMT sat in the you selected to attend the imple¬
programs reported being proud of middle of the conference room and mentation conference. You have a
their employees' dedication, and discussed the vision statement, critical and exciting task ahead.
many groups were sorry that, and the rest of us got to listen in The product of your conference will
despite past efforts, APHIS has still and see our leadership in action. be a galvanizing force that helps
failed to become a unified agency. The participants then formed a move APHIS into the next century.
vision crafting team to finalize the With your help, the APHIS leader¬
APHIS, This Is Your Life! document in light of the comments ship will guide an inspired and
On Wednesday, King used the that had emerged that day. They prepared workforce in the right
information from the mind map to also devised ways of communicat¬ direction. ♦
formulate what he thought were ing the vision search process to all
the most important issues facing of their colleagues who were not at
APHIS. He neatly placed 13 the conference. Thus, this special
We Want Your Comments
separate issues into 3 large edition of Inside APHIS.
categories: What is the APHIS The vision crafting team met 1 on the Vision Statement!
mission? How do we accomplish week after the conference ended
that mission? And who composes and came up with a final draft of All APHIS employees should
the APHIS workforce? The confer¬ the vision statement. This state¬ have received a copy of the com¬
ence participants generally agreed ment was presented to the AMT for plete APHIS vision statement and
with his synopsis and formed endorsement on February 12 and accompanying documents. If you
groups to work on the issue items. mailed to all APHIS employees on did not receive this packet, contact
After some consideration, 2 February 24. your office administrator. All
similar issues were merged for a comments on the vision statement
final total of 12. What’s Next? should be submitted to Matina
The drafting of the vision The visioning conference was Sawicki by March 31. Her address
statement had begun. Each group only the first step of the future is APHIS, Policy and Program
prepared a short statement to search process. During the first Development, Evaluation Services,
describe how, looking back 10 week of May 1995, APHIS will 4700 River Road, Unit 120,
years from now, APHIS should convene a second conference at the Riverdale, MD 20737-1228. Her
FAX number is [phone].
new headquarters facility in
*
We promote the health of animal and plant resources,
we provide technical trade facilitation in a global
marketplace, and we ensure an abundant food and
fiber supply for the U.S. consumer, while
considering society’s demands for enhancing
ecosystems and animal well-being.
March 1995 Inside APHIS/3
King Asks Employees for Courage to Transform the Agency
(The following text is from remarks by Acting Administrator Lonnie J. King at the Future Search
Visioning Conference in Solomon’s Island, MD, January 31, 1995.)
The Future Search Conference debate taking place about govern¬ not be centered around what we
will help us examine and clarify ment’s role and purpose that know, but rather, in what we do
APHIS’ past and present; yet at the includes activists on one side and with what we know.
same time, create a future and minimalists on the other. Interest¬ What is our mission? Is it still
implementation strategies to ingly, both sides advocate a smaller the right mission? As a public
achieve that tomorrow. We must government that regulates much enterprise, APHIS doesn’t have the
have the courage and imaginations less. Unfortunately, the debate will authorization to change our
to make future demands as com¬ focus only on "less” and not mission; however, our mission is
pelling as our current reality. We “better.” The public’s distrust and very broad with the latitude and
must be responsive to a world in discontent is driving this revolu¬ ability to redirect as customer
rapid motion. . . . While our tion; a safe, predictable, and needs emerge. . . . We truly face a
heritage has been noble and comfortable future for government quiltwork of social, economic,
admirable, our future unfortu¬ workers and programs is a relic of political, and scientific issues. A
nately is no longer just an exten¬ the past. This is not a time to sit complex collage of people, behav¬
sion of the past. back and wait for the environment iors, expectations, and activities
This conference is . . . about to move backwards, to blame form the framework of internal and
turning the mirror inward and others, or to become a cynical external customers that want more
looking with new eyes at our view victim; if we wait for new road and better services at less cost and
of APHIS, agriculture, and the signs and a safe pathway, we will demand improved responsiveness
world. We need to bring the be disappointed. Our future is and communications.
experiences and assumptions that about claiming our freedom and Old paradigms are entrenched
are the basis of our culture to the creating an APHIS of our choosing. with authority, responsibility,
surface and hold them to rigorous APHIS should . . . build maps to efficiency, and control. The new
scrutiny as we begin our future the future based on envisioning paradigm should be replete with
search. The search conference is and working backwards. In other customers, service, quality, value,
about how cultures may need to be words, we must start with the end flexibility, innovation, empower¬
transformed. To start this process, in sight. Defining, understanding, ment, and continuous improve¬
the first step is to become “unfro¬ and setting standards based on a ment. Many of the problems we
zen” from the past and present. customer focus are critical as is the face or are about to face are not
You will need to suspend past effort for defining success based on because of the much-maligned
beliefs and then consider the program results and outcomes. federal workers but because of the
We accomplish our mission with progressive,
shared leadership that is coalition based and driven
by state-of-the-art technology and analysis, scientific
m
4
information, and innovative regulatory systems.
We effectively communicate with our customers
and strategically market the success of our programs.
background and data you have One of our primary limitations mindset of the past paradigms and
heard and accept the need to today is in how we organize work. the systems in which they are
change. We will transition into more cross¬ embedded. Poor outcomes are due
One of the most critical manage¬ functional and multidisciplined partly to the effort of individuals
ment skills during turbulent times teams with a new focus on out¬ competently carrying out their
is anticipation. . . . Most organi¬ comes and impacts of our pro¬ assigned duties. This conference is
zations spend the bulk of their grams and activities. Fluid, about changing those duties.
time . . . responding to problems seamless organizations may be the Today, we enter an era where
and crises. However, it is critical norm where segmentation and there are more new management
for tomorrow to anticipate opportu¬ specialization are replaced by techniques than at any time in the
nity and prevent problems from small, multiskilled teams that take last 50 years; an era where the
occurring. ownership for entire processes and public and Congress is fed up with
The next 2 years will be the most where roles are less distinct and the lack of results of government
difficult in our history. There is a also more fluid. How we work will programs, where the federal budget
4/Inside APHIS March 1995
APHIS’ organizational capacity is used
to fulfill its mission by bringing together a diverse
community of team-oriented professionals who
represent or have access to the best scientific
and technological expertise and tools.
APHIS PHOTO BY KEVIN CONNER
"I thought it sounded like we were going to protect the planet and feed the
world—a great vision in anyone's estimation," says M&B's Clarence Lemon,
second from left. "We had a bunch of visionary people. If we stick with our
vision and make it work, we'll look good going into the 21st century." Also
pictured (from left) are Pete Butchko, ADC; Stanley Freihofer, National
Association of Agriculture Employees, and Sharon Coursey, R&D.
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SsMMiSSM MS
is out of control, and an era where actions to ensure a clear sense of What do we want? We want your
agriculture sits on the edge of the purpose. Part of our job during this ideas and capacity to grasp the
most dramatic changes perhaps in conference is to help clarify our future and not cling to the past.
its history. Profound change is direction, define new strategies, and We must finalize a shared vision
now about setting our direction connect the dots by focusing on that creates a commonality that
and strategy for survival. While common themes. We must develop gives us a sense of purpose and
this is a real, sobering experience, the skills to manage change. We coherence to all activities that
it also represents a time for unprec¬ must never underestimate the APHIS carries out. The AMT is
edented opportunity. human costs of this process. Nega¬ committed to endorsing this vision
Reform can bloom into multiple, tive emotions are inevitable; trust is and to implementing changes and
unconnected pieces and directions. hardest to establish when you truly strategies that will enable all of us
There has to be proper linkages of need it most. to realize this future. ♦
strategies and alignment of our The APHIS Management Team
has invited you here ... to help
create the future through determin¬
ing the right focus and direction.
March 1995 Inside APHIS/5
Stakeholders Add Their Perspectives to Future Search Vision
By Kim Taylor, Executive Correspondence, LPA
'There were light bulbs going on belief that organizations like adaptable, multidisciplinary
all over the place!” In Howard USAHA will continue to expand the organizations with consolidated
Singletary’s view, the highly scope of their working relation¬ administrative functions would
charged, collaborative atmosphere ships with APHIS. “I see USAHA respond successfully to fiscal and
and free-flowing exchange of ideas continuing to act as a bridge other challenges. Singletary cited
were just some of the many high between APHIS and State coopera¬ APHIS’ current collocation efforts
points of the Future Search tors, commodity groups, and as proactive ways to address such
Visioning Conference held at special interests—and helping to concerns; one move has placed the
Solomon’s Island. Singletary, get the message out to others, agency’s North Carolina State Plant
representing the National Plant including those out on the farm, Health Director’s office under the
Board, was one of 10 APHIS that the agency is truly committed same roof as the North Carolina
stakeholders who contributed their to changing its way of doing Department of Agriculture’s Divi¬
time and unique perspectives to business,” said Towers. As he sion of Plant Industry. “We need
the conference. The stakeholders indicated, this linking role will to maximize our resources for the
worked shoulder-to-shoulder with increase in importance as the taxpayer’s benefit,” Singletary said.
APHIS field and headquarters agency moves more toward preven¬ “Sharing space and pooling the
personnel in the 3-day visioning tive approaches to address pest talents of our employees will enable
effort, carving out the specifics of and disease threats that lay us to work better together and
what they—and the rest of the beyond our borders and as global build much-needed consensus."
conference’s 80-odd participants— markets continue to expand.
believed the future holds for APHIS Need to Inform the Public
and the agricultural community as Industry-Operated Programs Another critical area for the
a whole. Such inclusive planning Both Towers and Singletary saw APHIS of tomorrow will be meeting
efforts are mandated under the active stakeholder participation in the educational challenge. “We
Government Performance and the development and implementa¬ will need to inform people more
Results Act, which directs Federal tion of pest and disease manage¬ about what we do. In the future,
agencies to use strategic planning ment strategies as crucial factors we are going to be dealing with
tools to map out their futures and, to the ultimate success of future decreasing levels of understanding
by doing so, become more results- APHIS programs. This participa¬ among the public about agricul¬
oriented—tailoring their services as tion will likely extend to the ture," Singletary added. Faith
necessary to meet the public’s development of more industry- Campbell, government liaison with
ever-shifting demands. operated quality assurance the Exotic Pest Plant Council,
programs, which, in Towers’ view, concurred with this view, stating in
Customer-Driven Changes would more appropriately put her speech to conference attendees
Change, and how APHIS pre¬ APHIS in the role of steerer, not that APHIS’ importance in protect¬
pares for it, was an overriding rower. “In the future, these types ing our agricultural resources is
concern of many stakeholders as of activities will be best adminis¬ not generally recognized by the
well. As Singletary put it, “APHIS’ tered by the end users—the public. Campbell saw this as our
role is evolving from a regulatory to people exporting and importing most central problem in preparing
a more customer-driven orienta¬ breeding stock and germplasm for the future. She also stressed
tion.” In this innovative, forward- and the research laboratories, for the importance of expanding
looking climate, Singletary pre¬ example—with oversight by inspection activities to cover
dicted that we’ll see less and less APHIS," he said. additional pathways—such as seed
of a “no, it’s not possible” and While a reality today, diminish¬ shipments, dunnage, first-class
much more of a “yes, it can be ing resources and increasing mail, and, to a lesser extent,
done” attitude toward problem¬ public interest in environmental increasing numbers of interna¬
solving and decisionmaking. quality and animal welfare issues tional travelers—that could be
Wes Towers of the United States will also undoubtedly continue to potential avenues for noxious
Animal Health Association play prominent roles in APHIS’ weeds and destructive pests and
(USAHA) echoed the merits of this tomorrow. Many stakeholders diseases to enter this country. As
can-do attitude, expressing his voiced the opinion that only Campbell stated, “APHIS needs to
★
Employees and management collaboratively address
all activities as a continual learning process on an
t 4
individual and organizational level.
i Wat
6/Inside APHIS March 1995
perform an intimidating balancing
act—facilitating free trade while
fulfilling its obligation to prohibit
the entiy of destructive organisms
and protect agricultural resources
and the environment.”
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Emerging socioethical beliefs
will also have a profound impact
on the future direction of APHIS
and the agricultural community in
general. In his discussion of the
ethical implications involved in
animal welfare issues, Bernard
Rollin, professor and director of
bioethical planning at Colorado
State University, said that, while
APHIS is doing a good job with
regard to many laboratory animals,
“we must also know what is going
on in society and stay ahead of the
curve.” Rollin maintains that the APHIS PHOTO BY KEVIN CONNER
public’s definition of animal “I’m heartened to be part of an organization that is very visionary,” says
suffering has changed over the Charlotte Travieso. “I liked the process of taking the past and present and using
them as building blocks to help determine our future. I especially liked the
years and that farm animal welfare
stakeholder participation so we could see how APHIS fits in the world.” Also
will be the next major issue in the
pictured from left are Kevin Shea, Phyllis York, and Joanne Munno, all from M&B.
spotlight. In addition, the inclu¬
sion of rats, mice, and birds
under the Animal Welfare Act and
humane issues regarding animals
produced through genetic engineer¬
ing will receive much attention. In
his concluding remarks, Rollin
cautioned that the “best way to
deal with animal welfare issues is
to do the right—the ethical—thing.”
Complex Future
As you can see, the challenges
laid before conference participants
in determining APHIS’ future were
many and complex. However, with
the wide-ranging, constructive
input provided by our partners
and stakeholders, we are bound to
redefine our role in ways that
prepare us to meet—and sur¬
pass—all expectations. ♦
APHIS PHOTO BY KEVIN CONNER
PPQ participants enjoying future search discussion are (from left)
Tom Chanelli, Mary Negron, Phil Garcia, and Jim Reynolds.
We forge partnerships both within and outside APHIS.
The agency provides a nurturing environment for
balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
March 1995 Inside APHIS/7
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