How We Work in 2020

AgGateway 2020

How We Work in 2020

By AgGateway Communications Director Susan Ruland

Have you reviewed the news on how AgGateway groups will work in 2020? If not, check out the article in the August newsletter. Or, have a look at this topline summary:

Beginning in 2020, one of AgGateway’s goals is to speed up the process of creating and implementing new digital resources, which will promote and enable the transition to digital agriculture. AgGateway’s digital resource development process will be managed through two coordinating oversight groups that are part of the AgGateway 2020 structure: The Portfolio Management Center (PMC) and the Digital Resource Center (DRC).

Working Groups: A key structure is the Working Group, where members produce digital resources. This is intended to occur within a short period of time. The goal is for members to propose work that can be broken down into sections of manageable scope and complete the deliverables within a few weeks.

  • Take a look! AgGateway Standards Director Jim Wilson has set up a detailed section on the AgGateway wiki that explains how to establish and run a Working Group, including helpful videos that explain each step. Members are encouraged to review the section!
  • Staff Support: Beginning in January, staff will help schedule and promote Working Group meetings. Because the meetings themselves are focused on work product, the Working Group members will document their work and take meeting minutes.

Meet-Ups: When members want to meet to discuss a pain point or idea, or just to brainstorm on a topic or set of topics, they can ask Member Services to schedule a “Meet-Up”. A Meet-Up can be a conference call or face-to-face meeting to bring together AgGateway members who are interested in a specific topic, or to discuss pain points in a particular sector (e.g., crop protection).

  • Staff support: Staff will work with a member volunteer lead to schedule the Meet-Up, promote the Meet-Up to the entire membership to encourage participation, help facilitate the meeting, take minutes on key points, and assist with follow-up of action items.
  • Result of Meet-Ups: Action items from a Meet-Up might include proposing a Working Group, scheduling a follow-up Meet-Up, or no action at all.

Transition Plan

The current plan is for all Councils to conduct their final meeting at the November 2019 Annual Conference in New Orleans. The focus of those meetings in November will be:

  • Review a listing of current and proposed Working Groups across the organization (including in their own Council)
  • Encourage members to join Working Groups
  • Continue to discuss pain points and ideas for future Working Groups
  • Determine if the group would like to schedule a Meet-Up in the first quarter of 2020 to continue discussing pain points or Working Group ideas, to network, or for other reasons.

Questions? Contact Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org or +1 (866) 251-8618.