GUEST EDITORIAL “You can never plan the future by the past. Nothing in progression can rest on its original plan”. Edmund Burke 1780 S tr a te g ic planning is not a new concept and has been used for several decades, but its use by physiotherapists is much more recent. The importance of competent planning is discussed in this issue in order that physiotherapists may make the most effective use o f their limited resources, whether they be in clinical practice, educational institutions or in positions of management and leadership. It is even more important in these times of great change in Southern Africa that we take stock of where we are now, that we consider our resources and the environment in which we operate and plan for our future development. We also need to envisage the various scenarios which may arise in the new South Africa and make plans for any eventuality. Members o f the National Executive Committee and rep­ resentatives of several Interest Groups have taken part in various strategic planning workshops in order to plan for the future of the Society and to draw up new goals and objectives. In the article titled “A Systems Approach to Business Strate­ gy”, the mission statement which was drawn up for the Society is presented. Comments from members o f our Society would be most welcome. In future workshops the strategic objectives for the next decade will be decided upon in order to give the NEC a new blueprint for management and to ensure that the needs of all our members are met. Strategic planning is a systematic method of viewing all the options available and deciding on the most effective man­ ner in which to respond to the ever changing challenges which face us. Instead of resorting to “crisis management” which is so familiar to us all, we can be fully prepared and be able to contribute positively to the growth and enhancement of our profession even in a future which is uncertain. J C Beenhakker Chairman SASP ♦ SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY P O Box 47238, Parklands 2121 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193 Telephone: (011) 643-5934 Facsimile: (011) 643-5934 President Mrs Molly Levy Honorary Life President Prof J J Craig Honorary Vice-Presidents Prof A Falkson Prof R B Goldschmidt Prof T Noakes Prof S A Strauss Prof D Weich Honorary Life Vice-Presidents Miss Lois Dyer Miss Jean Blair Miss Elizabeth Botting Chairman Prof Jo Beenhakker Vice-Chairmen Miss Sheena Irwin-Carruthers Mrs Joyce Morton General Secretary Miss Lo-an Roux P O Box 47238, Parklands 2121 General Treasurer Mrs Rena Bernstein Journal Editor Miss Lyn Davids Physiotherapy Department, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Rondebosch 7700 National Executive Committee Mrs Marion Butler, Mrs Narina Gilder, Mrs Frances Glauber, Mrs Maureen Klemp, Mrs Anne Miot, Mrs Yvonne Seaman, Mrs Anita Stewart Public Relations Officer Mrs Elena Stock Appointments Information Secretary Miss Priscilla Blake BRANCH SECRETARIES Border: Wilma Stevens: 63 Bonza Bay Road, Beacon Bay 5241 (0431) 27350 (w) 47-4735 (h) Eastern Province Marion Butler: 6 Jutland Crescent, Park Drive, Port Elizabeth 6001 (041) 55-6161 Goldfields: Elmarie Snyman: P O Box 6312, Riebeeckstad, 9469 Namibia: Miss K Kaufmann-Gaerdes: P O Box 6090, Windhoek 9000 (061) 34513 (w) 21-5411 (h) Natal Coastal: Ashia Jamal: P 0 Box 4543, Durban 4000 (031) 21-1127 306-4793, Minutes: Niri Naidoo Natal Midlands: Pierette Melville: 3 Penny Lane, Hilton 3245 (0331) 34707 (w) 34647 (h) Northern Cape: Celna Wentzel: Posbus 215, Kimberley 8301 (0531) 33372 (w), 22344 (h) Northern Transvaal: Rita Henn: P O Box 27804, Sunnyside 0132, (021) 58-2725 Physio Dept (w) Southern OFS: Roline van den Berg, 24 Jacobs Street, Universitas, Bloemfontein 9301 (051) 405-3367 (w), 22-4389 (h), Southern Transvaal: Minutes: Yolanda Cresswell: P 0 Box 1762, Randburg 2125 (011) 793-4833 (w), 793-7171 (h), Correspondence: Anna Bizos, Membership: Lo-an Roux: P O Box 72064, Parkview 2122,(011)646-1838 Western Province: Tandi Coetzee: 9 Avoca Road, Rondebosch 7700 (021) 637-9080 (w), 686-4385 (h) ♦ Bladsy2 Fisioterapie, Mei 1990, deel 46 no 2 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )