Supple Cow

Uhh, to get back to the OP here, I don't think that's what you generally call a mission statement. It's sort of more like an email reminder, and it's not the most concise and usable document I've ever seen. Would you mind getting workshopped on it, Hal?

Here's my thought:

Google "mission statement" and use one of those resources to come up with a more effective (read: concise) statement. I am fully aware that this is not a business, nor does anybody around here own any 'shares' of the TFP. That said, certain widely used or "mainstream" things are widely used for a reason. I sometimes get the impression that too much pride in how the way we do things around here is different from the "mainstream" causes situations where we stubbornly do things a way that could use improvement. Most of the time, it is admirable that this is a different place; others, it can be frustrating. I don't think it would hurt to put together a real mission statement, and maybe even explore something along the lines of a strategic plan for how to implement it. (I don't think a full official strategic plan would be necessary though.)

Here are some examples of mission statements that work:

NOAA:

On the less technical (and verbose) side, there is also NPCA's:

Finally, there is Google's (also very concise):

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I just get the idea that you're going more for effective than original with this particular endeavor, and maybe your approach should reflect that more.

__________________
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)