Viewing page 99 of 219

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-2-

staff of the Institution and by hundreds of visiting students, scientists, and historians each year. Other significant study efforts draw their data and results directly from terrestrial, marine, and astrophysical observations made in the field or located in data collections of various Smithsonian installations.

The broad goal of the Smithsonian Institution is the increase and diffusion of knowledge about Man, his culture and his environment. To accomplish this, the Smithsonian conducts a wide range of programs, many of which are joint ventures in cooperation with other institutions, universities, and government agencies in the United States and on every continent. As an outgrowth of basic scientific research, fundamental data are assembled for use by planners and research workers in other organizations, both government and private. Much of this activity fosters conservation, and can be expected to lead to results that are directly applicable to national needs and goals. Historical research, which enhances knowledge of this nation's growth through studies of technological development, art, and folklife and folklore traditions, also is a major endeavor.

The results of the Institution's research are disseminated to a wide audience through books, monographs, exhibit catalogues, and education pamphlets. Public-oriented programs include exhibits, performances, radio, television, and [[underlined]] Smithsonian [[/underlined]] Magazine. The management and care of the National Collections and a program for the selective acquisition of important items are basic commitments. Administration and support functions, including the development and care of facilities, protection and management services, serve the program elements of the Institution.

In the fall of 1977, the Regents and the Secretary established a five-year forward planning process covering all activities of the Institution. This process has proven to be a useful mechanism for management to examine development alternatives and to communication important results and information to the Institution's Congressional authorizing and appropriations committees, and to other interested constituents. The [[underlined]] Five-Year Prospectus, FY 1982-86 [[/underlined]] is the third in a series of documents resulting from that action. The first document was approved by the Regents at their January 22, 1979 meeting; the second was approved at their January 28, 1980 meeting.

The process is an annual one and involves the preparation of plans and resource projections by each of the Smithsonian's organizations. The review of these materials by appropriate executive staff members occurs throughout the spring and summer months simultaneously with the assembly of the federal and trust budgets for the  forthcoming fiscal year. A draft Prospectus is prepared and submitted to the Regents for initial consideration in September of each year. Following the Regents' approval of the forthcoming budgets in September, and the review in October or November by the Office of Management and Budget of the Institution's federal budget request, the Prospectus is adjusted and prepared for approval by the Regents at their January meeting. If approved, it is distributed to the Institution's various Congressional committees at about the same time as the request for Congressional appropriations.