The NSS Planning Committee, reporting to the Directorate, is established to lead, and facilitate for the Board, the development and maintenance of a comprehensive strategic plan for the future of the NSS. The most recent planning process included a survey sent to every single member, and was designed to help the committee rank and prioritize goals of cavers across the country. The next step of the planning process includes creating an operating plan for the society that links the activities of the NSS directors, officers and committees to the cavers they represent.