Develop a committee and plan for your chapter.
Long-range planning is a critical task of the chapter leadership. It is an investment in the chapter's future. Without an effective long-range plan, chapters may have difficulties in maintaining momentum, finding volunteers, and avoiding dormancy. With one, it is easier to gain buy-in from the board and commitment to reach goals.
Engaging in long-range planning is a process of asking and answering some very simple questions. The quality of the answers determines the quality of the plan. Here are the questions:
- Where are we now?
To answer this question, the chapter must study and understand its current environment. Areas to be studied include the banking and business environment, membership trends, consolidations and additions of banks in the market, and the availability of and willingness to recruit volunteers. A good tool is the standard SWOT analysis assessing the chapter's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Where do we need to go?
Answering this question requires the committee/chapter to look two to five years into the future and set some key objectives. The STAR Report can be used as a tool to determine which areas to consider. One exercise would be to fill out the STAR Report on what the chapter should look like at the end of the determined two-to-five-year period. If the chapter is successful in achieving its goals, what will the successes be? By completing the report/plan, the chapter can describe and establish objectives for future activities, making it much easier to use follow-through and progress checks in measuring goal achievement.
- What do we need to do to get there?
This part of the long-range planning exercise establishes strategies to reach the long-term objectives created by answering the second question. If the objective, for example, is to quadruple the institutional membership, strategies will need to be developed in support of that goal. What are some other strategies this committee should be concerned with? (Hint: Look through the STAR and establish the chapter's important goals in each of the report's respective areas. Challenge the chapter to always reach for more and create a process that really puts that excellence stamp on the chapter for all its efforts.)
- Who's going to do what?
This stage of the process assigns individuals or small groups to develop and execute necessary strategies. The tasks may be assigned to an existing committee or may require the formation of a new work group. Don't be afraid to use advisory board members or past presidents.
- How are we doing?
The last exercise is the regular and periodic follow-up to measure the chapter's progress toward achieving its objectives. It is a key task of the chapter leader. The individual work groups or committees should submit regular progress reports, which should be evaluated by the board of directors and communicated to the chapter membership. Remember, changes to the plan will be necessary throughout the process and should be carefully evaluated and clearly communicated.
- Who does all the planning?
The vice president or past president (or both) should chair a committee made up of the following members: advisory board members; key Senior Associates who are willing to serve; secretary; treasurer; and president (in a figurehead role).
What does the planning committee do?
- Assess membership trends.
- Assess industry economics within the local chapter area.
- Assess members' future needs.
- Assess the future needs of the board (succession, recognition, processes and procedures, and budget).
- Brainstorm, survey, and contact board and outside members to get their opinions for what the board needs. Recommend chapter goals two, three, four, or five years down the road. Where will you be?
- Start with the STAR Report as a map to what the members consider important.
- Engage your creative thinking skills.
- Pace the plan. Set realistic goals and time frames.
- Pull together a report and present it to the board for discussion and buy-in.
When is the best time for long-range planning?
Now!