CC/executive summary

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Peace and Environmental Resource Center (PERC) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). It works for the need of alternative local media that address Peace and Environment issues and help local small groups to communicate with the public to involve in finding solutions to environmental and social problems.

The Organization

PERC was found in 1982 as a coalition of local peace groups and individual activists. In 1989, the organization decided to include the environment in its mandate.

Our management team consists of a volunteer Board of directors and a coordinator.

Our mandate is to educate the public about peace, environment and social justice issues; empower people to get involved in these issues, and support local groups who are involved.

Services

PERC provides several services to meet it goals:
 * It publishes the Peace and Environment News (PEN) 6 times a year. Which provides groups with free listings in its event calendar. The PEN also takes submissions of articles from individuals and groups.
 * Community workshops, such as Alternatives to violence, the PERC shops series for groups skills and Popular Education series about Environmental issues, etc.
 * A volunteer program.
 * A website with an online directory to local groups
 * Resource centre open to public

Challenges

PERC is currently facing several challenges:
 * Chronic deficit
 * Declining memberships
 * Shrinking outside funding sources for PERC
 * Increasing volunteer turn over rate
 * Inflexible volunteer job reallocation
 * Unitary communication strategy (only one program PEN) for PERC's visibility and membership attraction

Recommendations


 * Increasing the membership and bringing more advertisements to raise the funding
 * Improving PERC's web site to attract more users
 * Improving documentation/record keeping. Standardize current documentation management system.
 * Enhancing the organizational leadership.
 * Developing PERC's virtual volunteer program

Index