CC/Minutes2006Sept7

Previous Meeting

Update - external analysis almost finished. To be posted @ .... TRF Mike to review it.

Strengths

* Volunteer training: Fundraising, IT, Vol Management, group skills -- workshops, tutoring, mentoring,

* Volunteer support: beyond strict skills eg social, caring community

* Volunteer Orientation: 6 week orientation, c'ttee orientation

* PERC is Self supporting and not depedent on a single (or few) agencies or grants;

* Has its own publication (PEN), get our own message out * Library * Organizational structure (committee based) * Location * important work: cause that people believe in    * Loyal and generous members/donors approx 100 out 300, renewal approx 65% * Dedicated and active coordinator and editor * Dedicated, talented core volunteers * One program (PEN) with good public visibility to attract and keep members * PEN is the only paper of its kind in the region focusing on local issues * PEN is highly regarded by its readers

[edit] Weaknesses

* Chronic deficit * declining membership from 350+ to 285ish past 4/5 yrs * increasing transience of volunteers (low fidelity/continuity/leadership) was 27 months (Cda avg 9) now perhaps 18 months (avg 6?) * not glamerous (saving rainforest, seals, specific war) * vision difficult to articulate simplisticaly (people empowered vs institutional power) * Communication between vols is poor (few feedback loops) * diffuse/abstract action means difficult to assess benefit (motivation) how do we tell when we acheive our goals? and how to motivate volunteers? * vols reason for volunteering is increasingly after job/culture issues * PEN less visible in community (fewer issues 7 vs 10) * Dependence on one program (PEN) for visibility and to attract and keep members. Only one program (PEN) developed for visibility and to attract and keep members * Outside funding sources for PEN are shrinking * Funding not adequate to make coordinator and editor positions sustainable

NEXT MEETING Sept 20th 3 PM