How to Set Up Programs

Set goals for the year; refer to ACEI's Strategic Plan (See Appendix 2). Before you can begin the planning process, you will need a clear sense of your branch's mission and direction. This can be done prior to, or as part of your planning session. A good mission statement summarizes your branch's goals, yet is definitive enough to determine whether a potential program or activity will support it. Creating a mission statement allows you to delineate goals and formulate a specific action plan.

Developing a strategic plan is a three-step process. First your strategic plan must be designed and a written document produced. The second step is to implement the plan, and the third step is to evaluate the results to stay on target and to support future planning.
Brainstorm topics and issues for discussion at upcoming meetings.
Invite speakers on topics of interest to membership. Consult the ACEI Speakers Bureau!
Investigate issues to study and pursue at national, state, and local levels. Use reports on these issues for programs.
Pull out good program ideas from past issues of the Exchange and journals; update each year.
Assign publicity tasks to committee members.
Request a Certificate of Insurance if needed (see Appendix 2).

Benefits of Long Range Planning

Once you have established a one-year planning process in your branch, the next step to consider is the implementation of long-range or strategic planning. Long-range planning can assist your branch in accomplishing organized, continuous, and directed growth. Since you are looking to build consensus and direction over a longer period of time, you may wish to invite potential future leaders to be part of the discussions, allowing them to be a valuable resource to the Annual Business Plan Development.

Complete the Worksheet for Long Term Strategic Planning of Branch Goals and Objectives (see Appendix 2). Below is a checklist to keep in mind when developing your Strategic or Long-Range Plan.

Assess current environment/needs. What challenges or issues do your branch and its members face? (Prior to answering this, we recommend that a member needs survey be conducted.) Example: Our ACEI branch needs to have greater name recognition.
Set goals. Gain a consensus as to your branch's goals for the next two years. Example: To increase public awareness of our ACEI branch.
Identify impediments or opportunities. Identify what stands between your branch and the achievement of the set goals. Example: Funding for a traditional public relations campaign is not available. Or we can contact xxx at XYZ Magazine. Work with the publishers of your local teachers' union newsletter.
Establish Objectives. Further define the goals and provide suggestions for achieving them. Example: To develop a comprehensive ACEI branch awareness program directed at local principals.
Formulate strategies. Develop methods for accomplishing your objectives. Example: Work with the editor of the weekly education section of your local newspaper to start a column on the important local education issues.
Break down strategies into measurable tasks. Specify the actions necessary to accomplish your strategies. Example: One person will develop the format for the column, another makes an appointment with the editor to discuss the idea, etc.
Assign tasks with specific deadlines. Assign specific tasks to specific individuals. Nothing can happen if no one is given a definite assignment with concrete deadlines.
Evaluate success. Monitor your plan, recognize successes and re-structure in areas where progress is not being made in a timely manner. Example: Thank you Mary for all your hard work. Or, Thank you for your hard work Mary, we believe Susan would be able to help with the work you are doing.

A comprehensive long-range plan not only will assist the current Board of your branch in achieving its goals, but it will serve as a road map for those that will follow you.

Go to Table of Contents.