ODI SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
ACHIEVING COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Creating Lasting Changes for Healthier Communities
Intended Audience
Community Vice Presidents
Community Research/Project Development Chairs
Community Project Chairs
Junior Leagues create community impact by implementing significant, systemic change in their communities. Through the identification of issues, development of programming, partnership and coalition building activities and the involvement of trained volunteers, Leagues prepare their members to become effective volunteers and to take on leadership roles in the community. To accomplish this, Leagues must assume systematic assessment of community needs; careful planning, implementation and evaluation of the issues identified and programs developed in response to community needs; and sound analysis of the partnerships that often are needed to maximize program success. The Community Impact track provides a comprehensive overview of this process, emphasizing the importance of rooting these activities in the League’s Mission.
Participants will learn how to:
Explore the spectrum of program opportunities
Research community needs and assess how best the League can respond to those needs
Develop guidelines for the planning, implementation and evaluation of a program
Evaluate programs to ensure they provide League members with placements that foster their development as effective volunteers and leaders
Blend approaches and service-delivery methods to address community issues in meaningful ways.
Translate volunteer and program achievements into positive public visibility for the League
Build community partnerships that will expand members’ volunteer opportunities to make a difference in your community
2. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Creating Tomorrow’s Community Leaders
Intended Audience
Membership Vice Presidents
Training/Education Vice Presidents
New Member Chairs
The successful recruitment, retention and development of members is a cornerstone of League success. The Membership Development track provides Leagues with the information and skills necessary to develop your League’s membership retention and engagement efforts across the full continuum of membership: Provisionals, New Actives, Actives, New Sustainers, and Long-Term Sustainers. Topics to be addressed include recruitment considerations, training, coaching, placement, mentoring and communication strategies.
Participants will learn how to:
Shift the membership paradigm from prescriptive to member-centric engagement model
Encourage and facilitate members’ voice and choice to be front and center
Change the culture of their League to be a “learning organization”
Create a membership development plan that results in a continuum of support for lifelong membership
Develop in-League education and development programs for each membership segment
Align placements with desired career path for each member
3. DIVERSIFIED FUND DEVELOPMENT:
From Fundraising to Comprehensive Funding
Intended Audience
Ways and Means Vice Presidents
Fund Development/Fundraising Vice Presidents
League Fundraiser Chairs
A diversified revenue base is essential to a healthy League. The Fund Development track will help Leagues to create and sustain a strong, Mission-driven, diversified funding base. Topics to be addressed include key fund-development principles, how to approach traditional funding sources, and how to maximize the potential of new, cutting-edge fund-development approaches.
Participants will learn how to:
Change the League mindset from a fundraising to a fund-development orientation
Evaluate a broader range of funding options
Maintain and enhance existing revenue streams while shifting gears to pursue new
Work toward a diversified funding base for the long term
Research prospective funders and writing a persuasive grant proposal
4. BUILDING INTERNAL CAPACITY:
Strengthening Your League’s Operating Infrastructure
Intended Audience
Treasurers
Finance Vice Presidents
Administrative Vice Presidents
Strategic Planning Vice Presidents
Fund Development Vice Presidents
An effectively managed League is a key ingredient to fulfilling the mission of sustained community impact and developing the leadership potential of women. This track will help Leagues understand that sound management of a League’s financial and administrative operations equates to an investment in developing the League’s potential. It will show how strong internal systems lend themselves to the effective execution of programs and bring greater predictability and guidance to League decision-making. Topics to be addressed include financial planning and budgeting, internal operational controls and elements needed to reduce a League’s exposure to risk, key elements of an operational tool kit for Leagues and its application to daily management and to longer term strategic planning.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize linkages between financial forecasting and budgeting on the one hand, and strategic and annual planning on the other hand
Prepare simple short and long-term budgets that will enable the League to communicate its financial situation clearly to its members and to identify funding gaps around which fund development strategies can be devised
Identify appropriate levels of financial and administrative controls relevant to a volunteer 501(c)(3) entity (or international equivalent) and why these are important for member accountability and public transparency
Assess attitudes towards risk within their League, identify potential risks and review the elements of a risk mitigation plan
Read and understand the basics of Form 990, the public document required to be filed annually by all charities in the U.S.
5. GOVERNING FOR EXCELLENCE:
Achieving the League’s Mission through Effective Governance Strategies
(NOT offered in Pittsburgh ODI)
Intended Audience
Nominating Chairs
Any member of the League Board
To accomplish our Mission as a ‘network of women developed as civic and community leaders creating community impact,’ Leagues need a strong governance system that enables them to leverage the leadership skills and interests of their members while ensuring that they are effective and sustainable in their operations. A good governance system requires a strong board and nominating system along with the tools that support high quality governance. The League Governance track provides a comprehensive overview of what is required to build and sustain an effective League governance system regardless of whether the League currently operates under a council system which entwines governance and management or is exploring the emerging models of “separated” governance and management.
Participants will learn:
Board of Director responsibilities, including financial sustainability and resource generation
How the Board executes its responsibility for strategic planning and organizational monitoring while avoiding micromanagement
How governance and management teams work collaboratively to ensure high impact and effective operations while keeping the lines of delegation clear
Key components of an effective nominating system that facilitate a stronger working relationship between the Board and nominating committee
How the Board positions the League with key stakeholders (community partners, donors, etc.) to ensure that the League has an engaged and visible presence in its community
Tools and resources that support a well-functioning Board (agendas, board development practices, board self-assessments)
6. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Building Relationships, Engagement & Understanding
(NOT offered in Raleigh ODI)
Intended Audience
Communications Vice Presidents/Directors
Marketing Vice Presidents/Directors
Public Affairs Chairs
Building a dynamic marketing and communications function within your League can go a long way toward fulfilling your Mission and achieving your goals. However, the importance of this function is sometimes misunderstood or undervalued. In other instances, Leagues understand the value of marketing and communications, but could benefit from more direction and guidance. The objective of the Marketing and Communications track is to help participants feel comfortable in their role of handling marketing and communications work for their Leagues, and to give them the tools to do so effectively. This track will provide an introduction to the concept of brand, and overview of the fundamentals of marketing and communications, along with actionable takeaways.
Participants will learn how to focus their marketing and communications efforts in order to:
Raise the visibility of their League in the community
Attract more members and engage them in activities
Appeal to potential donors
Engage the larger community
Maintain professionalism and consistency in The Junior League brand