Southern Tier ED Group Steering Committee Meets

The Southern Tier Nonprofit Executive Directors Group's Steering Committee had its first meeting on January 25th.

The meeting was attended by:
Joyce Hyatt, CVRHN
Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center
Chris Sproule, Triangle Foundation
Denise Townley, Rape Crisis
Nancy Blake, Career Development Council
Dave Hill, Pro Action
Dick Russell, FIA
Patrick Rogers, IHS

1. Statement of Purpose:
a. Discussed what we wanted to accomplish with group,
i. Interactive group, Practical, HR, Fiscal, Functional
ii. Sharing best practices
iii. What will distinguish this from other groups, what do we want each quarter
iv. Development/Networking/Presentations/Books/Tools/like agencies (affinity groups)

2. Small agency needs differ than large agencies. Large agencies often have state or national organizations for online networking. This group can be local networking resource for all agencies

3. Sharing Resources: overcoming territorial barriers and boundaries

4. Surviving Tough Times – general theme
a. Come together for trainings
b. Breakthrough to sharing
c. Newsletter, but use brief summary with links to articles (Dave)
i. Format: electronic, monthly
ii. Possible content: staff changes, quarterly meeting topics, link to blog, classified for excess equipment, supplies, volunteer opportunities, organization of the month, make 2-1-1 your homepage, link 2-1-1 to your website/website links

5. What do you want from networking (what is networking)?
a. Keeping up with program director changes
b. Finding out what’s going on in other agencies
c. Find opportunities to collaborate
d. Find opportunities for training
e. Meet people face to face (socializing)

6. Companies encouraging volunteerism
a. Nurturing a board of directors

7. Board Development: must bring training to them, use regular meeting time, won’t come in separate

8. Moving to electronic communications – difficult for volunteers
a. E-Seniors to train intro to computers, etc. (Joyce)
b. People coming out of workforce into retirement
c. Most agencies need board members/volunteers

9. IHS tools that we can use:
a. Provider Online: news, categories, including events, staffing changes, training, etc.
b. Input directly from member agencies – stakeholder involvement
c. Ihsnet: classifieds, resources, demographics and data
d. 211HL: comprehensive agency information

10. Strategic Planning
Next Steps (February Meeting Goals)
a. Develop mission- Joyce will forward mission statement format, we can begin work prep for next meeting
Mission Statement (rough): The Southern Tier Executive Director’s Group is a collaboration of not-for profit professionals whose purpose is to promote education, peer support, sharing of ideas and networking through quarterly meetings, internet presence and social activities.
b. Schedule meetings- when/where
c. Develop an organizational format
d. Put a list of members/possible members together
e. Plan the March 18th meeting

Next meeting: Friday, 2/13/09, 9:00 – 10:30, Corning Library