Congratulations my cause-driven friends, summer is in the rearview mirror.  It is the time of the year when newly elected officers are being handed the torches from the outgoing seniors; a time of change.  At the same time, budget season is right around the corner. To ensure a successful program, resources are needed; both time and money.

A few action items accompanied with some detail are listed below that will assist in a successful year:

Hold an officer retreat

  • Presentation/public speaking skills.
  • Develop a vision.
  • Review and discuss changes to the constitution.
  • Team building activities.

Items to PLAN and BUDGET for the year.

SWAG

  • Leaders are the best marketing for your program. Make sure they are identifiable.

Rallies

  • Don’t forget the need to cover transportation fees and any additional overhead costs that may occur.
  • Rallies are excellent “spring training” opportunities before teens experience the call up to the Majors; Blue Ridge Leaders’ School.

BRLS

  • Budgeting the timing and amounts of deposits, club shirts, incidentals for the week of BRLS and final BRLS payments will keep branch leadership happy and prevent surprises throughout the year.

Trainings

  • In collaboration with the departmental area the leaders will be working in, hold trainings to ensure the leaders are doing quality work.

Board of Managers / Committee of Management involvement

  • Involve the leaders in the volunteer committee work of the branch.
  • Leaders; Teen representation on the Board of Managers.
  • Leaders working with Membership Experience Teams for focus group work
  • Assisting Financial Development Committees in thanking our donors as well as being a part of fundraising events.

As mentioned previously, the intent of the section of our monthly communication is to sharetime-tested tips to ensure the best possible back home experience for the Leaders. Also, we hope to create a common language for all the clubs that attend BRLS along with Movement-wide best practices. We will also lift up curriculum ideas from our peers throughout the movement.  If you are interested in being a guest columnist or have ideas that you would like to share with your peers, please let me know; ryan.graham@ymcacharlotte.org.

Let’s go do work.