Yesterday afternoon, members, leadership and staff of NRPA gathered for a presentation and discussion about the Structure of NRPA as an association (as it differs from an agency or public business model) and the FY11-13 Strategic Plan which will be put forth to the NRPA Board of Trustees at the annual board meeting on Saturday.
The Strategic Plan that is adopted on Saturday will become effective on July 1, 2010 and will guide the Association's direction and priorities for the next three fiscal years, ending June 30, 2013.
There was a great turn out for the Structure & Strategy session and members engaged in asking insightful questions both about the structure of the association and about the details of the Strategic Plan.
If you missed the session, you can view the presentation by downloading the Power Point below:
Download NRPA Overview - Structure & Strategy 10-14-2009
Some key questions that came up ...
"The Plan looks great - if not a bit aggressive - does NRPA have a 'plan' to implement the Plan?"
In years past, the final version of the annual strategic plan would include not just the Goals and Objectives that are published in the current plan, but also a detail of Strategies and Tactics to describe how those Goals and Objectives will be carried out. This year, as we've gone to a true, fixed three-year plan, that model would not provide the flexibility required to adapt to the changing environment - what we we believe to be the best way to achieve the goal today, could be obsolete in 9 months, and our successes will come through our ability to innovate through those situations, not be restricted by pre-set Strategies and Tactics.
The Association's solution for this was to create a Business Plan - an internal staff document - as a companion to the Strategic Plan which articulates the measurable outcomes and strategies to accomplish to goals over three years. The business plan, because it is an internal document, can be changed as needed to adapt to emerging priorities while still supporting the Strategic Goals and Objectives.
"How do we ask questions or offer suggestions at this point if we have an idea about achieving an objective - like on growing membership or engaging students and citizens?"
The vehicles to engage with NRPA and with your peers in membership and the field will rapidly expand through the professional networking areas of the new NRPA website. Initially, this blog is a good place to offer and exchange ideas about the Strategic Plan by using the comments feature below - ultimately, the content for the Strategic Planning Blog will be incorporated into the NRPA website and professional networking area, allowing for a more fluid dialog and exchange of ideas in these topics, so check it out and stay tuned!
There were other great questions at the session... if you were there and would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment below. If you were not able to make it and have a question of your own, you can use the comment section below for that as well.
Thank you, again, for everyone who contributed comments to the development of this new three-year Strategic Plan over the last year and to those who participated in the dialog yesterday!
We look forward to hearing from you in the future!
Wednesday, October 16, 2009, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Salt Palace Convention Center, Ballroom B
While attending the Annual Congress and Exhibition, you are invited to an overview on the NRPA’s operational structure and organizational strategy which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, October 14, 2009 from 3:45 – 5:00pm.
This briefing session serves as an orientation for new and emerging Leadership – who we are, how we operate, and our leadership structure – as well as a briefing to explain and discuss the FY11-13 Strategic Plan – core values, strategic vision, goals and objectives for the next three years. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the NRPA leadership and members of the NRPA Strategic Planning Committee ... and learn more about the current draft of the plan. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to ask questions and comment on the plan during this interactive session.
All NRPA members are invited to provide feedback on the proposed FY11-13 Strategic Plan. If you will not be attending the Wednesday briefing at Congress, please submit your feedback using comments feature below. You can follow the Strategic Plan’s progress here on the Strategic Planning blog.
The Draft Strategic Plan will be considered for approval by the NRPA Board of Trustees during their Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 17, 2009.
In conjunction with many of the other Go-Green paperless practices at the 2009 NRPA Congress, we will not have paper copies available. The full content of Goals and Objectives for the FY11–13 draft Plan will be on the presentation screen. If you feel you will need a paper copy, please print from the link below and bring with you.
Thank you for your continued involvement in this process and for your commitment to NRPA and the park and recreation field.
See you at Congress!
STRATEGIC PLANNING BRIEFING SESSION
Friday, October 17, 2008, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel, Room Key - 5
While attending the Annual Congress and Exhibition, you are cordially invited to a briefing session on the proposed FY2010 - FY2012 NRPA Strategic Plan. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the NRPA leadership and members of the NRPA Strategic Planning Committee ... and learn more about the current draft of the plan. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to ask questions and comment on the plan during this interactive session.
The Draft Strategic Plan will be considered for approval by the NRPA Board of Trustees during their Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
The current draft of the plan is posted below. In support of NRPA's Go-Green initiatives, paper copies will not be provided.
Dear Fellow NRPA Leader:
Thank you for all of the supportive feedback and input related to the draft of the FY10 – FY12 Strategic Plan. It was quite rewarding to have the hard work validated by your praise and little to no comments related to the Goals and Objectives. The Strategic Planning Committee met on October 8 via conference call to discuss the limited suggestions and as a result, the committee made no revisions to the draft distributed on September 20, 2008.
On October 17, 2008, the committee will be conducting a public forum from 2-3:30 pm in Room Key-5 of the Hilton at the NRPA Congress in Baltimore, Maryland. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the NRPA leadership and members of the NRPA Strategic Planning Committee and learn more about the current draft of the plan. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to ask questions and comment on the plan during this interactive session.
In years past, NRPA has supplied paper copies of the Draft Strategic Plan at the public forum for attendees to review during the briefing. This year, in conjunction with many of the other Go-Green paperless practices at the 2008 NRPA Congress, we will not have paper copies available. The full content of Goals and Objectives for the FY10 – 12 draft Plan will be on the presentation screen. If you feel you will need a paper copy, please print the attachment to bring with you.
As referenced in the September 20th distribution of the draft, there are two companion documents (Assumptions & Mega Issues) at the Strategic Planning Center accessed via “quick links” at www.nrpa.org . Please be sure to visit the site to review this information as it will provide background information that may be helpful.
You can follow the Strategic Plan’s progress and provide feedback via the Strategic Planning blog. Also, if at any time you have ideas to share with the committee, please provide them via the blog or directly to me at jadams@springfieldmo.gov.
Thank you for your continued involvement in this process and for your commitment to NRPA and the park and recreation field.
Jodie Adams, CPRP
NRPA President-elect
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
September 20, 2008
Dear Fellow NRPA Leader:
As you know, the annual direction, progress and accomplishments of the association are guided by our Strategic Plan. Your continued involvement in updating and implementing the plan is essential and I want to thank you for your commitment to NRPA toward ensuring that we are continually striving to accomplish our mission.
Attached for your review and input is the first draft of the FY 2010 - FY 2012 Strategic Plan that covers the period July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012. Please share this with those you represent and provide your consolidated feedback to Lauren Yost at lyost@nrpa.org no later than October 3, 2008. Input will be compiled and shared with the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) prior to our October 8, 2008 conference call. The SPC will consider the input and determine any revisions to the plan.
The attached draft plan should not appear drastically different than last year’s Strategic Plan. As the plan structure has been refined to be more strategic and aligned to better support and achieve our mission, an annual review may not always result in change. The FY09-11 Strategic Plan was revised to be more outcome, rather than output, focused so the FY10-12 plan reflects the same, as would future years.
As a reminder, since the plan has taken on this more strategic approach, what some may remember as “objectives” are now “tactics” and therefore would be addressed in the tactic development process that begins in November for staff.
You will receive another draft of the FY 2010-2012 Strategic Plan on October 10, 2008 and will be asked to provide final input prior to the SPC’s October 15 meeting at the NRPA Congress in Baltimore. There is also a public forum at Congress on October 17 from 2-3:30 pm, location TBA.
You can follow the Strategic Plan’s progress and provide feedback via the Strategic Planning blog that can be accessed via “quick links” at www.nrpa.org. Also, if at any time you have ideas to share with the committee, please provide them via the blog.
Thank you for your continued involvement in this process.
Jodie Adams, CPRP
NRPA President-elect
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
Download draft_fy1012_strategic_plan.pdf
The NRPA Strategic Planning Committee participated in its annual planning retreat at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton July 25 – 27, 2008.
During the retreat, the Committee reviewed and updated the Assumptions about the Relevant Future Environment, reviewed and made minor modifications to the strategic plan and explored two “mega issues” previously identified by leadership.
The retreat began with consideration of NRPA member input regarding Assumptions about the Relevant Future Environment. Critical to any on-going strategic planning effort, this exercise allowed the Committee to contemplate assumptions about the future environment in which parks and recreation, and more specifically, NRPA operates.
After a thorough review of the environmental assumptions, the Committee was well equipped to review and make recommendations on a handful of minor changes to the plan. Emphasis was placed on reviewing the mission, vision, values, goals and objectives included in the three year plan.
Finally, the Committee reviewed and discussed two “mega issues” – the first focused on NRPA performing as a national association while maintaining relevance at the local level and the second focused on the importance of raising awareness of parks and recreation.
The Committee will present the recommended changes to the strategic plan and the Assumptions about the Relevant Future Environment to the NRPA Executive Committee on September 15, 2008 and then distribute the proposed revised plan to NRPA leadership via email on September 19th.
At the annual Congress & Exposition in Baltimore, the Committee will host a public briefing on Friday, October 17 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm. The public briefing will include an overview of the recommended changes to the plan and provide for public comment.
The NRPA Board will consider and vote on the proposed revised plan on Saturday, October 18th.
The Committee’s discussion on the two mega issues will be captured and shared with the NRPA Executive Committee at their retreat in November 2008.
