Increasing member involvement in Chapter operations through committees:
- Reconvene the membership committee
- Establish a Communication committee
- Establish a Programs committee
- Establish a Marketing Committee
- Find options for student involvement
Increase our connection with ISPI International
ISPI International Conference Report
Maureen Ewing, a previous ISPI local Executive Team Member, who won the draw for free conference registration, joined me at the Chapter Leaders Workshop the day before the conference started. The workshop brought together Chapter Leaders to share ideas about how to move toward “One Society”. There are many ways that local Chapters could benefit from economies of scale if there were a bit more integration.
We found out that International could help distribute information about our programs and events once a month, and that we can use a growing number of webinars with Performance Improvement Thought Leaders.
We learned more about how Chapter best practices and shared common challenges (building membership, developing quality programming that is connected with HPT) and did a Gallery Walk exercise to develop Chapter feedback to International Board members. We were able to meet with International Board members and provide feedback directly. I experienced their focused commitment to building closer connections with local Chapters.
The workshop gave us a chance to meet people from all over - when we joined the 750 other folks for the conference the following day -we already felt like a part of the clan. Conference attendees, thought leaders and presenters were friendly and very accessible.
The conference keynotes were all good: Marshall Goldsmith lead us in a peer coaching exercise on Tuesday, Diana Whitely shared the Wisdom of Positive Performance on Wednesday, and Deb Paige, who has done great work with the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement convinced us that “We are the Right People at the Right Time” to share our skills and help our communities and institutions create a brighter future through performance improvement.
There were usually at least three more sessions that I wish I could have attended for every time slot; just tons of ideas and interesting applications of HPT. I hope to share more from the conference in the future.
I bought three books (there were hundreds that looked good in the conference bookstore). One won an award for outstanding Human Performance Communication and is a great toolkit of HPT ideas and tools: Performance Architecture: The Art and Science of Improving Organizations by Roger Addison, Carol Haig and Lynn Kearny, The other won a President’s Citation: A Manager’s Guide to Improving workplace Performance : Identifying Problems, Finding Solutions, Evaluating Results by Roger Chevalier. The third book is by Douglas B. Reeves and Elle Allison. I attended Elle’s session which was focused on the first 100 days of a change initiative using the approach discussed in the book, Renewal Coaching: Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations.
Oh, there’s so much more to tell you, but I’ll save some for next time.
We encourage you to approach any member of the Executive Team and let them know what you’re thinking.
- Gary Harper, VP Programs
- Kathryn Potter, VP Communications
- Carol Ann Fried, VP Membership
- Inge Zegel, VP Logistics
- Cheryl Milner, VP Special Events
- Erica Groschler, Past President
- Lynn Corrigan, President
If you are interested in being part of our Executive Team or one of our committees, or supporting our initiatives in some other way, please contact me at lynn@lynncorrigan.com.
Memberhip
Our membership year now runs from the date you enroll for one year, so you can join at any time and have a full year of benefits.
We look forward to talking with you at Chapter meetings about our new initiatives.
President's Letter – New Year 2010
Happy New Year,
Happy New Decade!
I am excited that
we are launching our year with Harold Stolovitch’s
workshop, Training Ain’t Performance –
Adding Value as a Performance Professional, on Friday January 8th. We have 50 people registered and had
to cut off registration because of space!
Ever since I first encountered ISPI and Performance Improvement in
February 2004 at a local ISPI special event with Roger Chevalier, I’ve
been eager to find out more. Chapter meetings and special events as
well as working with the Executive Team have helped me build an
understanding of Human Performance Technology.
On December 16th our ISPI Executive Team met for a half-day planning
session for 2010. Here is an update. I’ve
organized the update under ISPI’s ten
performance standards to provide a Performance Improvement lens.
Focus on Outcomes
Last
year our goals were:
1. Increasing
our membership,
2. Improving
our financial state
3. Ensuring Executive
Team succession
4. Developing
a marketing plan.
We’ve made substantial progress on membership,
our finances, and succession (though they will remain goals for 2010).
We completed the marketing survey as part of developing our marketing
plan, but still have much work to do to develop our formal marketing
plan.
Membership has increased by nearly 50% over
the same time last year, and our finances continue to improve.
Relocating Chapter Meetings to the Jewish Community Centre and changing
meeting catering has substantially reduced our expenses.
1.
Take a
Systems View
We are currently reviewing Executive Team job
descriptions and processes to integrate social media and electronic tools
that are now available.
2.
Add Value
We provided two special events and regular Chapter
Meetings in 2009 and plan for two special events and Chapter Meetings
in January, March, April, May, June, September, October and December in
2010. Program topics have drawn an average of 28 members per meeting to
a wide range of quality programs. We continue to explore ways to add
value for members and will look particularly at the way Web 2.0
technologies could help us provide a wider range of service to a wider
group.
3.
Work in
Partnership
This year we are exploring partnerships with
related groups. We’ve initiated contact and are exploring mutual interests
and benefits with BCODN and BCHRMA, and will continue outreach to IAF.
We are the only Canadian Chapter of the International
ISPI organization. ISPI International has revitalized its Chapter
outreach; we are looking forward to working with them to further
develop the Chapter relationship with International. I’ll be
attending the International Conference in San Francisco in April (please let me
know if you plan to attend; I’d love to meet you there!). Here’s
a link to more information on the conference: http://www.ispi.org/content.aspx?id=866&linkidentifier=id&itemid=866
One of the best examples of this principle is
the way our Executive team works together. It’s fun to collaborate
with this group! We currently have an opening on the Executive as our
VP Finance has resigned. Let me know if you are a current member interested
in this position. We’ve put a number of systems in place to make
the Finance position painless.
4.
Needs
Analysis
In 2009 we surveyed our members and found some
good direction for our efforts. Survey results influenced our move to a
new venue, our outreach efforts, and an exploration of strategies to
bring more corporate members back to the Vancouver Chapter.
5.
Cause
Analysis
We continue to explore how we can improve our
performance as an organization. Member ideas and feedback are very welcome!
6.
Design
Though this principle is alive and well in
our discussions and activities, we look forward to honing our ability
to report on our activities in a way that identifies the key attributes
of a solution and gives information on the resources required to
actualize it.
7.
Development
George Phipps, a member of the Membership Committee,
suggested an ISPI Mentoring Program and shared his expertise, helping us start
a key initiative for 2010 – developing and piloting an ISPI Mentoring
Program that focuses on
supporting members who want to develop their performance improvement skills
and deepen their understanding, and providing an opportunity for senior
practitioners to share their expertise. Stay tuned for more information
on the pilot program.
8.
Implementation
The major implementation efforts this year were
the switch to a new venue for meetings and the launch of the membership
committee. Efforts in 2010 include implementation of new financial management
processes, outreach to other organizations and the pilot of the
mentoring program.
9.
Evaluation
We
evaluate each event and meeting, and are learning more about how to evaluate
member experience.
Strategic Direction
for 2010
We are still working on strategies for
2010, and welcome your ideas. Approach any member of the Executive Team
and let them know what you’re thinking.
§
Gary Harper, VP Programs
§
Kathryn Potter, VP Communications
§
Carol Ann Fried, VP Membership
§
Inge Zegel, VP Logistics
§
Cheryl Milner, VP Special Events
§
Erica Groschler,
Past President
§
Lynn Corrigan, President
If you are interested in being part of our Executive
Team or one of our committees, or supporting our initiatives in some
other way, please contact me at lynn@lynncorrigan.com.
If you haven’t renewed your
membership yet, please do it now. We have a wonderful year ahead of us!
Hope to see you
at a Chapter Meeting or Harold’s Special Event.
