2009 Work Plan

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Annual Report

I. Creating a climate for civic organizing. Civic leaders include the following elements in making a case for civic organizing: Establish the public need for civic organizing; propose a solution with measurable goals and criteria; commit to implementing a specific plan of action based on goals and measurable criteria; and produce evidence (measurable outcomes) that investment in plan meets public need.

2009 Citizens League Objectives: To develop and advance a new model for policy making based on the belief that all individuals and organizations, not just government, have a role to help develop and implement public policies that serve the common good. We call this a "civic policy agenda."

  1. Author/approve '09 MACI Governing documents
  2. Staff/stakeholders document criteria and practices for "civic policy making" based on evaluation of work plan in light of our guidelines, and begin applying it to key activities, including:
    • Poverty, water, regional, long-term care projects and action groups
  3. Revise the structure and workplan for the current Policy Advisory Committee to be more consistent with Citizens League guidelines.
  4. Develop and sustain a tracking system that records work plan outcomes to test if civic organizing disciplines and internal practices achieve CL purposes and goals.
  5. Update marketing materials based on governing documents.

II. Restructuring Existing Resources. Align resources (staff, time, information, finances, and members/partners) around mission. The practice of civic organizing using civic organizing disciplines to change the way existing resources of time, knowledge, constituencies, and dollars are used within institutions as leaders aim to achieve their particular goals.

2009 Objective: Current CL budget maximizes the time, knowledge, and constituencies needed to achieve our work plan.

  1. Develop and manage the Citizens League budget and calendar to support all work plans to achieve goals.
  2. Staff and contractors co-author work plans, project plans, and outcome calendar in alignment with Citizens League work plan. Work plans integrate all program activities (events and policy projects) around our mission, guidelines and goals, including deadlines and dates. Including:
    • Poverty
    • Regionalism
    • Water
    • Immigration and higher education
    • Financing for aging services
    • Students Speak Out
    • Policy advancement (general)
    • Events
    • Civic leadership program
    • MN Journal
    • CitiZing/web/online
    • Membership growth and engagement
    • Development
    • Internal sustainability/policies
    • Greater MN expansion/chapters

III. Recruiting, Expanding, and Sustaining a Base of Influence

2009 Objectives: Grow and sustain current base in alignment with CL Operating Principles, and implement an educational track to expand and develop civic leadership capacity to meet purpose and goals

  1. Staff and contractors have a work plan to recruit key stakeholders to their internal organizing agency and an objective that includes recruiting new members to the Citizens League based on our operating principles. Stakeholders are named in work plans.
  2. Advance the Citizens League education plan for developing Active Citizenship and Civic Leadership educational tracks in partnership with its members including the Minnesota Active Citizenship Initiative. This includes Civic Organizing 101, MACI Institute, Active Citizenship Training and Civic Leadership Training.
  3. Increase membership while achieving objectives -- year-end goal of 2500 members.

IV. Ensuring Sustainability

  1. Conduct a midpoint and endpoint evaluation with key stakeholders.
  2. Develop internal operating policies based on governing documents.
  3. Organizing a planning retreat to develop next 5-year goals