The River West Village Coordinating Team and Planning Group (decision-making body) in their work and meetings should focus more on strategic planning, including developing and implementing the strategic plans as they are formulated (as informed by strategic planning meetings) and discussed/approved by the Planning Group.
Here are ideas for prioritizing strategic planning activities. John Dougherty 4-16-16
River West Village (RWV) Systems Essential to Operations:
The first six programs/systems are essential to the Village (develop as a first priority):
1. Administrative and infrastructure support systems: Village space, infrastructure & operational systems are in place & kept current (space, utilities, computers & software, website, phones, forms, procedures, data summaries, reports, etc.). Village Liability Insurance purchased & in force. Procedures Manuals for All Services, etc.
2. Social and community life program and management: Social events and community life and companionship: Facilitate and manage social and community events for all levels of membership, revising procedures, making policies and procedures, responding to problems, etc.
3. Community partner collaborations and relationships: Identify community and collaborating partners, manage relationships, collaborate on projects, etc. Revising procedures, making policies and procedures, responding to problems, etc.
4. Member and subscription program and management: Member outreach & recruitment, eligibility, financial, vetting, service use, problem solving and support, member feedback. Management, making and revising policies and procedures, etc.
5. Relationships with Villages NW and collaborations with other villages: Participate in VNW financial, support, and training opportunities. Special projects, manage relationships, collaborate on projects, respond to requests, etc.
6. Village ‘office’ coordinators management, supervision, and support process:
Administrative volunteer outreach and recruitment; staff training, scheduling, & management, revising procedures, making policies and procedures, responding to problems, etc.
Potential service programs for seniors when the Village is on its way to developing the essentials (develop as second priority):
1. Volunteer driver management, supervision, and support process: Volunteer driver outreach & recruitment, vetting, training, management, and replacement. Ride Connection relationship management. Making and revising policies and procedures, responding to problems, etc.
2. Non-driver volunteer program and management: Volunteer vetting, training, management. Identifying opportunities for inter-generational volunteer opportunities within River West Village (RWV). Feedback and tracking. Management, making and revising policies and procedures, etc.
3. Vetted vendor program and management: Vendor outreach & recruitment, vetting, cost negotiations, problem solving and dispute resolution. Feedback and tracking. Management, making and revising policies and procedures, etc.
4. Minor home maintenance and operations program: Home maintenance, housekeeping, errands, pet care, gardening, etc. Making and revising policies and procedures, responding to problems, etc.
5. Referral and information program and management: Referral resource management: updates, changes, verifying information, training, scheduling, & supporting R & I volunteers, making and revising policies & procedures, responding to problems, etc.
6. Visit and check-in call program: Identifying RWV members who cannot attend social events on a regular basis but who want periodic face to fact contact, or check-in phone calls. Recruiting and managing volunteers, making and revising policies and procedures, solving problems.
7. Other service programs offered by RWV (e.g., senior/child inter-generational program, etc.): ???
Essential Oversight, Management, and Prioritization for an Established Village:
Systems management, planning, financial management and fund raising, setting policies & procedures, forecasting and budgeting, responding to changing needs and environments, solving resource and systems problems, etc.
Aging in Community 