Membership

Initiating the Planning Meeting

The current leaders (chair or president), along with staff (if available), are responsible for initiating the strategic process with the strategic planning committee. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to determine depth of planning needed, financial resources available and who should participate on the strategic planning committee. 

Planning a Strategic Planning Meeting

Planning a strategic planning meeting includes several variables to consider:

• Time required for the meeting 
• The location of the meeting
• What time of year to host the meeting 
• In person or virtual meeting

Time Required for the planning process:

• What type of strategic plan currently exist
• Effectiveness of the current plan and time allocation

A thorough strategic planning process is usually completed every three to five years and may require up to a year to complete. 
Location of the Meeting
Location of the meeting will depend on size of group, accessibility, centralized location and financial restraints.     

When to Host the Meeting
The strategic planning meeting should take place prior to budget planning for the coming year. The direction determined while strategic planning will play a key role in the development of the plan or work and budget.

In-Person versus Virtual Meetings
The strategic planning committee should determine if the meeting will be held in-person or virtually. Updates, small changes, or status check-ins may be accomplished virtually whereas planning meetings that involve lengthy discussions are more effective when held in-person. The executive committee or board should review potential costs of the strategic planning committee when building the annual program of work and budget.