1995 Annual Report of the Planning Committee Terms of Reference ----------------------- The role of the Board as a whole is to manage the property and business of FreeNet (Bylaw 7). Planning is a big part of management and should not be delegated. The function of a planning committee is to facilitate the Board's planning process by making recommendations and by clearly defining and presenting alternatives. Specifically, to: a. Produce long-term strategies and plans to fulfill the Mission Statement: - recommend scope and priorities in whom we serve and in products/services, - define values, and - communicate mission and values to the membership. b. Provide guidance to other committees in the form of recommendations to the Board on: - overall directions and priorities, - reviewing committee plans for appropriateness, consistency, and fit. c. Propose means to monitor and report progress against plans and values. d. Identify and research issues that go beyond the scope of single committees: - define the issues (high level), - collect and present points of view, alternatives, consequences, - gather data, - present strategic alternatives for Board decision. Members and contact information --------------------------------------- Members are appointed by the Board: Julie Chahal (ab161), Chair & Board Member Brett Delmage (aa693), Board Member Yvonne Dionne (ao594), Board Member Lisa Donnelly (xx412), Executive Director Jim Elder (aa456) Chris Hawley (ah654), Board Member Brian Monkman (af088) Richard Taylor (aa333), Board Member Ian Allen (aa610), Technical Director, has been an ongoing and significant contributor, although not formally appointed by the Board. Members are appointed by the Board. Membership will be reviewed in April. Processes used for carrying out duties -------------------------------------------- Meetings are held as required, at roughly three week intervals. Status and meeting agendas are posted in ncf.status.operations ("go status", menu item 4). On-line discussion takes place in the ncf.board-moderated, ncf.board-moderated, and ott.online newsgroups. Further details are available in the "go planning" area. Accomplishments in 1995 -------------------------------- The following documents were submitted to the Board for decisions: - Values: approved 20 June, 1995 (Available at , item 4 - NCF Organization) - Operational Indicators: After initial discussions, this work was refined and implemented by the Executive Director and a volunteer. (Details available at ) - World Wide Web: approved 18 July 1995 - 1996 Strategy: approved 19 December 1995 (Available at "go policy", item 4) 1996 goals and objectives ----------------------------- -Monitor adjustments to and implementation of 1996 Strategy -Prepare an Environmental Scan as background and input to ongoing planning. -Prepare and conduct a one-day Board planning session (April). -Refine the strategy by iIdentifying and resolvinge two or three key issues as they emerge. -Lead the Board through the development of NCF's Vision -Statement that encompasses and provides the context for our Mission. -Prepare the 1997 Strategy. (Draft presented to the Board by September to provide guidance for budget preparation.) -Respond to questions from other committees and staff regarding the interpretaion of strategy and other planning vehicles. =========================================================== Posted: 9 January 1996 By: ab161