[Bookstoprisoners] Mission Statement

[Jay Schubert]

Thanks Leslie.  (adding group distro)

- Jay

On 8/27/07, Leslie Srajek <lesliesrajek at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Jay,
>
> This is a very good idea also if BTP wants to continue to pursue
> funding possibilities.  While it's not necessary or even appropriate
> to organize a mission statement around seeking funding, it can be very
> helpful to use the criteria that funding groups list as a format or
> guideline for a mission statement.
>
> The reason for this is that these criteria try to get to the purpose
> and need of an organization, and that seems like it should be part of
> a good mission statement.  What all funding agencies will look for
> are:
>
> --a clear community need that is being met
> --the methods for meeting the need
> --what difference the group is making
>
> So these can be a useful way to organize group thinking about what you
> do and why.
>
> This may seem sort of obvious, but I'll say it anyway--what seems
> clear and useful to someone in the group is probably not to someone
> outside of the group.  If the group's mission statement is about
> educating self and community, it's important to remember that you most
> often will have to take what you know about BTP issues, and take about
> 3 steps back in order to start where an uninformed person will be
> starting.
>
> So for example, if you take the three components of a mission
> statement that you've listed, one might ask "Why provide books to
> Illinois prisoners?   And then, "How do you provide the books?"   And
> then, "What difference does the group make in people's
> lives--prisoners, families of prisoners, volunteers?"
>
> Leslie
>
>
>
> On 8/27/07, Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > In the past, we've discussed the need for mission statement.  I think
> that
> > as we evolve and mature as an organization it will become increasingly
> > valuable for us to consider having a mission statement.
> >
> > I'd like to place this topic on the agenda for our Sept 15 meeting
> (which
> > will primarily focus on the upcoming book sale), however I'd like to do
> as
> > much of the discussion as possible by email, prior to the meeting so
> that we
> > can use that time together for book sale planning, and if we've arrived
> at a
> > point in our discussion where we can reach consensus about a mission
> > statement, we can formalize it at that time.
> >
> > Here are some general components I'll put on the table, these are
> concepts
> > which have been prevalent as far back as I can remember.  I'd like to
> invite
> > you to to add to / modify / mold into a paragraph and generally discuss
> this
> > idea on the list.  Please reply to all with any thoughts you have about
> this
> > proposal so that we can all participate in the discussion.
> >
> > 1. Provide books to Illinois Prisoners
> > 2. Educating our selves and the community
> > 3. Providing a meaningful volunteer experience
> >
> > Our business meetings are open to everyone.  Please consider attending
> the
> > Sept 15 meeting to help us make important decisions about the details of
> our
> > upcoming book sale (happening just two weeks after this meeting), and to
> > participate in formalizing our mission statement.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jay
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > BooksToPrisoners mailing list
> > BooksToPrisoners at lists.chambana.net
> > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/bookstoprisoners
> >
> >
>
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