Contact
Priscilla BrendlerGreater Hudson Heritage Network
914-592-6726
director@greaterhudson.org
About the Presenter
Laura Roberts has an active consulting practice (Roberts Consulting), working with nonprofit organizations on strategic planning, assessment, staff and board training, and organizational development. She has worked with more than 150 museums, historical organizations and other cultural nonprofits. Laura was executive director of the New England Museum Association and the Boston Center for Adult Education. Prior to that, she was director of education at three history museums in New England.
Currently, she teaches graduate students in museum studies at Bank Street College of Education and Harvard University Continuing Education. She teaches strategic thinking and managing change at the Seminar in Historical Administration. Laura was previously adjunct faculty at Tufts University’s museum studies program and in M.B.A. programs at Boston and Lesley Universities. Laura holds an M.B.A. in public and nonprofit management from Boston University School of Management, an M.A. in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program of the State University of New York, and a B.A. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University.
Strategic Planning:
Critical Survival Skills for the 21st Century
What is this thing known as “strategic planning” and why do you need it? Why are funders and professional organizations asking for strategic plans? In an age of scarce resources and increased competition, organizations find they need to be more deliberate and purposeful in their work. Essentially, being “strategic” means defining a goal and marshalling your resources towards that goal. Well-conceived plans align staff, volunteers and boards around a shared common vision, eliminating the waste that comes from lack of focus. Plans serve as a yardstick or filter to assess ideas and opportunities.
Laura Roberts, principal of Roberts Consulting, will introduce the process of strong planning in an interactive day-long workshop. She finds planning exciting because it provides organizations a rare opportunity to take a step back and think expansively, to ask “what if?” She believes that plans should be both challenging and realistic, appropriate to the organization and its circumstances. They should also be outward-looking, taking into account the needs, interests and priorities of the organization’s constituents and audiences. When an organization defines a clear strategic agenda that is relevant to and valued by its community, it has taken the first steps towards sustainability.
We suggest that staff and board members of organizations embarking on planning (or even thinking about beginning the process) come to the morning session. The afternoon workshop will be more interactive, a continuation of the morning discussion for those who will actually be leading planning efforts. Laura invites registrants for the full day to share whatever plans or planning documents they have with her before the workshop. She will use the experience of participating organizations to shape the day as well as provide written feedback on the plans she reviews in the weeks following the workshop.
Following the workshop, we will have a tour of our host site - Boscobel.
Workshop Fees:
GHHN Member: $10.00 (AM Session ONLY) / $45.00 (ALL DAY)
Non - Member: $15.00 (AM Session ONLY) / $50.00 (ALL DAY)
Morning Session includes light networking breakfast.
All Day workshop includes light networking breakfast, luncheon, in depth afternoon session with specialized critique of your current strategic plan/mission by Laura Roberts (highly encouraged to be submitted by 10/17). Because of the nature of the afternoon program, seats are limited for full day registration - don't delay!
For a full workshop agenda, please click here.
Don't miss out! This workshop is a rare opportunity to work with one of the most highly acclaimed strategic planning consultants in the industry. We encourage you to invite your board members and organizational decision makers to come and learn how important strategic planning is. We hope to see you there!
