Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1999 - 72

William J. Byrnes

eriJ/or

PLANNING Update
PLANNING THE WORK AND WORKING THE PLAN
Each year we present a planning update to our members designed to give an overview of our accomplishments. This
process of planning, implementing, and evaluating is of course ongoing. Last year about this time (Fall, 1999 issue of
TD& 1 outlined our five major strategic and eight operational goals. As you will see we made substantial progress toward achieving many of the goals we set for ourselves.
It is also a good time to put all this effort into a context-why are we doing all tltis work? As volunteers working
with our dedicated staff we have all agreed serving the nlission of USITT is a worthwltile and important part of our lives.
What is that nlission? Simply put it is:
To actively promote the advallcement ofthe kllowledge alld skills ofour members...
and to fulfill tltis ntission we:
* Sponsor projects and research;
* Disseminate information through our publications and Web site;
* Produce the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo;
* Assist in developing standards;
* Advocate safe industry practices;
* Sponsor exhibits;
* Recognize achievements by presenting awards.
In 1998-99, in support of the nlission and our seven major areas of activity, we developed a plan that focused on
five major strategic goals. These were: volunteer leadersltip, establishing and filling the position of Executive Director,
participation in international events, expanding sponsorship activities, and enhancing and improving upon our Web site.
Let me take you through a quick recap of what has been accomplished. Please remember that as a member, you may
request the SITT detailed planning documents. In addition to being published in our Board reports, you may go to our
Web page and click on About US/TT for information about our current plans. Please feel free to contact me at
bbyrnes@mailedsu.edu if you have further questions about our plans or the planning process.

GOAL

Mentor and nurture strong volunteer leadership in USITI
The Board retreat topic for Phoenix in ovember, 1998 focused
on responding to the questions of how we go about identif)~ng,
recruiting, training and monitoring volunteers. TIle retreat also
addressed how members become involved in volunteer positions in
USITT. We brainst01llled on way"S we could inlprove our cUlTent
methods of involving membel"S in leadersltip roles. We discussed
how tile nonlinations process can help identify vollUlteers who may
be capable of long range comntitment to USITT. We reviewed how we
ntight better familiatize our volunteers and new Boat'd membel"S \\~tll
tile management stl1lcture and processes of USITT.
We distilled the results of the retreat down to five draft goals
for improving our volunteers' leadersltip. These goals were then
reviewed, revised, atld anlended at a ntini-retreat held by the
Board in Toronto in Mat'ch, 1999. The result of the Board action
was a new specific operational goal to:
Improve current processes for enhancing volunteer service
in USITI
Major Objectives:
1. Improve orientation of new Board members.
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2. Improve how we recognize and suppol1 the people who contribute to the Institute through their volunteer work.
Desired Results:
I. To have a more informed and effective Boat'd.
2. To strengthen member comntitment to SITT.
Action Plalls:
I. Create a statlding meeting slot on Tuesday before the first Board
meeting at the conference for a "New Boat'd Member Olientation."
Agenda to include:
* Review of bylaws and Board structure;
* Distribution of revised Board Manual;
* Board duties;
* Review of budget and budget process;
* Review of how USITT "operates;"
* Q&A with designated Executive Comntittee members.
WHO: SecretmJI, President, Staff
DO BY: Marcb, 2000
2. Develop a list of specific recommendations to recognize volunteers and supporters. Re\~ew with Board and add approved recommendations to the Board Matlllal.
WHO: President-Elect, Officers, Staff DO BY: Finalize b)1 Nov., 99

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1999