A Message from the Executive Director: Strategic Plan
Jan 8 2009 - 11:39am
A message from our Executive Director Bob Gibson.
Happy New Year.
It is my pleasure to share with you some goals and plans our board members and staff have recently developed as we consider the future of Sorensen.
Last year members of the State Advisory Board formed a Strategic Planning Committee to consider Sorensen's next five years. Comprised of current and former state and regional board members and alumni, this group included Board Chairman Barbara Fried, Michel Zajur, Delegate Jennifer McClellan, Delegate John Cosgrove, Kelli Palmer, Mary Loose DeViney, Daniel Carey, Teresa Gregson, Brian Cannon, and long-time Sorensen supporter Fred W. Scott, Jr., who served as the Committee's Chairman.
Fred Scott reported the results of the Committee's work to the State Advisory Board at its meeting in October. The plan was unanimously adopted and went into effect that day. Staff members have been busy developing a series of action items as we work towards these goals. The Strategic Planning Committee has done a wonderful job at outlining a positive path for Sorensen's future. I would like to briefly draw your attention to a few key items in the strategic plan.
* First, Sorensen's staff and board members are fully engaged in maintaining an ideological balance in all of our programs. Having a strong balance among class participants is a key factor in shaping the effectiveness of the programs. Our renewed and aggressive commitment to this goal is already paying off, as evidenced by the incredibly strong and diverse applicants pools we have seen for the 2009 Political Leaders and Candidate Training Programs.
* Raising the Sorensen profile across Virginia is vitally important to our work. We will create and capitalize on new opportunities to strengthen our outreach in a multitude of ways. Our alumni can be enormously helpful in this regard, and we look forward to your participation in helping us communicate the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission.
* We are committed to developing new programs for our alumni so that you will enjoy opportunities to engage with your fellow graduates. We will invite you to join us soon in helping to launch these exciting new programs and events.
* The Sorensen Institute receives no public funding to support our programs. We continue to rely on our board members, alumni, and friends in these difficult economic times to help in our development efforts, and we appreciate all that you do to help cultivate financial support for the Institute.
Below you will find a link to the proposals and goals outlined by the Strategic Planning Committee. I encourage all of our alumni and friends to take a moment to read this document. And I certainly appreciate any feedback and thoughts you may have.
I would also like to thank the members of the Strategic Planning Committee who graciously volunteered their time and energies on this important work. Your commitment to the Sorensen mission is critical to our success, and I speak for the entire staff and our many alumni when I say thank you, we are in your debt.
I hope this is a fantastic and memorable year for us all. Thank you for your continued support and interest in the Sorensen Institute.
Very best,
Bob Gibson
Executive Director
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
(434) 982-4998
bob.gibson@virginia.edu
