Looking Ahead: Incorporating the NACM National Agenda into Your State Association Agenda Developing Your State Agenda

“ Committed to Excellence ” What IS a State Agenda? Where do we start? Approach Part Two:

“ Committed to Excellence ” A set of priorities developed to be a “touchstone” for your state association’s leadership in its education, training, advocacy Developed through feedback, outreach and input from state association leaders and members like you. Intended to drive your association’s priorities for the period of 20XX-20YY. What IS a State Agenda?

“ Committed to Excellence ” Guide & Steps Strategic Plan Agenda Visionary Framework Is an Agenda Different than a Strategic Plan?

“ Committed to Excellence ” Guides short or long-term efforts of an organization Contains actual deliverables (goals, objectives and actions items - GOAs) Provides a strategy and steps on how to achieve GOAs Details benchmarks by which to measure successes Strat egic Plan Agenda Advances the Mission and Vision of an organization Contains broad inspiration aimed of providing guidance to overall activities Provides the framework to ensure that GOAs stay within focus Details purposes that give direction to efforts Is an Agenda Different than a Strategic Plan? Strategic Plan

“ Committed to Excellence ” Reflect key judicial branch needs and interests Can spark discussion and innovation, and support the institutionalization of promising practices Can guide courts in identifying and working through challenges, brainstorming solutions, and developing meaningful strategies and partnerships to improve the administration of justice Why is a State Agenda Important?

“ Committed to Excellence ” Can be used as an expanded discussion with regard to Mission and Vision Can be used to reality check an existing strategic plan or bring new life to a stagnant or dormant plan Can bring a strategic plan back in to focus or alignment Incorporating an Agenda into Your Strategic Plan

“ Committed to Excellence ” Successful Outcomes of a State Agenda Unifying theme and vision for activities Ability to speak with uniform voice on issues Provides an overarching framework for organization’s activities Promotes court administration as a profession in your state

“ Committed to Excellence ” What IS a State Agenda? Where do we start? Approach Part Two:

“ Committed to Excellence ” Do You have a Strategic Plan? Mission Must have a Mission Vision Must have a Vision Organizational Readiness Must have Organizational Readiness Leadership & Membership Buy-In Must have Leadership & Membership Buy-In

“ Committed to Excellence ” Considering a State Agenda Context Assessing the Context Capacity Assessing Association Capacity Effectiveness Assessing Association Effectiveness Impact Assessing Association Impact

“ Committed to Excellence ” Possible Agenda Priorities Emphasizing Caseflow Management Improvements Sustaining Excellence in Difficult Budget Times Enhancing Public Perceptions of the Courts and Increasing Community Collaboration Promoting Improved Court Leadership and Governance Preparing for and Responding to Trends

“ Committed to Excellence ” Possible Agenda Priorities Supporting Professional Court Management Education Providing Diversity in Educational Opportunities Collaboration with Other Professional Organizations Focusing on Increased Membership Activity and Participation Participating in legislative and/or rulemaking processes Defining the Role of the Profession in Our State

“ Committed to Excellence ” Emphasizing Caseflow Management Improvements Focus on performance measurement and the High Performance Court Framework Work on developing the fine line between avoiding legal advice while maintaining efficiencies

“ Committed to Excellence ” Sustaining Excellence in Difficult Budget Times Grant writing skills/workshops and what grants are out there. Involve input and recognition of separate branches of government (courts and County). Provide information regarding technology and the courts Improve relationships with funding authorities Concerns with funding sources Sustainability

“ Committed to Excellence ” Enhancing Public Perceptions of the Courts and Increasing Community Collaboration Cultivate judicial leadership – develop strategies in identifying judicial champions of projects Engage public/private partnerships Emphasize the role of the court administrator. Focus on educating judges and funding authorities of this role. Develop civics lessons or outreach

“ Committed to Excellence ” Promoting Improved Court Leadership and Governance Build communication and collaboration with the state administrative office and the Supreme Court Provide project management training Provide training on HR and leadership issues Create concrete topics upon which to train under each competency and focus on practical issues Develop model policies and procedures that an organization would endorse

“ Committed to Excellence ” Preparing for and Responding to Trends Identify trends and best practices nationally Identify trends and best practices within our state and classes of courts Focus on succession/transition planning Focus on the importance of IT and staying current

“ Committed to Excellence ” Supporting Professional Court Management Education Explore standards and requirements for training Develop a variety of learning opportunities – Online, distance, subject-matter training, conferences, etc. Adopt multi-year training/education calendar or curriculum

“ Committed to Excellence ” Providing Diversity in Educational Opportunities Include education on leadership topics Conduct smaller workshops throughout the year outside of conferences Explore the idea of conducting webinars Increase committee work to develop conference material Offer multiple educational session of diverse topics at conferences Attempt to acquire national speakers re: Core Competencies and other concepts to unify courts Focus on learning outside of conferences

“ Committed to Excellence ” Collaboration of Other Professional Organizations Improve communication, relationships and understanding of our organization by others Expand membership through partnerships with other organization (Probation Officers, IT organizations, Clerks associations, etc.) Develop the idea of succession planning with partner organizations Provide regular outreach to other organizations on our activities

“ Committed to Excellence ” Focusing on Increased Membership Activity and Participation Add more structure and accountability Add more Board oversight and direction to the committees Focus on highlighting the committees we offer in order to increase participation Communication with committees to include more consistent communication, particularly on items relevant to everyone (i.e., Rules). Mentor program Create a “best practices committee” that focuses on publishing mini-guides and creating literature about current projects Create subject matter committees (family, civil, criminal, etc.) Have committees develop ideas for professional development Conduct regular “county size” or “court type” conference calls/expand county break-out sessions

“ Committed to Excellence ” Participating in Legislative and/or Rulemaking Processes Determine level and type of “voice” – Advocacy, commentary, advisory, etc. Create legislative and/or rulemaking committees Recommend or place members in similar task forces or committees to give input on behalf of your organization

“ Committed to Excellence ” Defining the Role of the Profession in Our State Focus on defining the requirements of a court administrator – Set minimum educational, training or certification requirements – Tie educational requirements into the core competencies – Creating databank of job descriptions, duties/responsibilities or KSAs and work with state/local HR leaders Develop professional ethics standards

“ Committed to Excellence ” Need Help? As part of its commitment to the agenda process, NACM will provide your state association with a “guide” who will: – Participate in conference calls, – Review draft materials and provide comments, – Refer you to facilitators who can help with local discussions and brainstorming, and – Provide overall guidance

“Committed to (Your) Excellence” Thank you!