1. Guidance for a Successful Year

2. A Leader’s Measure of Success
Articulates Vision
Shows Passion
Facilitates Decision-Making
Recognizes Volunteers
Empowers Others
Articulates Vision Well – a Destination
Shows Passion for Association
Helps Facilitate Decision Making
Stands Along Side of Members and Not Above/Over
Recognizes Work of Volunteers
Empowers Others to Achieve

3. How important is your vision?
Does anyone here have a vision for the year ahead? {ask for hands and for brave volunteers to share}

4. SNA Core Purpose
Hankerson Photography
When creating your vision, consider the foundation of the organization.
SNA’s core purpose is to ensure well-nourished students are prepared for success.

5. SNA Mission
And our mission is to be the national organization of school nutrition professionals committed to advancing the quality of school meal programs through education

6. When crafting your vision. . .
Is your vision tied to a strategic process?
Is there a plan of action for your vision?
Is your vision achievable?
Are others inspired with your vision?
Do you have the resources?
Can you articulate your vision to others?

7. Do You Have a Plan of Action?
Are others involved with helping you develop your plan of action?
Is your plan of action reflected in the budget?
Is your plan based on “priority” issues the association is or is about to confront?
Are your strategies realistic?
Has the Board approved your plan of action?

8. You Will Be Successful If You….
Build strong partnerships
Work hard to make others feel important
Provide clarity of purpose and vision
Stay focused on strategic issues
Achieve consensus by facilitating, not controlling

9. You Will Be Successful If You…
Set the bar high for acceptable behavior
Provide public and individual recognition for work well done
Communicate often; stay in touch
Care about the future of the organization, not just your year

10. Six Strategic Issues in Associations Today
From Exploring the Future: Seven Strategic Conversations that Could Transform your Association

11. 1. Meaning Matters
Success will depend on your association’s ability to create meaning in the minds and lives of members and prospects; to build meaningful relationships; to build a sense of community, social purpose and contribution

12. 2. Inclusivity
Serving a variety of cultural backgrounds and viewpoints in an association, while challenging, will leverage the organization to capture new markets, expand opportunities and broaden reach

13. 3. Generational Synergy
Four distinct generational cohorts under the same organizational roof will challenge us to accommodate and leverage all in effective, meaningful ways

14. 4. A Learning Culture
Associations will be competing with an increasingly diverse and crowded marketplace of training providers and, will need to focus on continual member learning rather than traditional workshops, seminars, and books

15. 5. Transparency
Greater openness and accessibility is being driven by the Internet, corporate misdeeds, vocal activists and a demand for greater accountability; be prepared to operate “in full sunlight”

16. 6. Living Organizations
The era of command and control management is over; rigid systems break; old heavily structured and regimented processes are giving way to more fluid, flexible and adaptive approaches