1. A headache that can be relieved !
Succession Planning
A headache that can be relieved !

2. Background Your U3A can only function if members come forward :
to join the Committee
to take on Officer roles
to assist the Committee

3. The Succession Planning Headache
Commiserations ! There’s a lot of it about !

4. Moving from Thinking

5. Lets Explore ……………………

6. Helpful Quote 1
One of the things we often miss in succession planning is that it should be gradual and thoughtful with lots of sharing of information and knowledge and perspective, so that it's almost a non-event when it happens.

7. Helpful Quote 2
The lesson is that, No. 1, this management has to be at the highest class possible. No. 2, they have to have a succession plan
Al-Waleed bin Talal

8. Helpful Quote 3 [?]
Why do I need succession planning? I'm very alert, I'm very vibrant. I have no intention to retire.
Sheldon Adelson

9. The Challenge of Finding Committee Members
Just managing to fill the places on the committee
Having to use candidates who aren’t the best suited for a particular role.
Having the same set of people moving positions within the committee.
A failure to fill Officer positions
Insufficient turnover of personnel on the committee (no constitution time restrictions or its ignored)
A committee which is remote from the membership.
Intimidating committee members putting new recruits off.
No succession policy
U3A Site : advice/committee-responsibilities/the-challenge-of-finding-committee-members

10. The Common Picture
The general approach can be erratic, arbitrary, chancy
Creates enormous pressure and potential conflict
Affects the vibrancy, openness, effectiveness of your U3A
Overall
Creates and/or affects the culture of your U3A
Becomes a perpetual headache…………….   

11. How Does Your Committee Function?
Some Swamp-Makers
Someone excellent at giving ideas and opinions, but not much action
Someone using their membership of the committee as a status symbol
The martyr ‘Oh I’ll do it – there’s no-one else is there?’
I did it before so I’ll do it again………
Moving round the Officers’ roundabout – swapping roles but no change in personalities

12. Help is on its way !

13. All the answers are in the room !
Join in discussions, share experiences …..and best practice
Identify strategies to take to your ……committee
Encourage adopting new approaches

14. Succession Planning
Removing the Headache

15. Set Objectives To ensure
Your U3A maintains a vibrant, effective leadership
Encourage & identify new ideas
Set short term projects
Approach members personally
New members are encouraged to take an active part in the life of your U3A
Continually refresh your committee by securing new members

16. 3 Months in Advance of AGM
Membership is made aware of the specific roles that are becoming vacant
 In Newsletter
On web sites
On Noticeboards
In announcements
Personal approach

17. New Members: What do you look for?
Attitude
Skills
Knowledge
Experience
Come and join our “Really Useful Group”

18. Practical Tips
The Committee must collectively accept responsibility for succession planning
Create a compelling reason for people to join you
Don’t rely on the ‘Usual Suspects’
Ensure the Committee is outward looking, inclusive and effective

19. Practical Tips 2 5. Put succession planning high on the agenda
6. Ensure you have clear, updated role descriptions
7. Offer shadowing, job share, sit-in on meetings
8. Ensure good support and a proper induction

20. TAT Advice Encourage current trustees to talk about their role
Using skills and experience to advance their U3A
Stress friendly, informal, democratic nature of committee meetings
Ameliorate concern over legalities, commitment
Biggest issue is Officer nominations
Consider constitution amendment to include Officer appointments at 1st meeting of new committee
Have ‘Succession Planning’ on every committee Agenda
Plan Ahead
Hold file of role descriptions
Allow flexibility ie share tasks, encourage sub groups for specific tasks, events
Discuss areas of concern with other U3As, YAHR
National web site document ‘Challenge of Finding Committee Members’

21. Overall U3As stand or fall on the principle of ..Self-Help
Not everyone can lead a group, ..organise a social event
But importantly:
Some would be willing to use their ///talents to help on the committee