NEOA Strategic Plan

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The NEOA Strategic Plan is divided into five sections:

Goal 1: Strengthen and support state associations

1.1 Create regional structures to enhance coordination with states
- Create a menu professional development workshops/trainings available to state organizations or board members
- Formalize training for the policy seminar for New England state team leaders
- Continue state initiative grant process and COE grant proposal process
1.2 Conduct annual assessment of state association (i.e. state report cards)

Develop a survey sent to all state members to assess needs and satisfaction of NEOA services
Help states respond to COE state report card

1.3 Develop strategies that strengthen states ability to meet their individual goals and objectives
- Identify a goal with each state each year to help with a specific need.
- Strategic planning for outreach to new members of Congress
1.4 Dedicate appropriate resources in support of strategy implementation to strengthen and support state associations
- Strategic planning for a dedicated advocacy budget for outreach to newly elected members of congress
- Strategic planning for a dedicated state initiative budget
- Coordinate information sharing from COE and NEOA – i.e. clearinghouse or website

Goal 2: Provide Professional Learning Opportunities for Membership

2.1 Identify and assess professional learning needs of membership (i.e. annual survey)
- Summarize evaluations from annual conference
- Collect information at program round tables
- Broadly survey members annually using accessible online tool in order to capture needs/trends including those who may not have attended conference in prior year
2.2 Develop comprehensive Professional development activities to meet member needs

Establish vision for professional development
Use assessment information from 2.1 to plan professional development activities that meet needs of membership
Consult/coordinate with technology chair & access concerns chair to make sure needs of specific audiences are considered

2.3 Provide professional development opportunities that are responsive to the needs of Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)

Implement professional development activities including annual conference, professional development days & leadership institute
Coordinate with individuals willing to chair professional development days
Event chairs provide registration confirmation information to the membership chair to determine if participants are NEOA members
If applicable, coordinate technology needs of professional development activities

2.4 Maximize technology as a vehicle for information gathering and dissemination

2.5 Distribute membership materials to Education Opportunity Personnel and new hires

Distribute membership materials to new programs and new hires
Call new directors and programs to provide information about NEOA and its professional development activities

Goal 3: Foster Leadership within NEOA

3.1 Define and publicize various leadership opportunities within NEOA
- Provide information on leadership opportunities and benefits at each professional development day and state conference
- Immediate Past-President to discuss opportunities for leadership as part of soliciting nominations for officer positions
- Cultivate future leaders at state and regional conferences
- Promote leadership positions in newsletter and online
3.2 Encourage board members to identify, recruit and mentor individuals for Board leadership roles

Maintain list and develop listserve of Leadership Institute Alumni
President and Past-President attend Leadership Institute to encourage importance of Board Leadership

3.4 Provide leadership opportunities to staff with five plus years in TRIO/GEAR UP with the goal of reengagement in NEOA

3.5 Develop and promote leadership opportunities for state and regional board positions

Promote COE Leadership Summit in March as leadership opportunity
Conduct the NEOA Leadership Institute
Promote the Leadership Institute at state association conferences and the NEOA annual conference
Encourage attendees of NEOA Newcomers reception to consider getting involved with the state and regional association

Goal 4: Build and strengthen NEOA’s Financial & Organizational Resources

4.1 Create and maintain a reserve equal to one-half of annual expenses
- Establish annual budget reflecting goals and priorities
- Analyze annual budget and calculate amount of reserve needed
- Monitor, reconcile and report fiscal status on a monthly basis
- Conduct monetary transactions – i.e. opening certificates of deposit and other forms of investment
4.2 Create an annual development plan to support NEOA activities each year
- Establish annual development goal with president initiating and following through with contacts
- Represent Association in public arena to potential funders to identify and cultivate contacts
- Provide information and local contacts as appropriate to review and contribute to development plan
4.3 Explore new revenue generating activities to increase NEOA visibility in New England
- Task Board to brainstorm and select new ideas at board meetings each year
- Implement new ideas as appropriate
4.4 Develop and implement a marketing plan for NEOA
- Identify target audiences
- Develop customized messages to reach target audiences
- Review and revise existing materials and medias
- Evaluate effectiveness and results of marketing plan

Goal # 5: Strengthen NEOA's capacity to advocate on behalf of TRIO/Gear Up students and programs

5.1 Review existing committee structures and revise bylaws if necessary to ensure strong advocacy efforts
- Conduct annual transition meeting to assess existing committee structures and by-laws to determine if they meet advocacy goals
- Develop advocacy goals
- Charge committees to address advocacy goals
5.2 Provide information and training to promote link between state and national advocacy issues
- Provide training on seasonally pertinent political issues
- States identify needs and write State Initiative grant applications to address those needs
- Provide training prior to policy seminar for policy seminar state leaders
5.3 Expand TRIO/Gear Up alumni presence in NEOA to assist advocacy efforts
- Promote alumni presence at conference and policy seminar
- Increase contacts by 5% in alumni database and through social network presence on web
- Have state initiative grant focused on alumni issues and identification
5.4 Facilitate and support attendance of members and alumni at state and national advocacy events
- Hold alumni events at the regional conference and throughout the year
- Publicize regional, state and national TRIO alumni events