Utilizing ten steps to help an advisory council achieve change
Abstract
An advisory council, like any organization, may experience periods of stasis. Project directors can successfully help their advisory councils achieve change through facilitating self-assessment and evaluation, and where appropriate, even introducing a new council "culture." This effective practice is excerpted from materials developed by Campaign Consultation, Inc, the training and technical assistance provider on sustainability issues for programs funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.Issue
Advisory councils can become static and may need to incorporate useful methods for effectual change.Action
According to Campaign Consultation, Inc, project directors can successfully help their advisory councils achieve change with the following ten steps:- The project director and advisory council separately complete self-assessments and prepare responses.
- The project director and advisory council separately evaluate members.
- If possible, assemble an interview team that includes the chairperson and two or three members who join with the project director to meet with the sponsor for input on the role of the advisory council.
- Assemble and summarize assessments, member evaluation information, and the Sponsor interview into one document that highlights what needs to change and new advisory council roles. This document should include a draft of recommended changes.
- Expand the sponsor interview team to a larger advisory council working group or subcommittee. Subsequently, this group will review, add to and decide upon a final document recommending needed changes.
- Send the revised document to members prior to the next council meeting.
- At the council meeting, the project director presents recommendations to the advisory council.
- Receive feedback and incorporate where appropriate regarding new council roles. (Be prepared for possible resignations in light of these new directions.)
- Assign advisory council working groups to address issues such as
- Terms of service (i.e., by-laws review)
- Goals and objectives
- Member vacancies
- New council meeting culture — where appropriate use the Corporation for National and Community Service resources and outside facilitators to introduce a different approach to communication.
- Special workshops can also be conducted to offer training to council members in a supportive atmosphere.
Context
According to Campaign Consultation, Inc., the best way to test the effectiveness of an advisory council is by a review of its actions during any given time period. A project director might ask herself, "What did the council do last year (or any year) that would not have been done, or not done as well, without them?" Meeting minutes can also provide some indication of the effectiveness of the council.
The least effective councils are those that do not have an active role to play. This can happen due to poor communication regarding what is expected of them, or it may be a function of a project director who is unwilling to share responsibility, or perhaps does not want to "bother" the council and so takes on all tasks by himself.
Citation
Roberts, Angela, editor. Programming for Impact: National Toolkit. Corporation for National and Community Service, Washington, D.C.: 1997.
Unleash the True Power of Your Advisory Council. Campaign Consultation, Inc., Baltimore, MD: 2000.
Outcome
Effective advisory councils have:- assumed responsibility for developing new types of volunteer assignments
- assumed responsibility for local support
- developed a series of project evaluation instruments that assess different elements of a program (e.g., volunteer satisfaction, volunteer station responses, and impact on the community)
- made unique contributions in opening up new opportunities for senior volunteers within local communities
- become involved in recognition programs for volunteers
- improved communication and developed a continuity of discussion and problem solving that otherwise might not be possible
Posted On
February 4, 2003Resources
From The Resource Center library:
Programming for Impact: National Toolkit.
Item number: K0565
Unleash the True Power of Your Advisory Council.
Item number: R1940