Fwd: Fw: 2010 Chapter Leader Training - EC

28 Nov 2009


      To Energy Committee:
This on-line/conference call training sounds like a good idea, and several Chapter leaders have already reserved.  If you would like to participate, let Jim Sconyers know ASAP. The first 2 people in get to do this.
JBK
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Jim Sconyers jim_scon@yahoo.com 11/20/2009 10:48 AM >>>
Interested? I am. This is the campaign that is getting national money - and besides it's the most critical issue of our time. Not to mention all the potential for strengthening the Chapter. Please let me know if you'd like to do the training.
Jim Sconyers 
jim_scon@yahoo.com 
304.698.9628
Remember: Mother Nature bats last.
--- On Thu, 11/19/09, Greg Casini alert@sierraclub.org wrote:
From: Greg Casini alert@sierraclub.org
Subject: 2010 Chapter Leader Training
To: "Sierra Club Activists" alert@sierraclub.org
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 8:00 PM
November 18, 2009
To:        Chapter Chairs
From:        The Leadership & Organizing Training Team
Re:        2010 Chapter Leader Training
NOTE: APPLICATIONS ARE DUE DECEMBER 18
Dear Chapter Chairs,
The Sierra Club will be offering Chapter Leader Training beginning in January, 2010.
In the past, the training has been a four-day in-person retreat following a standard classroom format.  We are now taking a new approach in order to reach more chapter leaders in the most cost effective way possible.  Many of you indicated you would be interested in learning more about the Sierra Club's effort to focus on the single most important fight of our lifetime - climate recovery.  This learning opportunity is targeted at helping you build the most effective chapter possible to do that work.
To increase your power, rather than take up your time, the training will be offered remotely as a conference call and online training, and we are inviting you to recruit a team of 3-5 additional Chapter leaders to participate along with you, so they can support you in your role and help you apply the skills learned in the training to the real work of your ExCom.
Training Structure
There are two main components to the training: a series of five conference call training sessions that will link all participants by phone, and a coaching call just for your team following each training session.  The training sessions will be 90 minutes in length, starting in January, and will be spaced three weeks apart.  The roster of sessions is as follows:
Session 1: Connecting your Chapter to Climate Recovery Campaign Objectives: Understand how your state and local goals can fit with Climate Recovery Campaign objectives, reflect on the core functions of Chapter ExComs, learn how to inventory and report your Chapter's performance in these areas, review and improve your priority setting process.
Session 2: Creating a High-Performing ExCom Team: Examine trust building, team norms, operating procedures, decision-making practices and accountability strategies; learn how to build a high-performing ExCom team that achieves significant results.
Session 3: Structuring Effective ExCom Meetings: Explore new ideas on crafting meeting agendas, running productive meetings and following up on action items; learn how to transform your agendas and get important work done.
Session 4: Chapter Communications in the 21st Century:  Learn how your Chapter can develop an online organizing strategy to expand your outreach and effectiveness; explore the use of Convio, HELEN and other communications technologies.
Session 5: Expanding your Leadership Structure to Build a Broader Movement for Climate Recovery: Assess your local resources; learn how to expand your leadership structure in order to build a movement around climate recovery work that engages a broad diversity of people in your communities.
Training Benefits
Here are some of the benefits you can expect as a result of this training:
After this training, you will:
--Have more clarity on the role and expectations of the Chapter ExCom
--Understand the Club's climate recovery campaigns and how to be a part of them
--Improve the functioning of your Chapter ExCom to engage more effectively in climate recovery work
--Transform your meetings to get more done in less time
--Develop a 21st century communications strategy
--Expand your leadership infrastructure in order to build a broader movement around climate recovery work
Training Dates (Pacific & Mountain Time Zones)
Session 1    Tuesday, January 12 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT
Session 2    Tuesday, February 2 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT
Session 3    Tuesday, February 23 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT
Session 4    Tuesday, March 16 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT
Session 5    Tuesday, April 6 at 6pm PT, 7pm MT
Training Dates (Eastern & Central Time Zones)
Session 1    Thursday, January 14 at 6pm CT, 7pm ET
Session 2    Thursday, February 4 at 6pm CT, 7pm ET
Session 3    Thursday, February 25 at 6pm CT, 7pm ET
Session 4    Thursday, March 18 at 6pm CT, 7pm ET
Session 5    Thursday, April 8 at 6pm CT, 7pm ET
To Apply for the Training
1. Read the Mutual Agreement below.
2. Recruit 3-5 other Chapter leaders who will commit to participate with you through the entire training program (you must recruit a minimum of three leaders).  Some of your best candidates might be your Vice-Chair, Conservation Chair and most senior staff person.
3. Complete the Mutual Agreement form and return it to Greg Casini by December18.  Chapters will be chosen based on their level of commitment, and notified no later than December 21.
There is no fee to participate.  Much of this training will be conducted on the phone and over the internet.  You will need to have access to a computer for the duration of these sessions.
Questions
If you have questions about this training, contact greg.casini@sierraclub.org ( about:/mc/compose?to=greg.casini@sierraclub.org ) or 415-977-5651.
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Virtual Training for Chapter Leadership Teams - Mutual Agreement
RETURN BY DECEMBER 18, 2009
The Training: This training is intended not just for the ExCom Chair, but also for a core leadership team of 3-5 additional leaders who can support the Chair in his/her role.  The expectation is that there will be four to six people from each Chapter working together with the Chair to ensure a highly effective ExCom.  You may be seasoned leaders or new volunteers, but the common thread should be your commitment to learning and applying new skills to the real work of your ExCom.
There are two main components to the training: a series of five conference call-based training sessions, and individual coaching between sessions.  Training sessions will be 90 minutes each, starting in January and spaced three weeks apart.  Coaching calls will be conducted between the trainings and through June.  Each Chapter leadership team will have an assigned coach.  The coach will serve as a sounding board and help to facilitate the implementation of training lessons into chapter practices.  The coach will also be on point for the teams to give feedback to the trainers.
The Trainers' Commitment:
--We will be prepared to offer quality training for all participants
--We will offer training that is relevant and useful to the chapter teams
--We will solicit and accept constructive feedback on the progress of the training sessions and coaching.
Your Commitment:
--Come to the sessions prepared, and actively participate in all five training sessions.
--Complete any pre- or post-session work assignments
--Listen to the recording of any missed calls and work with your coach to "make up" a missed session.
--Apply the skills and practices learned in the sessions to your Chapter ExCom work
--Build a working relationship with your coach.
--Provide honest feedback to the coach and trainers to help shape this and future trainings.
During this process, we will be using some technologies that are new to the Club and to this group of trainers.  There will be a concerted effort to test new technologies in order to mitigate the fact that we are not meeting face-to-face.  The trainers will do their best to ensure that the technology is appropriate and functional, but there is an element of experimentation here.  All parties need to have some patience and be willing to change plans in the event of technology glitches.
APPLICATION FOR 2010 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP TRAINING
WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS MUTUAL AGREEMENT AND WE AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE EXPECTATIONS OUTLINED.
YES ____    NO ___
DATE:
CHAPTER:
CHAPTER CHAIR:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
OTHER TRAINING PARTICIPANTS (MINIMUM OF 3):
NAME                POSITION            EMAIL ADDRESS
HAVE ALL PARTICIPANTS AGREED TO ATTEND ALL SESSIONS?
YES ____    NO ___
Return to greg.casini@sierraclub.org ( about:/mc/compose?to=greg.casini@sierraclub.org ) by December 1