Planning, Templates from 60 minutes strategic palnning

1. Memorandum
To: New Clairvaux Brothers
From: Joe Connell
Date: 7/25/2012
Re: Wrapup
I believe it is time to conclude the identification of “elephants-in-the-room” journey we have been on since
April. It was not planned, but if view it as an investment of time we may need in the future, then it was not only
necessary, but worth it. The question Is there an elephant in the room will evoke a response!
The Strategy Planning Clusters piece that follows is a tool for “parking” key issues needing further
deposition as fodder for plan goals, objectives or action items. It also represents a summary of your last
two months’ of workincluding homework assignments related to elephant/problem identification and the
depositions of them as well. In some cases, the elephants presented some awkward, perhaps confusing
moments. As a group, you did a great jobdeposing of the elephants/problems and the awkwardness they
may have caused. Trust, patience and focus prevailed – not always the case for many groups. For our
purposes, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the journey has been a maturing process in itself within
the overall planning process, and it’s time to move on.
For our next meeting (June 25th), I am planning to include the four lay folks – they need to be reengaged so
we may capitalize on the gifts they bring to the planning process. Although I have not finalized the agenda,
I would like to accomplish the following:
Determine if there is a better word than “stakeholders” when referring to those others who do in
fact have an investment in New Clairvaux whether emotionally, spiritually, as an employee, donor
or whatever
Introduce the Strategy Planning Clusters (but not with the (A), (B), (C) questions and data)
Reaffirmation of the charism statement and core values with a request for one or two volunteers
to compose a written statement of core values
Affirm the mission statement from where we left off in March (this should not take but a few
minutes)
Introduce the nature and purpose of a plan vision and begin drafting a plan vision statement (two
or three sentence at most)

2. Thank you. I look forward to seeing you soon.