• Remember, it is the BOARD’s responsibility to have a plan to achieve the mission of the organization.
  One thing you can count on, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Without a plan, you’ll often be “spinning your wheels.” Your center will be reactive instead of proactive and will have no sense of really going anywhere as an organization.
  The annual plan can be done in a one-day planning session or retreat. This meeting should be in a comfortable place that has few distractions. Be sure to have a white board with markers or a flip chart for writing down brainstorming ideas.

Here is what the format for an annual planning meeting might look like:

• Review mission statement
  

• Make a list of "what you've done well this year." You can include a comparison with last year's annual plan.
  

• Make a list of "what could have been done better."
  

• Specify three or four general goals for next year. Often these goals will come out of the "what could we have done better" list.
  

• Discuss and set specific objectives for each goal if possible.
  

• Write down an action plan that specifies "who will do what and when."
  
  
• Note implications for the annual budget.