Institutional Memories

Institutional memory becomes an issue for organizations as they age, and the successive leadership is further removed from the roots of its establishment.

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History is there to preserve the mission and maintain a heritage for the group. Your association need not be hamstrung by unwanted fetters of custom.  Groups need to evolve and grow. They also have to honor their procedures and precedents.

Institutions should build on those precedents when moving forward.

In reinventing, modernizing and transforming, your group shoul d be sure it doesn't stray from its mission. That mission, of course, can be simply seen as serving the needs of its constituency.

Sometimes it takes a reinvention to completely fulfill that mission.

 Reprinted from cleanlists.wordpress: http://wp.me/p5gEnW-3u

Your Mission

Your organization has a mission of service and purpose.  Like renewing your wedding vows, reaffirming your mission statement can give a boost to your relationship. Long-established associations may have mission statements established long ago. Reviewing and updating these can be an effective way to engage your membership.    Updating your mission statement also gives members an opportunity to more fully understand your organization. It's a way to help make them participate and make it theirs. Many members may not be aware of the goals and purposes of the association to which they belong.  Making them aware of the missions of your organization can further their connection to the association.  June is proxy season for a lot of groups and another opportunity to make your mission clear to your members and prospects. Use it to your best advantage. Don't forget to include your mission statement on your web site so members and prospective members can access it. By-Laws can get stale, too.   Just as you want your mission statement to reflect the current state of your group and its purposes and goals, so you want the by-laws to be up to date.  Your association's by-laws should be subjected to a periodic review by the board. Changes will generally require the approval of your membership. Asking for their vote on this issue is one more way of keeping your members actively involved.    Modifying the by-laws can also insure that your organization continues to serve its constituency as times change and the needs of your association and its members changes with them.  Don't forget to publish your by-laws on the About Us section of your web pages!