Strategic Vision and Planning – Chazon Beth El

We need your help to plan our future. Perhaps you are rolling your eyes just a little and thinking about other strategic planning sessions you’ve experienced elsewhere. Were you subjected to meetings, focus groups, consultants and questions, only to find that nothing ever changed? Was it still business-as-usual with the same problems, same reactions, and “band aid” fixes followed by promises to do it right the next time?

This time it will be different. We promise.
In fact, we’ve already begun the process and made strides…but now we need your guidance and input on Sunday morning, January 8, through two different sessions. They will be interesting and fun (and we will have food, of course). We need you there.
Consider these facts:
• Temple Beth El will be 70 years old in 2013. It’s time to stop and look at where we are and where we are going.
• We have a brand new building. As part of that building process, we did a lot of excellent planning and research. We need to put that work into a document that will guide us;
• We have access to a grant from the Federation to help us do this plan. Through them, we have engaged The Lee Institute, the premier strategic planning agency for non-profits in Charlotte;
• Other agencies on Shalom Park are doing the same thing with The Lee Institute, so together, we will have the collective wisdom to call upon;
• And, the Union for Reform Judaism, our parent organization, is lending us their top strategic planner for our effort…so we are also getting the wisdom and guidance of the Reform Movement.
We are calling this planning initiative “Chazon Beth El – The Vision for Beth El” to anticipate the Temple’s needs and ensure its future. “Chazon” is the Hebrew word for vision.
We are not just going through the motions. This is real and very important. With the opening of the new building and the expansion of our community, we have accomplished a great deal in the recent past, but we cannot take for granted our future. A blueprint will ensure we are doing the right things in terms of membership, leadership, programming, infrastructure, and financial resources. This also won’t be the last time you hear from us. We will keep you updated on our progress, and recommendations will be presented at the Annual Meeting in May 2012, months, not years, from now.

We’ve assembled a talented team to work on the strategic planning effort, but they cannot do it alone. Congregational input and opinions are critical to building our future together. The next step occurs on January 8th with multiple, simultaneous focus groups facilitated by the Lee Institute, board members, and planning committee members. Please attend and help shape our dreams. Click here and register to let us know which session you can attend.