The Environmental Education Association of Illinois Strategic Plan

(Final Draft Presented: February 4, 2005)

Goal 1: Become a financially independent and philanthropic organization.
Objective 1.1: Develop a set of fundraising strategies by May 2005.
Strategy 1.1.1: Establish guidelines and a timetable that requires work plans and budgets to include revenue generating objectives in addition to expenditure objectives. (Responsible: Executive Committee)
Strategy 1.1.2: Develop a fundraising committee dedicated to carrying out the strategies. (Responsible: President-Elect)
Strategy 1.1.3: Develop a financial support request portfolio. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee)

Objective 1.2: Develop a financial plan and secure funding from a variety of sources that will enable EEAI to be financially independent.
Strategy 1.2.1: Grants-Research and apply for grants that will advance the organization’s mission. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee)
Strategy 1.2.2: Corporate-Seek and secure funds from businesses to diversify funding sources. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee)
Strategy 1.2.3: Endowment-Research and determine feasibility of creating an endowment. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee)
Strategy 1.2.4: Special Events-Host events with the purpose of generating revenue. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee, Program Committee, Regional Directors)

Objective 1.3: Continue annual submission and approval of work plans and budgets by officers, regional directors and committee chairs.
Strategy 1.3.1: Develop a simple budget worksheet that standardizes the process. (Responsible: Finance Committee)

Objective 1.4: Create a "New Horizons Fund" to provide funding for statewide initiatives and innovative ideas.
Strategy 1.4.1: Develop funding protocol. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee)

Goal 2: Promote innovative strategies that energize EEAI and the field of EE.
Objective 2.1: Gather and synthesize current environmental education research and disseminate to members.
Strategy 2.1.1: Website-Provide links to education and scientific research outlets. (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 2.1.2: Newsletter-Feature column in quarterly newsletter that focuses on current developments in the field. (Responsible: PR Committee)

Objective 2.2: Explore “best practices” from an assortment of professions that encourage the delivery of new and innovative EE.
Strategy 2.2.1: Identify, establish and maintain contact with several professions that invite the sharing of innovative educational “best practices” methods. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & Regional Directors)
Strategy 2.2.2: Develop and initiate strategies that share new and innovative “best practices” with members. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & Regional Directors)
Strategy 2.2.3: Develop a marketing plan that regularly publicizes pioneering EE methods. (Responsible: PR Committee)

Objective 2.3: Diversify and increase Illinois’ environmental education audience.
Strategy 2.3.1: Identify non-traditional EE audiences. (Responsible: Membership Committee & Regional Directors)
Strategy 2.3.2: Identify underserved groups (i.e., High School & Preschool). (Responsible: Membership Committee & Regional Directors)
Strategy 2.3.3: Address inclusion of all people (i.e., special needs, cultural, economic). (Responsible: Membership Committee & Regional Directors)

Goal 3: Increase public awareness of EEAI through a statewide promotional campaign.
Objective 3.1: Develop and implement a marketing plan that increases EEAI’s visibility by 2007.
Strategy 3.1.1: Redesign display unit, providing one display per region. Encourage regions to update frequently to maintain quality and continuity. (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 3.1.2: Design and distribute EEAI promotional brochure. (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 3.1.3: Acquire and disseminate EEAI promotional items. (Responsible: PR Committee & Membership Committee)
Strategy 3.1.4: Compile Speaker's Bureau of EEAI membership to encourage interaction and utilization of member skills. (Responsible: PR Committee & EE Resource Committee)
Strategy 3.1.5: Publicize through additional media forms (i.e., radio, TV, power point). (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 3.1.6: Create PR standards (uniform professional look). (Responsible: PR Committee)

Objective 3.2: Develop a website that provides desired information to users by 2007.
Strategy 3.2.1: Retain Webmaster and up-to-date website. (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 3.2.2: Increase offerings (i.e., newsletter, membership forms, more links, current events, grant application). (Responsible: PR Committee)
Strategy 3.2.3: Investigate the desirability and methods to create a members only web page. (Responsible: PR Committee & Membership Committee)

Objective 3.3: Maintain an EE database (IllinoisEE.org) that has at least 90% of EE providers in Illinois registered by 2010.
Strategy 3.3.1: Hire a database manager. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee)
Strategy 3.3.2: Continue to evaluate user-friendliness of website. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee)
Strategy 3.3.3: Keep entries and master calendar updated monthly. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & Regional Directors)

Goal 4: Increase EEAI's membership through services and benefits offered to members.
Objective 4.1: Provide an effective organizational structure that encourages membership to grow in number, diversity, and involvement by 10% by 2007.
Strategy 4.1.1: Identify and address the weaknesses of each region. (Responsible: Membership Committee, Regional Directors, and President)
Strategy 4.1.2: Increase opportunities to become involved. (Responsible: Entire Board)
Strategy 4.1.3: Develop collaborative relationships with diverse groups. (Responsible: Membership Committee and President)
Strategy 4.1.4: Investigate staff support for membership services. (Responsible: Fundraising Committee & Membership Committee)

Objective 4.2: Develop and implement strategies by 2006 that increase the professionalism of EE in the State of Illinois.
Strategy 4.2.1: Campaign for EE to be included as part of curriculum requirements in State of Illinois. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & President)
Strategy 4.2.2: Promote diverse professional development and networking opportunities that meet the needs of educators. (Responsible: Membership Committee, EE Resource Committee & Regional Directors)
Strategy 4.2.3: Host NAAEE Annual Conference by 2009 (Responsible: President, Conference Committee, Regional Directors)
Strategy 4.2.4: Promote on-line workshops. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee and PR Committee)

Objective 4.3: Develop a means to measure and evaluate EEAI's progress as a professional organization by 2008.
Strategy 4.3.1: Investigate other organizational performance tools. (Responsible: Governance Committee & Long-range and Strategic Planning Committee)
Strategy 4.3.2: Create and implement annually an evaluation tool. (Responsible: Governance Committee & Long-range and Strategic Planning Committee)
Strategy 4.3.3: Report results annually to the board and membership. (Responsible: Governance Committee & Long-range and Strategic Planning Committee)

Goal 5: Enhance communication and coordination among all environmental education shareholders.
Objective 5.1: Enhance communication and coordination WITHIN EEAI.
Strategy 5.1.1: Implement an effective method of communication for EE professionals within their region by June 2005. (Responsible: Regional Directors)
Strategy 5.1.2: Share progress with EEAI through newsletter and board reports beginning June 2006. (Responsible: Regional Directors & PR Committee)
Strategy 5.1.3: Investigate hiring (and funding) an Executive Director to coordinate and administer the efforts of EEAI (including CORE2, Board meeting operations, etc) by 2007. (Responsible: President & Fundraising Committee)

Objective 5.2: Enhance communication and coordination STATEWIDE.
Strategy 5.2.1: Ensure that EEAI board members and membership are familiar with the important role that IEEAC plays in the state. (Responsible: President)
Strategy 5.2.2: Invite IEEAC to appoint a representative that will regularly report on current IEEAC projects and initiatives at EEAI board meetings and through quarterly submissions for inclusion in the UPDATE. Responsible: President & EE Resource Committee)
Strategy 5.2.3: Strengthen relationships between state agencies (ISBE, IDNR, etc) by supporting IDNR's efforts to re-establish a coordinated board akin to the Conservation Education Advisory Board. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & President)
Strategy 5.2.4: Investigate re-establishment of ISBE environmental education position. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & President)
Strategy 5.2.5: Establish liaison committee within the board that identifies liaison contacts with each state agency and provides written reports on agency activities to the board on a quarterly basis. (Responsible: EE Resource Committee & President)
Strategy 5.2.6: Utilize the Government Affairs Committee to keep informed about and influence state legislative issues.

Objective 5.3: Explore ways to be better informed about NATIONAL efforts especially in NAAEE, NAI, NSTA.
Strategy 5.3.1: Website information sharing. (Responsible: PR Committee & President)
Strategy 5.3.2: Newsletters. (Responsible: PR Committee & President)
Strategy 5.3.3: Certification (NAI). (Responsible: PR Committee & President)
Strategy 5.3.4: Nominate members for national boards and award recognition. (Responsible: Awards Committee)
Strategy 5.4.5: Communicate with affiliates (NAAEE) and regions (NAI). (Responsible: PR Committee & President)