Program of Work (POW)

1. Program of Work (POW) An Organization’s Roadmap to Success!

2. The POW is • A document which defines the organization goals. • An outline of the steps needed to meet these goals. • A written guide that allows members, administrators, alumni, advisory committee members and others to know and understand the activities of the organization

3. The POW will: • Help ensure that state, chapters, and individual member needs are met. • Give ownership to the state, chapters, and students. • Provide continuity year to year. • Assist in the development of a budget.

4. The POW will: (cont.) • Provide planning experience. • Develop leadership skills. • Foster a sense of community involvement and pride. • Encourage the development of problem-solving skills. • Develop goal setting skills

5. Simply stated the POW is: • A record of WHAT is going to be of done • WHO is going to do it • WHEN it is going to be done • WHERE it will happen • WHY it is happening • HOW it will be done • HOW MUCH it is going to cost.

6. POW Organization • Organizations build their Program of Work around their committee structure. • Committee structure will depend on: • size of organization • involvement of members • number of activities to complete • State, school and community support

7. Committee Structure • Standing committees • committees that serve a function from year to year • examples: Community Service, Fundraising • Executive committee • usually consists of the state officers and changes each year • Ad Hoc or Special committees • committees that may meet to plan only one event • examples: Job Fair, Dance

8. Committee Structure • The Vice President has the responsibility of coordinating all standing committee work. • Officers have the responsibility of coordinating activities, but need not serve as committee chairs. • Members should actively serve on at least one committee.

9. Committee Structure • Participation in committees should be based on: • member abilities • member interest • member availability • desired representation of student diversity

10. Developing your POW • Establish Committees • Select Committee members • Committee sets attainable goals • Committee report committee results to membership • Membership adopts or reject committee plan

11. Brainstorming • Review last year’s POW • Review other states and similar organizations POWs • Organization needs • Membership interests

12. Write SMART Goals • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Realistic • Trackable

13. Program of Work Action Plan • What is necessary to meet the goal? • Step by step processes • listed in order • clear and detailed • who, what, why, where, when, how, how much

14. Committee reports • Inform organization of progress made • Provide a system of responsibility • Allow for discussion and ideas • Allow for feedback from members

15. Final Report • Did the organization meet all of the goals for the activity? • Why or why not • Did the activity stay within budget? • Recommendations for future activities

16. Completed POW • Should be provided to all members. • Should be approved by all members. • Can be used as an informational tool to parents, administration, school board, advisory committee and others.

17. Next steps? • Each organization meet as a group and establish state goals! • What activities take place annually within your organization? • What will be the role of the state officer team in these activities.