[e-drive][EQUIFLASH: EQUITY LAUNCHES STRATEGIC PLAN]

[Kevin Patrick Robbins]

~~~~~~~~~~ e-drive ~~~~~~~~~~

EQUITY LAUNCHES STRATEGIC PLAN

On Feb. 24, national council of Canadian Actors' Equity Association
adopted an organizational strategic plan one and half years in the
making, fortifying a foundation for future councillors, executive and
staff. The comprehensive plan outlines the association's core processes
and their indicators of success.

The plan also specifies five sets of priorities - working environments,
health and financial benefits, professional development, member
involvement, governance and operational - consisting of 39 short- and
long-term goals. Over the next three years, these priorities and goals
will be the beacons by which the association is helmed.

A guiding force in the operations of Equity, the strategic plan also
acts as the most powerful tool in benchmarking our progress over the
next three years. Whether it is increasing awareness within the
membership of the flexible and creative agreements Equity has available
for its members, promoting the professional development fund and
encouraging members to take advantage of it, or increasing member
participation with council and advisory committees, Equity has a vision
of what it takes to accomplish these tasks and how to measure its
success in doing so.

 

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
The priorities identified by the strategic planning committee can be
aligned to reflect five underlying strategic directions proposed for
CAEA in 2003-2006:


1 -- RENEWING KEY POLICY PLATFORMS
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
* Examine how CAEA defines its jurisdiction and whether and how it
should be expanded.
* Examine why and how the association grants concessions to agreements
and engagement policies.
* Review the potential advocacy agenda and determine priorities.
* Examine the policies and priorities of the Professional Development
Fund.

2 -- BUILDING MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
* Ensure high participation in the election process.
* Ensure high participation and satisfaction in benefits and services.
* Increase member participation with Council and committees.

3 -- STRENGTHENING OPERATIONS AND GOVERNANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
* Monitor the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
* Improve internal information systems.
* Ensure staff and Council know their jobs and work in harmony.

These three strategies are about OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: continuous
improvement of internal systems, clarification of governance structure
and solid policy development.


4 -- IMPROVING OR MAINTAINING WORKING CONDITIONS AND BENEFITS
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
* Ensure collective agreements reflect improvements desired by the
members.
* Control insurance costs.
* Improve and maintain health benefits.

This strategy is about MAKING A DIFFERENCE: having a direct and positive
impact on the lives of the membership.


5 -- PROVIDING TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
* Increase awareness of benefits and services.
* Increase awareness of existing agreements and engagement policies.
* Promote the Professional Development Fund and its use.
* Protect and promote other culture sector professional development
programs.
* Educate members about tax issues.
* Educate members about advocacy issues. 
* Educate members about retirement planning.

This strategy is about EMPOWERMENT: building knowledge and individual
capacity within the membership.


The complete document is available from our Web site at:
http://www.caea.com/policies_publications/strategicplan.pdf

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 to view the file, which
is available from Adobe at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html