C

SCORE

CEDAR RAPIDS CHAPTER 227

OPERATIONS PLAN

FISCAL YEAR 2010

(October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010)

Page Numbers

TABLE OF CONTENTS2

The Organization3

Management4

Strategic View5

Message from the Chair6

OPERATIONS PLAN and COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Plan 7

Committees:

Marketing/Outreach 8-9

Counselor Development10

Member Recruitment11

Workshops12

Fundraising13

Technology14

Case Assignment15

Legislative16

Evaluation17

Nominating 18

Administration19

CEDAR RAPIDS SCORE CHAPTER 227

THE ORGANIZATION

A. History of SCORE

The National SCORE organization was established in 1964 as a non-profit group of retired businessmen and women. The purpose of the organization was to offer their skills and experience to small business owners and operators in solving their operational problems. SCORE is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Cedar Rapids SCORE Chapter was organized in 1966 by a local group of retired businessmen. The Cedar Rapids District Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) supports the Chapter and provides office space. As of 2009, approximately 14,000 help sessions with clients have been held since the chapter's creation.

B. Description of the Organization

The SCORE organization uses the title “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” The Cedar Rapids Chapter is one of approximately 352 chapters in the United States including more than 11,000 volunteers nationwide. The Chapter has approximately 50 active members, 3 platinum members, and 7 Gold Card members (as of May 19, 2010, the Chapter has increased its active members to 65).

C. Services Provided

The Chapter advises and counsels new entrepreneurs and those already operating businesses. The Chapter accomplishes this by one-on-one counseling and by team counseling. Other services include business seminars and our presence at business shows and similar exhibits. The Chapter also provides New Business Kits and other printed materials at no cost to the public as well as information over the electronic and printed media.

D. The Market

The market area of the Chapter is Linn, Jones, Benton, and Cedar Counties, Iowa, especially the greater metropolitan area around the City of Cedar Rapids. Chapter volunteer counselors, who participate in Cyber-Counseling, receive requests for advice from all over the nation through the SCORE National and Chapter Websites.

E. Location of the Organization

The office is located in the Cedar Rapids Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration on the third floor, Suite 350, at 2750 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402 and the telephone number is 319-362-6405, Extension 2005. A member volunteer covers the SCORE desk from 10:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. No appointment is necessary.

FY2010 MANAGEMENT

Officers of the Chapter:

Gregory (Greg) Tomsic, ChairJim Finerty, Vice-Chair

Robert Frederick, TreasurerTony Huebsch, Secretary through May 2010

Terry Lamb, Secretary beginning June 2010

Executive Committee:

Officers, Committee Chairs, John Bryant, Dean Gesme, Jim Gerlich

Committee Chairs:

Greg Tomsic (Acting), Marketing/Outreach

Jim Burns, Counselor Development

Duffy Schamberger (Acting), Member Recruitment

Dianne Martin, Workshops

TBD, Fundraising

Terry Lamb, Technology

Thomas (Tom) Janik, Case Assignment

Bill Hoekstra, Legislative

Kathy McArtor, Evaluation

John Bryant, Nominating

Jean Kruse, Administration

CEDAR RAPIDS SCORE CHAPTER 227

(As of Jan 2010, adopted the “public” name of SCORE East Central Iowa)

STRATEGIC VIEW

SCORE East Central Iowa Vision

SCORE in Cedar Rapids is the most recognized and utilized supplier of counseling and mentoring services to small business in our geographic area of responsibility.

SCORE East Central Iowa Mission

SCORE East Central Iowa provides resources and expertise to maximize the success of existing and emerging small business in our geographic area of responsibility.

Issues facing the Cedar Rapids Chapter

For this operational period, and supported by national information and initiatives, the SCORE East Central Iowa Chapter has three (3) major strategic priorities:

Priority #1: Increase Public Awareness

  1. Increase visibility of SCORE in the community through increased and improved educational programs coupled with better associations with key community organizations.
  2. Do more “Shoe leather marketing” of SCORE's talents – through all forms of community contact including personal business visits, speaking engagements, media involvement, etc.
  3. Increase the number of Workshops to provide the public a greater opportunity to meet and become familiar with SCORE.
  4. Make SCORE the supplier of choice for small business start-up and going concern counseling/mentoring/coaching. Improve recognition of what SCORE is and does.

Priority #2: Attention to Acquiring Specific, Needed Member Skills

To address specific skill deficiencies within the Chapter, it is important to focus on incoming member skill-set priorities. For the next two-years, these priorities include:

  1. People who have actually created and/or managed businesses.
  2. Marketing and Sales skills; notably electronic media abilities.
  3. Women, minorities, and youthful individuals/thinkers.
  4. “Specialists” in certain business expertise areas, as required.

Priority #3: Improve Member Evaluation and Quality Control Processes

To address a decrease in the number of and the average time invested by contributing counselors within the Chapter, improvement in the process to establish minimum standards and adherence to these standards on an annual basis needs will be addressed.

  • Minimum standards for each active member will be clarified.
  • Evaluation tools will be put in place.
  • Annual evaluation of each counselor to minimum standards will be done.
  • Removal of non-performing members will be undertaken.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Building on SCORE's reputation for excellence, impartial service, business/job creation, and quality counselors has always been and will continue to be Job 1. Additionally, our chapter must do its part to continue to improve public awareness of SCORE's ability and availability to help small business in America. We want to be the first choice for advice on creating or growing small businesses. We are also part of the nation's economic recovery effort following the recent downturn. These items, combined, help clarify our local mission for the next couple of years.

To improve our local Chapter's visibility in and contribution to the community, the most logical approach is to have more people and businesses learn about what we do. If more people are aware of our services, more people will seek us out and we provide ever-increasing help to small business. In commercial terms, this is called continuously “filling the funnel.” It is also a strategy adopted by SCORE nationally to increase public awareness. This is a perspective we must and will adopt. The more contact, the greater the recognition, the more public good we do.

Consistent with this strategic framework, our Chapter's internal goals for Fiscal Year 2010 (Oct 1 – Sep 30) are as follows:

In the past few years, we have focused on improvement of the training provided to our counselors. However, as other chapters in the country have learned, only by setting the bar high and by recruiting “leaders” can SCORE perform at its best. Accordingly, in addition to a continued emphasis on training, we will place renewed emphasis on the minimum requirements for those entering our Chapter, on obtaining the skills we need to deliver requested services and on member performance contributions. We will strive for excellence in everyone we recruit.

This Operations Plan is the result of contributions by each of the Committee's leaders and/or members. Our success as a group depends on the success of each committee contributing directly to the objectives stated above, as well as the active participation of each member in a committee. There is certainly no better equipped and performing team in our state. We will do great things.

Gregory (Greg) Tomsic

Chairman

SCORE 0227 Operations Plan FY2010 Page 1ommittee 5008

CEDAR RAPIDS SCORE CHAPTER #0227

CHAPTER FINANCIAL PLAN

FISCAL YEARS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 and 2011

SOURCE OF FUNDS: FY2010FY2011

Business Workshops$ 5,000 $ 5,000

Partnership contributions 5,000 5,000

National Association 1,000 1,000

Interest Earned 60 60

TOTAL SOURCES BUDGETED$11,060$11,060

USES OF FUNDS:

Scholarships and donations$ 1,000 $ 1,000

Workshop Expenses 900 900

Counselor Development 1,000 1,000

Administration Committee 800 800

Marketing/Outreach 4,000 4,000

Special Event Activities 3,000 3,000

Fundraising 200 200

Membership Recruitment 500 500

Travel Reimbursement 300 300

Case Assignment 300 300

Evaluation Committee 800 800

Legislative Committee 500 500

Equipment purchases 500 500

Technology Committee 1,600 1,600

Other 500 500

TOTAL USES BUDGETED$15,900$15,900

NET SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS$( 4,840) $(4,840)

Cash balance forward from prior year end 14,838 9,998

Projected Cash Balance at end of year $ 9,998 $5,158

MARKETING/OUTREACH COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON: Greg Tomsic (Acting)

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Judy Baldwin, John Buckeridge, Jim Burns, Dave Evans, Jim Green, Bill Hoekstra, Duffy Schamberger, Jason Siefken, Jim Williams, Larry Zirbel

PURPOSE:

To assist the Chair meet the chapter goals by communicating with the public related to SCORE's abilities in the markets we serve—specifically Benton, Cedar, Jones and Linn Counties. We will do this by growing the number of clients served, the number of counseling hours, and the number of SCORE counselors in the organization. Outreach to the community shall be our primary and priority mission.

GOALS:FYFY

2009 Actual2010

Workshop attendees187190

Number of new counselors 4 10

New female counselors 0 2

Number of client counseling sessions670670

Amount of funds raised from Financial partners$5,000 $5,000

ACTION PLANS

  1. Embrace Constant Contact, SCORE's preferred vendor, for the electronic maintenance of and contact with interested potential clients, clients and others.
  2. Continue the Newsletter, at least quarterly.
  3. Develop new programs to attract new SCORE promoters in the community.
  4. Embrace social Internet media for outreach, with pages on Facebook, Ning, LinkedIn, and other promising new outreach approaches.
  5. Form at least 3 new strategic alliances with community organizations of merit.
  6. Begin a community “Associate” program and secure well known individuals to promote SCORE at public events.
  7. Promote new Workshop types and venues in the area Libraries and elsewhere.
  8. Support each of the other committees in the chapter (as requested) with targeted communications that will help them achieve their goals:
  9. Support the seminar committee in the development of promotional pieces, electronic invitations, and appropriate targeted communications to current and prospective attendees.
  10. Support the recruiting committee with targeted messages to individual identified potential counselors as well as groups from which people may volunteer to join SCORE.
  11. Support the fundraising committee with messages targeted to both current and potential financial partners on chapter communicating successes while creating a desire on their part to support the chapter with financial investments.
  1. Support the chapter by means of timely press releases on important issues including success stories, leadership appointments, and key events throughout the year.
  2. Support chapter leadership in their efforts by participating in trade shows and other events as requested by the chair throughout the year.

MARKETING BUDGETS 2010

  • Telephone directories$ 100
  • Shows/Promotions $ 500
  • Recruiting $ 500
  • Undefined activities $ 2,900
  • TOTAL MARKETING BUDGETS$ 4,000

COUNSELOR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON: Jim Burns

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jim Finerty, Dean Gesme, Vern Jackson, Jean Kruse, Gabe Rohwedder, Jim Williams

PURPOSE:

To identify needs and establish priorities for the training of members as deemed desirable for the chapter and in compliance with the minimum standards. To conduct orientation of new members and provide ongoing training to all members in order to improve counseling techniques and ensure currency of counseling and technical skills.

GOALS:

Provide appropriate training to ensure that all Chapter members have the level of skills required to become effective and knowledgeable SCORE volunteers and to provide ongoing training of new and long-term members in order to improve and update their skills.

ACTION PLAN:

  1. Continue to improve on our new orientation and mentoring program for new members to prepare them for client counseling and SCORE desk duty.
  2. Create an ongoing training program for all SCORE members.
  3. Discussion at regular meetings of the different roles, documents, and role-playing and how they relate to the member.
  4. Obtain confirmation of familiarity with the SCORE Code of Ethics from new members and annually from all Chapter members.
  5. Work to raise awareness that training and development are a continuing responsibility of all volunteers.
  6. Work with the Evaluation committee to establish performance criteria for each volunteer modeled from the standards of performance, as defined in the SOM.

BUDGET:

To purchase Training materials, such as a Binders, Booklets, or CD for new members and Computer expense: $1,000.

MEMBER RECRUITMENT

CHAIRPERSON:Duffy Schamberger (Acting)

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Greg Tomsic

PURPOSE:

To grow the Chapter’s membership of leaders and doers who are qualified and willing to counsel with SCORE clients and to perform other tasks essential to the Chapter’s success in executing its mission which includes recruitment for leadership and administrative roles.

GOALS:

1.Ten (10) new members in FY2010.

2.Recruit first and foremost consistent with the skill priorities of the Chapter:

a)People who have actually created or run businesses.

b)Marketing and sales experts and leaders.

c)Women and Minorities meeting the above criteria.

d)Young members and those skilled at the Internet and Social Media.

3.Determine ways to attract and recruit talented volunteers representing a mix of men, women, races, and ethnicities with the talents/skills required by the Chapter.

4.Coordinate the recruiting program with other committees.

5.Solicit the support and participation of all members in the program. Every member in each chapter should assist in identifying and recruiting new volunteers. The Recruitment Committee must constantly remind the Chapter members that recruitment is a fundamental chapter activity and goal.

6.Establish procedures for interviewing applicants for SCORE membership to determine suitability and gain commitment to minimum requirements. In addition to the requirement that the prospect have the time and desire to participate, all new volunteers must have and use email and must agree to sign and comply with the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct.

7.Inform the applicants for membership of the requirement that their application for membership must be approved by the Executive Committee and that after approval they must go through a “90-day provisional period” during which time period the applicant will be assigned a Mentor and go through an Orientation program provided by the Counselor Development Committee. Membership in committees can and should begin immediately.

BUDGET: $500

WORKSHOP COMMITTEE

DIRECTOR: Dianne Martin

CO-CHAIRPERSON: Jean Kruse

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: John Buckeridge, Jim Burns, Katheryn McArtor,Jason Siefken,

PURPOSE:

The Workshop Committee continuously reviews and advises the chapter on the feasibility of offering workshops and similar events on subjects that would be helpful to the public and small business prospects in the areas we serve. The committee provides useful business information to the small businessperson to improve their chances for success when starting their own business or expanding an existing business.

GOALS:

  1. Improve the quality of seminars now offered.
  2. Increase the number of clients attending.
  3. Train additional SCORE instructors.
  4. Add at least 8 more workshops and several venues to the existing offering, with at least one being a “for-fee” offering.

ACTION PLAN:

  1. Updates and improves seminar materials.
  2. Develops and updates course materials and create slides as required.
  3. Utilizes the Marketing Committee to make the public aware of all workshops.
  4. Makes chapter members aware of what workshops accomplish, the revenues generated, and how they can help.
  5. Encourages SCORE members to be instructors or substitutes when emergencies occur.
  6. Develops a comparative annual report card of performance statistics.
  7. Ensures that volunteers are available at workshops for clients seeking assistance.
  8. Arranges for the collection and handling of fees and maintains accurate records of attendance.
  9. Compiles and submits each workshop event/session's information to national, reporting on Form 888, Management Report Form.
  10. Ensures that an attendee list or sign up sheet is completed for each workshop and is retained by the chapter for four years.
  11. Ensures that evaluation forms are prepared and made available to all attendees.
  12. Ensures that attendees are reported properly per the definitions of workshop in the SOM.
  13. Considers whether the events should be co-sponsored with other organizations and arranges details of the collaboration.
  14. Ensures that SCORE’s name is prominent in all publicity and that the chapter receives its fair share of any workshop proceeds when co-sponsoring a workshop.
  15. Bills Kirkwood Community College for each co-sponsored event.
  16. Proposes new venues, workshops, and ideas as frequently as possible to Chapter management.

BUDGET: $900

SCORE 0227 Operations Plan FY2010 Page 1

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON: TBD

COMMITTEE: TBD

PURPOSE:

Raise monies whenever and wherever possible for the continued execution of chapter activities, with particular emphasis on public outreach and client services.

GOALS:

To raise enough funds for the annual budget.

ACTION PLAN:

  1. Develop fundraising strategies.
  2. Conduct ongoing fundraising efforts.
  3. Contact and follow up with potential donors and prior sponsors of funds and in-kind support.
  4. Ensure Sponsors are treated with respect, continued contact and ensured proper communications about the chapter consistent to their commitment to it.
  5. Identify donors who must be sent SCORE Form 15, Acknowledgment of Receipt of Gifts to SCORE.[1]

BUDGET: $200

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON: Terry Lamb

COMMITTEE: Bob Buckheister and Pat Gosnell

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Technology Committee is to implement the website and other technical requirements for the Chapter, as requested by the Chair or delegates from the Executive Committee as the Chair specifies. Ensure maintenance of the website and recommend hardware and software programs that might be helpful to the Chapter.

GOALS:

  1. Define, update, and maintain Chapter Website, as requested by Marketing, to provide more efficient use of site by clients, potential clients, the public-at-large and members.
  2. Improve feedback from clients and Chapter members on training, counseling, and general information.
  3. Coordinate with other committees on their software and hardware needs.
  4. Improve skills of Chapter members on use of computer and processes and support their needs when requested.

ACTION PLAN: