TCA strategic initiatives: From ideas to actionable projects
The Executive Committee came up with a list of high-priority projects during our strategy session in November 2022. Since that group has insight into the conversations that surrounded these projects, we have worked on turning these ideas from bullet points into official project scopes.
The goal of a project scope is to determine and document:
- Project goals
- Project activities to include and activities to exclude
- Approximate time frame to complete (ex. 3 mo, 6 mo, 1 yr, 3 yr)
- Target organizational level (Class, Region, District, Fleet, Membership)
- Suggested references and resources available to the project team
Here are the high-priority TCA projects with completed scopes (updated 5/22/24):
You can access the full scope for each of these in this document (link opens in new tab).
1. Brand and fund Coach TCA, with a planning team for topics, dates, formats, locations
Project scope approved: 12/12/23
2. Develop a key event management plan
Project scope: This project launched immediately after the strategy session and therefore doesn’t have an official scope.
Update: Aaron Holland is leading this project with a small team. They’re working on including info on event planning, clean regattas, social media, trophy care, race guidelines and safety plans. (4/30/24)
3. Develop plan to promote small/medium yacht clubs to kick off community sailing programs
Project scope approved: 12/12/23
4. Develop and fund financial support model – categories and funding model (paired with) Achieve sustainable funding model for the Class (corporate sponsorship, etc.)
Project scope approved: 11/14/23
Update: On 3/11/24, the governing board approved the slate of Endowment Committee members for the Thistle Growth Partnership Charter: John Howell (chairperson, class member, business and fundraising experience), Warren Duckworth (ExCom member), Sarah Paisley (treasurer), Jess Murphy (class member, foundation expertise), Mike Ingham (class member, endowment experience with Cornell University). The group is currently writing policy documents for the fund. (4/30/24)
5. Plan to promote and support fleet boat for every fleet, including budget – study existing models
Project scope approved: 11/14/23
Update: Matt Fisher and John Howell have acquired a boat for the the Thistle Boat Grant program and created a “Memo of Understanding” to ensure boat grant recipients understand what’s expected of them and how the class will help. (4/30/24)
6. Generate a list of successful growth strategies to share with fleets
Project scope: (approved 5/14/24)
7. Review our governance, for long term consistency and efficiency, people and process, timing of terms
Project scope approved: 3/5/24
8. Plan to standardize guaranteed childcare across clubs and regattas (decide TCA portion of funding)
Project scope approved: 5/14/24
9. Create an infrastructure to connect boat, skippers, and crew for local, regional, and national events
Project scope approved: 5/14/24
10. Create a mentoring program to help new sailors with all aspects of the boat (rigging, regatta prep, tuning, racing, running events, etc.)
Project scope approved: 3/5/24
11. Create a Strategy Implementation Plan, reporting to the President, to ensure that there are long term follow through on the initiatives.
Project scope approved: 3/5/24
