Message to all stakeholders from Future Paths Project Steering Group
September 3, 2008
We are pleased to announce that the board, with the support of the trustees, have now formally launched the ‘Future Paths’ Project. For each of us, across all the stakeholders of the Pathways Foundation, this represents a unique opportunity to contribute and help shape the future of Pathways.
Following are some answers to the questions you might be asking. Also, join in and check out our new “Pathways Community Interactive Network” site at http://pathwaystest.ning.com/?xgi=2nF0FA8
What is the Future Paths Project About?
The Future Paths Project
has been established to review and define the Pathways Foundation and its operations going forward. What won’t change is the essence of our work: our deep sense of commitment and community, the outstanding camps, our focus on the boys and the girls. What we will examine is all aspects of how we work. We are particularly excited about actively engaging our Returning Young Men and Women (RYM/RYW) in this process.
The target timeframe for the Project is to be finished by the end of November, 2008, so that we can begin to implement agreed changes from the beginning of 2009.
We plan to answer the following 3 key questions over the next three months.
1.
What is our ‘Credo’?
Together, we will restate and extend our values into a ‘credo’ – a single page that captures our core beliefs, our mission, our commitment to our stakeholders and to each other. This credo will become the most important single expression of our purpose, our values and our culture. It will guide us and inform every other aspect of our work.
We hope to soon launch a three stage process, which will run for the duration of the project as follows. The process is as follows:
Step 1
. We will distribute a small number of key questions to help shape the core of a credo and distribute via 20 nominated Connectors and RYM/ RYW – by the first week of September 2008
.
The
questions may be answered via email, a small group meeting, or any means decided by the Connector. This process will be complete by the end of September 2008.
Step 2
. Draft credo based on feedback will be distributed for feedback via 20 nominated Connectors by the end of October 2008
Step 3
. The Pathways Credo will be refined for final release as part of final Future Paths Project White Paper by the end of November 2008.
2. What should be our Delivery Model?
We will review all aspects of how we deliver our impact, including questions like how we organise, how we raise and allocate funding, how we attract, develop and motivate our leaders, how we avoid burnout.
We plan to unleash your creativity and inspire the Pathways community of leaders, participants and stakeholders to design delivery models for delivering rites of passage programs throughout Australia.
Step 1
Designated ‘Design Teams’ will be provided with a Community Scenario Brief with parameters for planning a delivery model clearly outlined including: target community, available resources, tools etc.
Step 2.
At least five draft Pathways 'delivery models' based on the scenario planning will be developed by Design Teams early September 2008.
Step 3.
The designs will be tested throughout the Pathways community via the 20 Connectors for final feedback to the Steering Group by end October 2008 and will then be included in the final Future Paths Project White Paper by the end of November 2008.
3. What should be our Governance structure?
Our current governance model needs to be looked at and tested against its ability to deliver what we need in the future. We will review all aspects of our governance, in search of a model that aligns us and helps us to collaborate to make informed, timely decisions. We will:
Step 1.
Develop a set of principles for assessing governance. These principles will be informed by the feedback we will have already received regarding a new credo, and also draw on external expertise.
Step 2
. We will assess the current governance model and one or two other governance options using the set of principles to help us contrast and compare them. We aim to complete this work by the October 14 Steering Group meeting.
Step 3.
We will offer the set of principles and options to the 20 Connectors, so they can engage the Foundation in a consultation process. We would like to have feedback available then for the 12th November Steering Group meeting. A final proposed new governance structure will be included in the Future Paths White Paper.
Can I get involved? How?
Yes! This is a process of co-creation. Your input is the critical element in the process. There are several ways you can get involved:
•
If you are a RYM/RYW
, we have several exciting ways for you to get involved, so contact any of us Steering Group members.
•
Nominate
as one of 20 ‘Connectors’, to consult and hold discussions with others in the Pathways community and in your region.
•
Participate
in a ‘Design Team’ to help craft new delivery models for Pathways rites of passage programs
•
Send your comments via the Pathways Community Interactive Network
http://pathwaystest.ning.com/?xgi=2nF0FA8
•
Contact the Steering Group Members directly.
The members are:
What happens next?
Our first challenge is to collectively shape our ‘Credo’. In the coming days you’ll hear about discussion groups near you. We’ll send reminder emails, but please also visit the Pathways Community Interactive Website regularly.
Best wishes again to all of you and heartfelt thanks for each of your commitment to our great and important work!
Download Open letter from Chairman dated 03/11/08