Post on 20-Jan-2016
Diocese of Syracuse
• 650,000 Total Population• 350,000 Catholics• 168 parishes• 264 offices ( including
schools)• Employs 3,000 people• Catholic Charities
employs 1200 of these
Our Catholic Charities System
• Administrative Office that is the core of a decentralized system
• Is the critical link between Catholic Charities and Office of the Bishop
• Governed by Corporate Trustees
• Each of the six Areas has their own Board of Directors for local governance
Strengths and Limitations of Decentralized System
Strengths• Immediate response to
local needs• Relationships with local
funders and providers• Local volunteer
governance• Presence and reputation in
local communities• Leadership• Limited bureaucracy
Limitations• Duplication of efforts• Communication• Funding• Lack of a shared vision • Planning, i. e., succession,
strategic • Disconnection
Intended Action Project Outcomes
1. Re-affirm or revamp organizational mission (last reviewed in 1995).
2. Create the vision for a deliberate values rich ‘mission to service,’ organizational culture.
3. Increase organizational alignment by determining super ordinate goals (1-3) that will become the overarching guide for future projects and decision-making both at local and diocesan-wide levels.
4. Implement the portfolio process as a tool for unified organizational planning and decision-making.
Murphy’s Law… (or Expected the Unexpected)
• National Disaster: The Flood of June 2006
• Resignation of Diocesan Director
• Retirement of Bishop in 2007
Our Actual Action Project:Dreaming the Possible Dreaming the Possible
DreamDream
•Staff Convening
•Board Convening
•Designing Future Plans (next steps)
Appreciative Inquiry
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v
Valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems
To increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value.
In-quire’
The act of exploration and discovery.
To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities.
Comparing Approaches
Problem-Solving (medical diagnosis approach)
• Identify the Problem• (“symptoms”)
• Determine the Cause• (diagnosis)
• Propose a Solution• (prescription)
• Implement It• (treatment)
Appreciative Inquiry(life-centered approach)
• Identify What Gives Life• (Discover the best of ‘what
is’)
• Imagine Ways to Enhance Life
• (Dream ‘what could be’)
• Co-Create the Idea• (Design ‘what should be’)
• Empower Innovation• (Do – create ‘what will be)
The Four Ds
• Discovery
• Dream
• Design
• Destiny (or Delivery)
Experience of Wholeness
• Greater purpose
• Sense of connectedness
• Us/Them becomes We
• What is common becomes apparent
• Inspires highly committed actions on behalf of the whole
Diocesan Collaboration Group
• Staff driven group• Explore ways to:
– Work together– Increase Effectiveness– Build on Strength– Share best practices and exceptional
operations– Support one another
“No Agency Is An Island ~ Thinking In Bridges”
June 19, 2006
Structure of the Day
• Set up Island sculptures as an archipelago metaphor
• Present results of four work groups
• Listening Circles:– What does it look like when we are at our best– How do we get there?
Four Work Groups
INFRASTRUCTURE
BEST PRACTICES
DATA COLLECTION TECHNOLOGY
Listening Circles ~ a type of generative dialogue ~
– Share genuinely and listen respectfully– Fully attend and listen to one person at a time– Speak from the heart– Expect that ideas build upon each other even if
you don't see a logical link.– Ask questions from a genuine place of "not
knowing" – Recognize that each of us is an authority about
our own thoughts, feelings and experiences
When We Are at Our Best
• Financial Stability in all programs• Staff longevity• Livable Wage• Natural areas of sharing, working
together internally/externally• Pooling talents and strengths to get
more $$• More, more, more $$• Making CC visible through PR all
year• Strength of Onondaga• Sound Christian-based values• Staff Development – branch out and
work together. Getting to know our services throughout the diocese
• Continual growth; staying on top of mission
• See ourselves as ONE diocese• Keep up connectedness: Family• Greater understanding of other
programs• Support from E.D.s to share
information• Program collaboration with
technology• Staff sharing across counties and
offer services across counties• Have staff from similar services
meet: prioritize• Share fundraising ideas and share/do• Share forums/PDF files
…at Our Best, con’t.
• Directory of all programs/same format
• Have grant writers share information
• Diocesan-wide training, e. g. computers
• Newsletter on website• Same mission• Direct services workers should
share ideas/have input• Passion/dedication• Caring support for staff• Cultural sensitivity training,
especially on Poverty
• Similar mission• Seamless services for clients• Diverse workforce at all levels• Single PR campaign; recognizable• Steady stream of donors and
limitless resources• Educate and network bother inter-
and intra-agency• Flexibility of all staff• Individuality of area agencies• Focus on mission• Opportunities to be creative•
Board ConveningSeptember 29, 2006
Celebrating What is Right
“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable
whatever is just, whatever is pure
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious
if there is any excellence and
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” ~ Phillippians 4: 8-9
• Acknowledge all that you have to work with.
• Broaden your definition of winning.
• Look for ways to work cooperatively with others.
RECOGNIZE ABUNDANCE.
• Focus on opportunity,
rather than scarcity.
• Find what’s working.
• Keep looking for the
next possible answer.
LOOK FOR POSSIBILITIES.
Appreciative Inquiry: What do we Dream for Catholic Charities?
Facilitated by Rick Krivanka, Director of Pastoral Life, Diocese
of Cleveland
Structure of the Day
Discovery: – 1:1 Interviews, 50 minutes each way– Share interview highlights in small groups– From highlights, identify the Positive Core of
Catholic Charities– Report to large group– Prioritize
Prioritizing
The Positive Core of Catholic Charities
• Importance of telling our story
• Value and dignity of each person
• Responsive to needs• Serving all people
• Catholic roots and identity
• Commitment of staff and Commitment to staff
• Innovation and collaboration
• Common bonds that connect us
Dream
• Reflection and guided imagery
• Share Dreams in Table groups
• Creatively present Dreams
Dream Phase
We build the future by carrying We build the future by carrying forward forward
our visionour vision
and building upon and building upon
the best of our past.the best of our past.
Possibilities for Dialogue and Design: • Use technology to connect us in positive ways,
save money and improve services• Explore alternative private sector funding streams• Empowerment of people: staff and those we serve• Deepen community connectedness with other
agencies• Become stronger advocate for the poor ~
Transform social priorities• Develop ways to nourish the positive core in our
Catholic Charities culture
Where do we go from here?
The Design Phase
Immediate Considerations
• New Bishop
• New Diocesan Director
• Two new Executive Directors
Action Project Follow-Up Steps
• Bring together the work from the June Convening and the September Board Retreat
• Engage Facilitator to assist board and staff in developing a Design based on the Dreams
Considerations in Co-Creating the Design
• How to sustain the best of what is
• New and better ways to do what is already being done
• Areas where new forms of innovation and cooperation could be initiated
• Be Open to New opportunities