Simple Planning for Real Results

Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 Membership Convention

Problem with Planning? Where to Start!

• Goal of this session is to present a simple way to plan for almost anything.

• The first step is the hardest, but the ARA’s field department is there to support you!

K.I.S.S

• Keep• It• Simple• Seniors

A Simple System for Planning Anything

• Who?• What?• When? • Where?• Why?• How?

A Different Order for Better Planning and Critical Thinking

• What are we doing?• Why are we doing it?• How are we doing it?• Who is doing it?• Where is it occurring?• When is it occurring?

What?

• Defines what we are doing or being asked to do.

• Also can be used to better develop a plan, response, or solution.

Why?

• Defines reason for doing anything.• For the Alliance for Retired Americans the

Why is very important as many groups make many asks of us.

How?

• How are we doing it? • How does it effect the Alliance?• How does it benefit the Alliance?

Who?

• Who is doing the activity?• Who is involved?• Who will be responsible?• Who needs to attend?

Where?

• Where is this occurring?

When?

• When is it? • Simple question but very important for

planning purposes.

Questions Answered, Now What?

• First, call your National Alliance for Retired Americans Field Department at (888) 373-6497. We want to help!

• We will work together with you to draft a plan that is realistic and successful.

• We want to hear from you to make it work for you!

We called the ARA, what next?

• Start with the answer to When!• Time is the only finite thing we have. We

can’t gain it back so effective use is critical.

Time is our frenemy!

• Take the date and time the event/issue/problem/solution is going to occur and plan backwards.• How many days to get attendees or important

partners committed?• How long to secure a venue? • What is the time needed to promote it? • What are the deadlines to make it happen?

Set Goals to Measure Progress

• Using the timeline set goals to measure progress on tasks needed to achieve success.

• Make these goals achievable and break them up by time frame to monitor progress.

Assign Tasks

• Once you have a timeline laid out and goals created assign people to the tasks you need to have accomplished and hold them accountable!

• Make sure folks are able to reach their goals and be successful.

Build a Calendar

• Now that you have a timeline, goals, and people assigned to achieve these goals lay them out on a calendar and stick to it.

• Monitor and update the calendar as you go along.

• Things change and your calendar should change with it.

Re-Evaluate as You Move Closer to the End

• The situation can change dramatically and no plan survives contact with the real world. They always change and have to.

• Make time to re-evaluate and make changes. If you don’t make time to do this it will never happen.

Example: ARA State Chapter Hosting a Minimum Wage Bus Tour Stop

• What? Minimum Wage Bus Tour Stop with Press Conference

• Why? Exposure for an issue we care about.• How? A bus tour stop with Press coverage.• Who? We are putting it on with coalition partners.• Where? In front of our local anti-raise the minimum

wage member of Congress’ office.• When? Two weeks from now.

Initial Timeline Aspects

• When is it happening? • Who do we need and when should they be confirmed? • What is required for the protest to be legal and when

do we need it?• What will they be saying and when do we need talking

points finalized?• Who is handling the press and when do we need to

have it finalized?

Timeline Questions Answered

• Thursday two weeks from now. • 1 MC, 3 Speakers, 50 People. 3 Days before hand.• A permit is necessary at least a week before.• Raising the Minimum Wage is the message and

talking points need to be received the day before.• The bus tour is handling press coverage and will

have the invite list finalized the day before.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Alerted to event

Planning Meeting

Re-Evaluate.Permit Finalized

Half of Attendees Confirmed

Attendees Confirmed

Confirm, Confirm, Confirm. Press Talking Pts

Event Date

Timeline/Calendar Populated

Things You Can Add

• How and when you reach out to people.• Assignments to people with deadlines for

tasks.• Partner organizations tasks and deadlines

to complete.

Break Out Sessions

• 5 groups with 5 different scenarios• Press Conference• Rally• Protest• Lobby Day• Endorsement Event

Break Out Sessions

• Count off to form groups.• Each group should pick a person to present

their plan at the end.

Thanks for Attending!

• Eric Heggie• Alliance for Retired Americans Field

Mobilization Director• eheggie@retiredamericans.org• 202-637-5351