The purpose of a strategic plan is to enable a chapter to establish a reasonable framework for making short term tactical decisions in an uncertain environment.  The planning process can bring a sense of identity and priority back to the chapter’s activities and help leaders achieve consensus.

One of the challenges that NAWIC faces in this tough economy is providing our members with the tools their employers need to succeed and focusing the chapter activities towards those goals.  The temptation to do everything can often lead an organization to try to be all things to all people.  The result of this approach is not doing anything particularly well.  If everything is important – nothing is important.  Planning strategically is the counter to the all-things syndrome.  It is about identifying a limited number of key strategic activities that must be undertaken to move the Association and its membership successfully into the future. We hope that you, as a member of our industry, can provide insight on that focus.