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VOCAL CO-OP Surveys
Thank you to everyone who sent in responses to surveys from recent VOCAL
CO-OP events. These surveys collected ideas & wishes from leaders of peer-run
programs. Heres what everyone said. . .
Top Priorities for Training Topics
Outreach & attracting members
Teamwork / Team Building
Making the most of your leadership
How to avoid burnout and thrive while working to change the world
Grant writing
Mentorship for new programs & Starting new organizations
Top Priorities for VOCAL CO-OP Activities
CO-OP Trainings in nonprofit management
CO-OP Retreats & Gatherings
Mini-Grants
Events in Program Geographic Areas
Grant Writing for the VOCAL CO-OP
Developing the VOCAL CO-OP
Top Priorities for CO-OP Training Retreat
Train-the-Trainers (every single person wanted this!)
Retreat topics on leadership skills for leaders of peer programs
Retreat structure of one group there together the whole time
Returning to Seven Oaks Retreat Center.
That's the overview. If you'd like to read the complete results, they are
below...
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CO-OP Surveys in Nitty-Gritty Detail
Prepared by Cassandra Nudel, VOCAL CO-OP
Priorities for Training Areas
This survey was compiled from leaders of peer-run programs who attended the
VOCAL CO-OP retreat in 2005 and the VOCAL CO-OP gathering in 2006:
Top picks
1. Outreach & attracting members
2. Getting better teamwork
3. Making the most of your leadership
4. How to avoid burnout and thrive while working to change the world
5. Grant writing
6. Mentorship for new programs & Starting new organizations
Second picks
1. Staff evaluations & Accountability without authoritarianism
2. Strategic planning
3. Creative workshop design & Training Skills
Third picks
1. Conflict Resolution
2. Bookkeeping & accounting
3. Strengthening your board
4. Volunteer recruitment & management
5. Finding Grant Funders
6. Fundraising events & outreach
7. Diversity / Anti-Oppression
8. Becoming a 501c3 nonprofit
Few or no picks
1. Organizational Assessment
2. Community Organizing
3. Working with the Media
4. Financial Management
5. Creating a Board of Directors
Special Requests
1. Accessing sources of funding that are not public
2. Building a good, strong supervisor of consumers in your organization
3. Working with abilities, building on strengths and weaknesses
4. Delegating
5. Alternative organizational structures (teams, collectives, etc)
6. Interactive, creative, and arts-based approaches to strategic planning and
meetings
7. Egalitarianism: How does it work
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Priorities for VOCAL CO-OP Activities
This survey was compiled from leaders of peer-run programs who attended the
VOCAL CO-OP retreat in 2005 and the VOCAL CO-OP gathering 2006:
TOP PRIORITY
- CO-OP trainings Training workshops in nonprofit management for peer
programs. Grant writing, strategic planning, team building, 501(c)3, etc.
(trainings led by VOCAL)
- CO-OP Retreats & Gatherings 1-3 day gatherings for leaders of consumer
programs
learning, community building, mentorship, creativity, and peer-led
workshops.
- Mini-Grants Small grants for peer-run projects
- Getting Together in Your Area Training, meeting, or gathering with
other peer-run
programs, held in your area of the state.
- Grant Writing for the VOCAL CO-OP creating funds to offer programs
more trainings,
publications, advocacy, retreats, mini-grants, scholarships and/or other
projects.
- Developing the VOCAL CO-OP Renaming and re-visioning the VOCAL Support
Center to create a collective of consumer programs that mentor, support, and
learn from one another.
MEDIUM PRIORITY
- On-site Visits Visits and consultations to your program from a CO-OP
staff member.
- Online community Email lists, online newsletters, websites for each
program, and
more online information and resources for leaders of consumer programs
- Nonprofit trainings Scholarships for attending local trainings in
nonprofit
management held at colleges or other venues (trainings not led by VOCAL).
LITTLE OR NO PRIORITY
- Outreach Speaking about the value of peer programs & how to start a
program at conferences & events. Creating outreach materials about peer-run
programs in Virginia
- Advocating advocating to increase funding and support for consumer
programs, and to create policy change, on the mental health planning council
and other venues.
- Supporting VOCAL Supporting VOCAL to grow and strengthen itself as a
statewide consumer organization. Plus, designing, securing funding and
starting new VOCAL programs.
- Training books Owning a collection of books on non-profit management
and peer-run programs.
- Phone and email assistance to answer questions and provide resources on
running a program
- CO-OP workgroups Getting together with representatives from other
consumer
programs in Virginia to work on projects you design.
- CO-OP advisory board Getting together with representatives from other
consumer
programs in Virginia to advise CO-OP activities.
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Priorities for VOCAL CO-OP Training Retreat
An email survey of leaders of peer-run programs interested in the 2006 VOCAL
CO-OP retreat.
Ideal Retreat Topics:
Most people said:
Leadership skills for leaders of peer programs, plus special requests:
People 101: tips on how to network
contributing to system transformation within the values of a recovery
perspective
educating mental health professionals from the benefit of the "consumer"
experience
board development and non-profit management
mediation and conflict resolution
being a better peer counselor
Train-the-Trainers
Everyone said:
Yes, I would be interested in learning skills to lead a workshop for my group
back home
Ideal Structure:
Most people said:
one group there together the whole time
Ideal Retreat Site
Most people said:
Seven Oaks Retreat Center
Your Ideal Retreat Length:
Most people said:
3 ½ days or longer
Ideal Retreat Days:
Most people said:
Weekdays or no preference
Ideal Retreat Facilitator:
Most people said:
No preference
Work/Study Option
Mixed responses
Comments:
Structure Comment: I feel strongly about this one: I think that we developed
a strong connection because we got close to each other and bonded due to the
continuity of folks who were there. A "retreat" is one thing, and a "conference"
where people come for the day is something different. You will of course decide
what is best for the greatest number of people, but it will affect the
atmosphere.
Site Comment: Again, I think it depends on what your goal is. If you want to
do a retreat, 7 Oaks was an amazing place. It was superbly conducive to working
and thinking and concentrating on the task at hand. I don't think it's the right
place to have people who are coming and going. It would not be comfortable for
folks who do not have rooms there (at least, I don't really see it as a place
for commuters). I think more of a conference center would be more appropriate if
you expect there to be different people there every day. But when we were at 7
Oaks last year, those of us who were there really bonded and spent time together
and did lots of talking even beyond the scheduled activities: and that is the
mark of a GREAT program.
Work Study Comment: This actually sounds like just the sort of thing that
VOCAL folks I am familiar with would be great at and would have a good attitude
about. (Unless I have totally read people wrong) I happen to like washing
dishes, I know that's strange, but there is something very reassuring about warm
soapy water. Count me in.
General Comments: I thought last year's Retreat was just about perfect -
length of retreat, George Lakey, setting, food, folks, etc etc Yes, magical....
I would love to go back to Sevenoaks - it was a wonderful spot, and I would be
grateful to see George again, but maybe somebody different for a different
perspective? Either way, it should be a win/win for us. Personally, if George
could give us a bit of a different angle, since we know him already it would be
a continuing growing experience together.
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