Highlights from the Community Meeting

Two hours wasn’t enough to report everything we learned from the past year and-a-half of our strategic planning process. At last week’s community meeting, Boston Workmen’s Circle (BWC) members learned some of the key highlights and findings.

For example:

• Survey respondents chose four top terms to describe what’s important to them about Boston Workmen’s Circle: progressive/social justice, Jewish identity, secular, and community.
• While only 11% said that social action is their primary connection to the community, an additional two-thirds consider it to be an important part of their connection, and another 18% appreciate what it adds.
• Participants are highly satisfied with BWC programming. For example, 85% are highly satisfied with Yiddish programming and 91% are highly satisfied with the High Holiday observances.
• Significant numbers of survey respondents said that they are interested in exploring certain programs and opportunities in the organization. 143 people are interested in adult education, and  110 people would like to attend a shabes dinner.
• 42% said BWC meets their need for spiritual engagement; 12% want less spirituality, and 19% want more. Within the 20-29 age bracket, 30% want more spirituality.
• 78% said that they are satisfied or very satisfied with BWC communications, but our most active members said that they would like more member-to-member communication.

At a series of four retreats between January and June of 2011, the Boston Workmen’s Circle Board reviewed, analyzed, and discussed the data findings. Four overarching goals were adopted to guide the work of the staff, the Board and committees for the next three years:

1.    Grow Boston Workmen’s Circle Membership
2.    Deepen and Strengthen Our Community as a Home For Secular, Jewish, and Progressive Culture
3.    Be a  Powerful Voice on Social Justice Issues That Express Who We Are as a Community
4.     Ensure the Sustainability of Boston Workmen’s Circle Into the Future

The full Strategic Plan outlines strategies for advancing those overarching goals and Year One Goals that will further focus our work.

How About a Cup of Coffee?

In response to some of the challenges identified through the strategic planning process, BWC is implementing initiatives to make our community more welcoming and to ensure that our members understand how to get involved and know how policies get made. As part of that effort the Board is launching a campaign to meet more of YOU. Would you like to get to know a BWC Board member and learn more about why he/she is involved? Would you like to sit down with someone who can answer any questions you might have about how to plug in? Contact Leah in the BWC office at leah@circleboston.org.

For a copy of the detailed (15-page) year one implementation plan or for more information on the process or the findings, please contact Executive Director, Lisa Gallatin at lisa@circleboston.org.