1. Effective WCS Committee Management Brent Olson

2. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Learning Objectives – Understand that Rotary Clubs do best by organizing specifically to promote, select and sustain international projects. – Take home a model of a WCS Committee that might be adapted to your club – Appreciate the key tasks that an int’l projects or WCS committee should address in order to sustain international project initiatives and to overcome the challenges of int’l projects.

3. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Rotary Clubs vary significantly in how they organize to pursue international activities and international projects. Larger Clubs often have WCS or international projects committees. Smaller Clubs may have only an international service committee Smaller Clubs with little international activity may have no international committees

4. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Club Bylaws or the Board should establish a clear mission for the WCS committee. – Designated chair who is accountable to the board or a board member. – Expect periodic meetings – Expect recommendations on proposed projects to be reported to the board – Expect the committee to promote international activities and to educate the club on projects.

5. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Recruit Rotarians to the Committee and engage them positively. – Involve each Rotarian in a Project or a Committee function - a “do-er” committee – Keep them informed of all int’l activities – Recognize their efforts before the club’s membership – Educate them in the basics of Rotary and Rotary international service practices

6. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Key basic tasks of Your WCS Committee: – Promote International Service Projects. – Prioritize International Projects – Determine Appropriate Funding for Projects – Ensure only well prepared project proposals are presented to the Board - Monitor progress & support ongoing projects - Ensure evaluation of completed projects..

7. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Promote International Service and Projects within the Club; Educate the Membership. – Work with Program Committee to bring int’l programs to the Membership; highlight club projects or proposed projects – Inform Members through Newsletters or Bulletins or Meeting announcements of int’l projects. – Publicize the projects in your newspaper

8. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Prioritize projects and determine appropriate funding of projects. – Board should expect committee to recommend – Prioritization can be controversial, but the int’l committee might be best able to determine priorities among int’l projects. – If club budget is established for intl projects, committee should develop int’l projects budget

9. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Ensure that only well prepared project proposals are presented to the board and membership. – Clear project proposals – all bases covered. – Clear and accountable project management – Established criteria for evaluating project success.

10. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Monitor Progress and Ensure support of ongoing international projects. – Periodically review status of project(s) – Identify problem areas and resolve problems. – Ensure project management is in place and remains appropriate.

11. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Ensure evaluation of completed projects.. – Insist that the project manager or grant recipient prepare a project evaluation. – Were the project goals achieved”? If not, why not? – Lessons learned for future projects – Inform the club about the project and your accomplishments

12. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management Project Guidelines – Some Clubs have developed formal or informal project guidelines so to guide selection of all of their int’l projects and allocation of scarce funds. – Specific guidelines for permissible Rotary Foundation Grants – Common Issues Proactive or Reactive Emphasis on Grant or Project Management Involvement of Rotarians Foreign or NGO partnerships

13. 1/12/06 GBOlson Effective WCS Committee Management EXERCISE: Identify Best Practices for the Management of a WCS or International Committee. Consult with your table mates, exchange ideas, and list the most pertinent “best practices” that you can implement in your Club