Board members attending: Katrina Rogers, Committee Chair, Sam Henderson, Susie Garretson, Rowena Dickerson, Susan Olberding, Miguel Vasquez
Staff attending: Robert Breunig, Director, Sat Sansar Best, Ann Deegan, Elaine Hughes, Tracy Anderson, Stefan Sommer

Chair Katrina opened the meeting by asking Director Breunig to explain why this committee was created. Bob said MNA must create an institutional plan to prioritize the short-term and future direction of MNA and a strategic plan is required for the AAM reaccreditation process and for proposal applications. Also, this committee will review previous plans generated by past MNA Boards and Directors. He specifically mentioned the Lord report produced in Year 2001 and the goals from that report approved by the then MNA Board.

Rowena asked if anything was done after the Lord report was approved. She thinks many of the problems are already identified in this report, but solutions not suggested. Bob said that because MNA was being led by acting Directors, no comprehensive effort to implement any actions was made. He encouraged this committee to study the Lord report again to see what is still applicable as he discerns some compatibility. There has been no recent contact with anyone involved in the Lord report, but Ann may contact them.

The committee’s goal is to have a rough draft of an Institutional Plan by the June, 2006 member’s meeting. The process of developing the plan will evolve from a conceptual philosophy to concrete goals. Open and transparent communication through Board/Staff interaction, members input, constituents and stakeholders, and the public. Contact and information will be encouraged on the MNA web site, committee meeting minutes, a mailing or insert in MNA Notes, and other avenues. Sat proposed to create a list of ten questions to have members and other contributors work from.

Susan would like to see the Master Plan Committee work in conjunction with this committee so as not to overlap. Sam asked that a definition of an institutional plan be developed for the full Board using AAM guidelines and Bob’s comments mentioned earlier in these minutes. At least one Board retreat on this topic will be held, followed by public meetings.

It was asked if June, 2006 is acceptable to the AAM reaccreditation process. Bob said yes, as the AAM questionnaire has been delayed at AAM. We have one year from the date we receive the questionnaire to complete it.

Tentative initial committee plans include: committee meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays at 2 pm in the Colton House, a Board/staff retreat in early December, and a public meeting in January. At the next meeting, the committee will review the key issues and their relation to the MNA mission statement. AAM requires institutional plans coordinate with mission statements and the code of ethics.

Next meeting: Thursday, October 13, 2 pm at the Colton House.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Olberding
Secretary pro-tem

Minutes approved by MNA Board, October 22, 2005