The Alliance’s membership – state and local bicycling and walking advocacy organizations – may sound like a small sector. But actually, our member organizations represent a wide variety of organization types.
We work to serve and strengthen groups of many types and sizes. Some of our member organizations are made up of volunteers who dedicate their free time to serving their communities as transportation advocates. Others are organizations with over 30 staff members working full-time to win campaigns for biking and walking infrastructure.
Fortunately, the Leadership Retreat is a dynamic learning opportunity with lots to offer for many different types of organizations – not a one-size-fits-all conference.
Join us at the Alliance Leadership Retreat, September 5 – 8, just an hour outside Pittsburgh.
Here’s how the Leadership Retreat helps state and local biking and walking organizations of all sizes:
All volunteer organizations
As a volunteer organization, the cost of registration is likely a hefty price to pay (even though the cost covers all food and lodging) – so you’ve got to be able to justify the cost of attending.
This September’s Leadership Retreat is your only chance until 2016 to immerse yourself with a community of other all-volunteer biking and walking organizations – and organization that used to be all-volunteer – that have faced similar issues and questions. At the Retreat, you’ll learn how other all-volunteer organizations have formalized decision-making and responsibility. You’ll learn how to do more with what you have, and tricks that other organizations use to be more efficient and organized.
You’ll also learn how newly staffed groups secured funding to hire their first executive directors – catapulting themselves into the start up phase.
Start up organizations
If you’re an organization with only a full-time executive director or just one other staff member, the Leadership Retreat is your chance to gain insight on how to best manage your time and prioritize work for the most impact.
Start up organizations can be savvy, sophisticated, and respected as competent organizations making a difference in their community. They can seem so well organized that people are surprised when they find out that the organization is only one person.
At the Leadership Retreat, you’ll discover the tools and tactics that other organizations are using, and what time and money investments are truly worth the most bang for your buck. Plus, learn tips for continuing to grow your budget and capacity.
Established, medium-sized organizations
As an organization with several staff, you’ve reached a key moment of potential. You’re probably concerned about sustainability, growth, and longevity, but also how to be more effective in designing your campaigns.
At the Leadership Retreat, you’ll learn to nurture an effective organization and build your capacity based on best practices from your peers around the country. In-depth discussions on specific issues and successful campaigns will help you build the capacity to continue winning – and to continue growing.
High capacity, large organizations
If you’re from a high capacity organization with many staff, you may wonder if you will leave the Leadership Retreat with any new knowledge. You are a pioneer advocate moving into a new, uncharted frontier of highly sophisticated bicycling and walking advocacy.
The Leadership Retreat is your opportunity to step back from the day-to-day grind, learn about what peers in other large organizations are working on, and take time to set priorities for the next two years. Your staff will benefit, too, from perspectives and experiences from other communities. And as a pioneer in the field, this is your chance to steer the national bicycling and walking movement – both on a national level and by sharing your lessons learned with peers from younger organizations.
