Mercy International Association: Meeting of the Board of Directors in Mercy Centre Burlingame

The Meeting of the Board of Directors, together with Sr. Mary Reynolds (Executive Director) and Sr. Ethel Bignell (Administration MIA), took place in Mercy Centre, Burlingame, California, from March 2nd-5th. The aim of the meeting was to initiate a strategic planning process.

l-r Peter Burnett, Ethel Bignell rsm, Mary Waskowiak rsm, Mary Reynolds rsm,
Pat McDermott rsm, Elizabeth Davis rsm, Coirle McCarthy rsm,
Maura Hyland, Jim Peppiatt-Combes

Strategic Directions

Having reflected on the MIA Purpose and Vision and evaluated its current functions and structure, the Board formulated six strategic directions:

1. Imagine, articulate and implement the new identity and expanded role for the Centre
2. Structure the organization; hire and train staff
3. Plan for financial sustainability
4. Develop a greater degree of specificity and understanding regarding Global Action
5. Create a communications plan attentive to cultural realities in a global context
6. Create a structure that is capable of seeking new horizons

Strategic Plan

Over the coming weeks, Mary Reynolds rsm will be responsible for the development of those six directions into an initial strategic plan and for the provision of an approximate cost analysis of pursuing these directions. In doing this work, Mary will have the benefit of the consultations which the Board conducted last year with key people in MIA activities about their present activity in relation to MIA and their aims related to MIA vision. She will continue to be in conversation with key stakeholders, including MIA Project leaders, to elicit their wisdom. The Board will review and revise this work at the May meeting prior to the meeting with the Members.

Team Structure

While all the strategic directions are important, hiring and training staff are of immediate importance. The team structure being considered is that of four persons to work with Mary in the following four areas:

• Heritage and spirituality
• Global action
• Culture and communications
• Administration and finance

It is envisaged that these functions or areas of expertise will be highly integrative.

Mary will develop position descriptions by May in preparation for a recruitment process which will follow. She hopes to publish summary descriptions of those roles shortly in Mercy e-news.

Mercy International Centre

A further piece of initial planning is the integration of the two buildings: the MIC centre and the Catherine Mc Auley Center. Mary will, in the coming weeks, explore possible scenarios in achieving this.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm Executive Director MIA