Jay:
My only comment on the draft BFW vision statement is regarding the mention of
regional offices. As an active collaborator with the Thunderhead Alliance, I
don't have to tell you that running a non-profit office is costly. The idea of
regional offices comes around every few years at BFW and alternatively sounds
like a good idea or not depending on the circumstances. To my understanding,
there are very few organizations in Thunderhead that have multiple offices, and
the ones that have multiple offices or "chapters" have faced some serious
challenges regarding those satellites.
I don't have a strong feeling pro or con as to whether satellite offices are a
good idea, but I do feel that adding more offices is a serious committment that
would need extensive study and should not be undertaken lightly. For instance,
in a case like Sheboygan County, where there is multi-year contract money and a
long term environment promoting bicycling, it may make sense.
But I hope that BFW will really address whether or not it is doing what it
needs to do with statewide advocacy and not just seek to expand for the sake of
expansion. Starting a new office could be a distraction from dealing with the
issues at hand. And new offices are financial risks and potential energy sucks.
They can increase the overhead costs of the organization dramatically. Those
increases need good justification.
I hope that the board will consider these issues carefully before proceeding
and determine whether new offices truly address the strategic goals of the
organization or not.
-Dar
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