In this issue:
GVIAS MEETING REPORT
RECOMPRESSION PLANNERS MEETING DATES
GVIAS AGM DATE & LOCATION
GET CONNECTED

[read more here]

Presented to GVIAS Meeting on Friday January 23rd, 2010, by Ruby.

January 22, 2010

Finance Lead Report to Membership

This year, we have created a General Ledger of all the financial transactions starting at square one, in March 2008. For financial transparency, I wanted to use software that most of us understood along with a database anyone could maintain. The GL was created using EXCEL software. (*hold up sheets for audience to see). This is so that the Board could figure out what level of detail we need to keep and to keep the financial information in a single spot until we could figure what kind of software would work for our organization and our planned growth.

[read more here]

Presented to GVIAS Meeting on Friday January 23rd, 2010, by Baha.

GVIAS BOARD WORKSHOP – November 23, 2009

Goal Setting Discussion:

• Short Term Goals – Accomplish in 3 months
• Mid Term Goals – Accomplish in 1 year
• Long Term Goals – Accomplish in 5 years or more

Short Term:

• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures by the AGM for functioning committees
• Make Website more inviting and user-friendly
• Start GST Registration Process – Board members to provide S.I.N. etc. to start
• Support more ‘sponsored’ social nights (like Steam Night, Open Mike Night)
• Get quotes for General Liability Insurance
• Monthly ‘poke’ at membership with info on minutes, committee announces, etc.
• Launch community societies networking night or beer night

Mid Term:

• Continue annual events Recompression, Burn In The Forest and the Newbie Picnic
• Launch family friendly events
• Weekend event – Grab Bag Style Workshops
• Start networking and outreach to Canadian Burning Man communities, rather than concentrating only on BC
• Increase GVIAS Grant Fund to $8,000
• Create roster of local (Greater Vancouver area) services offered by Burners
• Significantly increase membership participation
• Co-sponsor events with like organizations
• Burners Without Borders Community Outreach / Fund Raiser
• Initiate Café Press format of discussions for our community

Long Term:

• Link BM organizations throughout Canada e.g. “CanBurn”
• Help identify land use for public performances e.g. Blow Down Legacy Performance Centre at Stanley Park
• Gain GVIAS controlled space
• Increase GVIAS Grant Fund to $50,000

Presented to GVIAS Meeting on Friday January 23rd, 2010, by Jenn.

Date: November 22, 2009
Location: Tides Renewal Building
In Attendance: Baha, Chris, Frank, Jen, Michael & Ruby
Notes prepared by: Jen

Background:

• Most of the Board’s energy this year has been invested in setting up the administration of what is still a very young organization: accounting practices, budget, insurance, risk management, communications and procedures.

• However it is also clear that GVIAS needs to have a clear strategic plan if we are to achieve any of the lofty goals that we envision for ourselves.  So – we held our first strategic retreat this year so that we could talk about some of the larger issues facing the organization and start down the road of establishing strategic objectives.

• We met for 8 hours on one day which proved to be incredibly productive (even tho’ Disaster Area decided to a Global Warming Party the night before our retreat.).  We all agreed that future Boards should aim to take a 2-day retreat to allow for some downtime, reflection and informal discussion throughout the retreat.

SWOT Analysis Summary

• The objective of a SWOT analysis was to brainstorm the perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of our organization in light of our current goals.
• Strengths and weaknesses are factors internal to the organization while opportunities and threats are factors that are external to the organization.
• Each Board Member came up with 3-5 strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and posted them on the corresponding board.  We then took a look at what the group came up with and discussed the larger themes that arose from the session.
• This analysis then helped to inform our goal setting discussion that followed and identify where resources are most needed.

Take a moment now to ponder what you consider the key strength, weakness, opportunity and threat to GVIAS.

GVIAS SWOT Primary Themes

• Several themes emerged from this process which we would like to share with you.
• As I run through the themes that emerged, consider how you might be able to assist us in capitalizing on our strengths

[read more here]