An effective Steering Committee will be the driving force behind a wellrorganized cooperative development effort. It will also be an important organization for carrying the effort beyond the planning phase. There are a few basic yet often overlooked methods for turning a group of volunteers into an effective, enduring organization.

Select an effective chairperson

The ideal chairperson is a good meeting facilitator, skilled at delegating tasks and monitoring progress. The chairperson should be a respected member of the community, able to serve as a spokesperson for the planning effort, and skilled at building coalitions and collaborative efforts.

Build committee skills

Community projects can falter when a key individual leaves. Share tasks and cultivate skills to ensure that no one person is indispensable.

Establish set meeting times

Frequent meetings at regularly scheduled times give the committee continuity and stability. Keeping your meetings at the same time and place will encourage consistent attendance.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Sending out agendas, meeting notes, and background materials keeps members informed and prepared for upcoming meetings. These mailings also lend professionalism to your efforts.

Make every meeting count

At each meeting, have an agenda and stick to it. See that the group makes decisions to move forward and that members leave with assignments to be completed within specific time frames.

Keep meetings concise and to the point

The people you will want on the steering committee are often the busiest people in town. Use their time wisely. Start and end meetings promptly. Keep meetings less than one hour unless participants agree to a longer meeting. Be aware of discussions that may be more appropriate for a longer time.

Reinforce and celebrate the spirit of collaboration

If multiple groups are involved in a collaborative cooperative development effort, then it s essential that all groups receive credit for their participation in the coalition. Publicize the diversity of people involved and make sure that single individuals or groups do not get credit for what is a collaborative endeavor.

NOTE: Adapted from Community Energy Workbook: A Guide to Building a Sustainable Economy, by Alice Hubbard and Clay Fong. Rocky Mountain Institute: Snowmass, CO. 1995. Pp. 22-23