Catalyst Group - Branson, MO Model
Catalyst- One that causes an event or process
Overall Purpose - We seek to honor God by striving to improve our community through positive change based on Christian values and ethics. We serve, influence, and lead by providing vision and resources in synergy with others as we value our past and guide our future.
The Premise to a Catalyst Group - If a group of 12 to 15 equal people with a common interest will meet for 36 hours per year around a purpose in a structured program, they will achieve three significant cooperative successes in the first two years.
Catalyst Group - Groups of people with like interests who meet to learn together and from each other, share ideas, assist each other in the improvement of their leadership skills, and cooperate in the implementation of programs and ideas that exemplify God’s love, serve others and support the chosen mission
The Elements
Periodic meetings and communication including
A centered purpose around a vision, goal, or mission
A coach or mentor
Commonality
Meeting rules or an agreed upon process
Confidentiality
Balanced participation
Formation of the group-
Commonality
Passion for the purpose
Many different possible interests
A collection of talent based on diverse perspectives
C ommitment-
Long term
An outpouring of ones self
Participants
Entrepreneurs
Community leadership
Young emerging impact individuals
Volunteers
Values role models
Combination
Member criteria could include
Positive thinkers
Doers
A willingness to serve others and the community
Regular attenders
Values oriented thinkers
A vested community interest
Interested in the future
Seeking personal growth
Willing to teach
Understanding of the leadership culture
Willing to be vessels of Gods will
Must add diversity to the group
Strong character
Credible
No self serving initiative
Participation Rewards-Individual
Understanding the cumulative knowledge and experience of the group
Growth and continued effectiveness of participant
Build future leaders
Train future mentors
Education of participant
New voices of leadership
Mentoring
Coaching
Positive community change
Growing circles of influence
Propagation of the organization
Cooperation
Friendships
Participation Rewards-Organization
1. Growth and continued effectiveness of the organization
2. Lead others who need lead
3. Propagation of the organization
4. Further the purpose
5. Education
6. Coaching
7. Positive Community Change
Improve community quality of life
Community service prevalence
Economic growth
Expanding community programs
Vision and build the future
Cooperation
God’s way of sorting to the right fit participants
1. Project failures
2. Unbalanced participation
3. Lack of trust or confidentiality
4. Impatience
5. Disengagement
6. Wrong fit
7. Personal Agenda
8. Schedule conflict
Success Meeting Elements
1. The group must develop a purpose statement that supports the Overall Purpose Statement
2. Coaches or mentors must be organizers, repositories of information, and guardians of the purpose.
3. Group size must be manageable.
4. Members must share a common passion for the purpose.
5. The meeting must include prayer for guidance, wisdom, and any other pertinent requests and thanksgiving
6. A short leadership lesson based on Christian values should be included in the agenda
7. Confidentiality must be adhered to when appropriate
8. Participation must be balanced and respectful
9. New ideas are more valued than critique. Consistent method of prioritization.
10. Regular attendance
Meeting structure
1, How often? Always have the meeting even if the schedule must change
2. Who is responsible for each meetings duties?
Leadership,
Standard minutes,
Prayer for guidance, wisdom, other pertinent requests and thanksgiving.
A short leadership lesson based in scripture.
Flexible Agenda
Confidentiality when appropriate.
Balanced and respectful participation.
New ideas are valued, not critiqued.
A consistent method of prioritization
Prayer of thanksgiving
Meeting Decision
1. Frequency
2. Timing
3. Expenses
4. Place
5. Attendance
6. Shared responsibility
COMMITTEE SUMMARY FORMAT
CATALYST GROUP:
DATE: XXX XX
PLACE: XXXXX
TIME: XXXX
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Mentor Liaison(s):
Others Present:
Minutes Copied To:
Meeting Objectives:
Minutes of the Meeting
Agenda Items for Next Meeting/Person Responsible
Member Assignments for Next Meeting
1. Meeting Leader: XXXXX
2. Prayer Leader: XXXXX
3. Leadership Lesson: XXXXX
4. Minute Taker: XXXXX
5. Dessert: XXXX
6. Clean-up: XXXX
7. Alternate: XXXXX
Next Meeting Date and Time XXX XX, XXXX XX:XX
Next Meeting Place
Suggestions For Catalyst Umbrella Group
Determine the purpose of the Organization
Purpose questions
1. Why do we exist?
2. What do we do?
3. What are our basic values?
Word duplication
Wordsmith the input
Project Identification
What three things would you like to see changed in your community that you could impact?
1. Support the mission statement
2. Categorize
3. Combine
4. Prioritize
Dot Method
5. Questions that you have that you need to know in order to make a decision
6. Who can answer your questions.
7. Fact finding
8. What could be our first successes?
9. Clemenson test
Clemenson Test for Proposed Projects
1. Do you have personal or corporate experience/Interest?
2. Can project needs be tangibly met?
3. Where the greatest common good is met?
4. Do you have knowledge of someone impacted ?
5. Where Can You Play the Biggest Role?
6. What is the greatest benefit that will come from this project
Implementation
1. Strategic
2. Identify resources
Divide and conquer
3. People
4. Documentation
Replication
Improvement
Historical learning
Feedback
Some thoughts about community leadership.
1. Leaders model Christ’s example of leadership
2. Leadership is teaching, and often times involves asking for faith from those around you
3. A leader isn’t always necessarily out in front. They may play an encouragement role.
4. Leaders must serve in order to lead.
5. Leaders have similar traits not the least of which is listening.
6. Leaders command respect.
_______________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CATALYST GROUPS LOCALLY? (Branson, MO)
Chronology of Key Events
• Core group of individuals met initially in Spring of 2004
Three individuals grew to six by April of 2004
Six individuals grew to twelve by June of 2004
• Core group of individuals agreed on a Vision/Mission/Values statement in October of 2004.
• Core group of individuals called themselves a Catalyst Group in October of 2004
• Core Catalyst Group selected its first project in October of 2004 (description and update on lovingcommunities.com website below)
• Core Catalyst Group selected its second project in October of 2005 (description and update on expanding to 60 individuals in 5 Catalyst Groups below)
• Core Catalyst Group selected its third project in October of 2006 (description and update on Branson Prayer Summit below)
Description and Update on Selected Projects
Project #1… lovingcommunities.com website
Description~ The Core Catalyst Group partnered with Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) to develop a website that would allow local social service organizations, ministries and churches to create and have access to a local resource data base. The goal of the website was to share resource information between participating organizations. Each organization would be responsible for keeping their information accurate. As of June 20, 2007, 75 organizations are participating in this project.
Update~ Members of the Core Catalyst Group and Love INC met with officials of Skaggs Community Hospital. The purpose of the meeting was to determine Skaggs interest on hosting the site, currently hosted at C of O, becoming the site administrator, and/or incorporating the site into a Skaggs website.
Love INC has also been approached by the State of Missouri Dept of Labor regarding incorporating the lovingcommunities.com website into their sharenetworkmo.org website. Even though their current website is to assist non- profit and faith based organizations in helping their clients find jobs, they are willing to make changes. Funding comes from the Federal Dept of Labor.
If Skaggs is a no-go, we will pursue the sharenetworkmo.org option.
Project #2…expanding to 5 Catalyst Groups.
Description~ The original Core Catalyst Group developed needs assessment survey to help determine unmet community needs.
A survey was distributed and tabulated in January of 2005. Members of the community were invited to attend a meeting at the Keeter Character Center on February 27, 2005 to learn the results of the survey. Of the 80 individuals attending, 48 signed on to participate in one of four new Catalyst Groups. The Catalyst Groups are Education, Health, Employment, and Healthy Families. Each group began meeting three hours monthly in April of 2005.
Update~ The Education and Healthy Families Catalyst Groups joined forces to create an event called “Celebrate Families”. The event targeted local residents who currently live in poverty. The event featured 10 life-skills classes, child care for the kids of the attendees, lunch and dinner for attendees/kids, free admission to Celebration City for attendees/kids, and access to on-going life-skills classes during the year. The event attracted 150 participants (half adults, and half their kids), 120 volunteers from 20 local churches (12 different denominations), and a dozen donors and sponsors of gifts for attendees.
The Employment Catalyst Group went through a leadership change (individual relocated out of the area) in 2006. they have regrouped and settled on a project to work with the Branson Chamber to develop a “hospitality” training program for the area’s front line employees in support of the Branding Study.
The Health Catalyst Group is currently working with officials at Skaggs regarding the lovingcommunities.com project (see Project #1 Current Status)
Project #3….Branson Prayer Summit
Description~See attached, What is a Prayer Summit?
Update~ Individual leaders from the community’s seven sectors received a personal invitation to attend a six hour prayer summit. 28 individuals representing five of community’s seven sectors attended the Prayer Summit on May 3, 2007. The day was spent praying for the residents and workers of Stone and Taney Counties. The next annual Prayer Summit will be held on the National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday of May, in 2008.
