2007 ev - Anno IVxv

U.S. GRAND LODGE STRATEGIC PLAN

Anno IVxv

The U.S. Grand Lodge Strategic Plan was developed over a nine-month period between July 2006 and March 2007 e.v. by the Strategic Planning Committee, which includes representatives from each of the Grand Lodge Governing Bodies. The final draft was reviewed by the Governing Bodies and other USGL officers, and adopted by the Executive Council on April 15, 2007 e.v.

The plan consists of five main initiatives, derived from the USGL Vision Statement. The strategic plan guides us toward achieving our vision, in support of our mission, and in conformity with our values.

Each initiative has objectives, which are supported by one or more goals. Objectives may be ongoing, but goals represent particular milestones in the accomplishment of the objective. Each goal (what) has a strategy (how), responsibility (who), and estimated timeframe (when). The timeframe may extend beyond this year; the plan will be reviewed each year to measure progress and updated as necessary.

USGL Strategic Initiatives

1. Promulgate Thelema and Great Principles of the Order

VISION: We envision OTO USA as a model religious and fraternal order of occult initiates, and a leading proponent of Thelemic thought and culture within the United States.

Objective: Fully implement Liber 194 to the extent possible and practicable

Goal: Establish at least one Profess House within the next decade (Liber 194: preamble)

Strategy: Form a committee to develop standards and strategies for Profess House development

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Goal: Fill both IXth Degree Revolutionary positions (Liber 194: 25-26)

Strategy: Publish a notice in Agape to encourage eligible IXths to volunteer

Responsibility: Electoral College President
Timeframe: Ongoing beginning November 2006 ev

Goal: Retain four members of the Man of Earth to represent the feelings of the general body (Liber 194: 5)

Strategy: Establish a YahooGroup to facilitate communications between Grand Master and representatives

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Completed January 2007 ev

Strategy: Publish a notice in Agape to explain the position and encourage volunteers

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: May 2007 ev

Goal: Implement meditative retreats for Electoral College members (Liber 194: 14)

Strategy: Mandate that Electoral College members absent themselves from all but absolutely necessary OTO participation and communication for 3 months every 2 years

Responsibility: Grand Master, Electoral College President
Timeframe: Phase in beginning 2008 ev

Goal: Implement Vow of Poverty option for Electoral College, Supreme Grand Council, and Grand Treasurer General (Liber 194: 30-31, 33-34)

Strategy: Research relevant U.S. law on religious poverty

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General, Finance Committee
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Objective: Increase exposure of OTO and Thelema in alternative and mainstream press

Goal: Publish NOTOCON proceedings

Strategy: Appoint an editor or editorial team

Responsibility: NOTOCON Committee
Timeframe: September 2007 ev

Goal: Publish a "best-of" anthology drawn from local body publications

Strategy: Recruit an editor or editorial team

Responsibility: Volunteer Coordinator (with approval of Executive Council)
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Encourage and coordinate publication of articles, interviews, reviews, etc.

Strategy: Form a committee to develop this function

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Objective: Support Thelemic speakers, authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, etc.

Goal: Enlist talent within the Order to help promote O.T.O. and Thelemic culture

Strategy: Use Education Committee's list of available speakers/teachers to recruit presenters for more public or specially targeted venues

Responsibility: Education Committee, Public Information Officer
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

2. Develop and Strengthen Local Operations

VISION: We will maintain a physical presence near every major population center in the country, from which we will offer services in support of our mission to our members and to the public.

Objective: Establish new local bodies in needed areas

Goal: Begin development of study groups and camps-in-formation in areas with initiates but no local bodies

Strategy: Provide a report to the Electoral College on the geographic distribution of membership

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Strategy: Clarify the camp-in-formation program and promote it within the membership

Responsibility: Electoral College
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Strategy: Contact senior and high-degree initiates in identified areas and offer encouragement, mentoring, etc.

Responsibility: Electoral College
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Begin development of membership in areas with no local OTO initiates

Strategy: On the basis of geographic membership report, prioritize unserved metropolitan areas

Responsibility: Electoral College
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Strategy: Appoint USGL development teams to do Minerval and First Degree initiations in unserved areas

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Strategy: Create advance publicity for initiations using targeted speaking/teaching engagements

Responsibility: Public Information Officer, Education Committee
Timeframe: TBD by development teams

Objective: Support growth of existing local bodies

Goal: Encourage local bodies to develop their own strategic plans

Strategy: Publish an article in Agape on local body strategic planning

Responsibility: Strategic Planning Committee
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Strategy: Develop a Kaaba module on local body strategic planning

Responsibility: Kaaba Committee
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Goal: Increase expertise and proficiency of local officers

Strategy: Provide instruction via Kaaba Colloquia

Responsibility: Kaaba Committee
Timeframe: Ongoing

Goal: Improve Mentor Program

Strategy: Increase pool of mentors by directly (i.e. personally) recruiting immediate past masters

Responsibility: Electoral College Mentor Secretary
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Promote local body membership

Strategy: Revise initiation application forms to ask for local body membership

Responsibility: Grand Master, Grand Secretary General
Timeframe: Completed March 2007 ev

Strategy: Revise online dues payment system to ask for local body membership

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Completed March 2007 ev

Strategy: Collect and report local body membership statistics to Executive Council annually

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General, Initiation Secretary, Electoral College
Timeframe: Ongoing beginning April 2007 ev

Strategy: Educate local body officers regarding membership provisions in local body bylaws

Responsibility: Kaaba Committee
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Strategy: Educate local body officers regarding use of local body membership incentives

Responsibility: Kaaba Committee
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Encourage support of Man of Earth bodies by Lover and Hermit Triad membership

Strategy: Publish an article in The Pelican to encourage such support

Responsibility: Grand Master (or his delegate)
Timeframe: Autumn-Winter 2007 ev

Objective: Support acquisition and maintenance of dedicated space for Lodges

Goal: Assist local bodies to build and maintain funding levels required to support dedicated space

Strategy: Solicit funding strategies from Lodges successfully maintaining dedicated space and make these available to local bodies

Responsibility: Kaaba Committee
Timeframe: Ongoing beginning Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Establish at least one Order-owned local body facility within the next decade

Strategy: Develop due diligence template for local bodies for evaluating costs vs. benefits of property ownership

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General, Treasurer General
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Strategy: Investigate alternatives for property acquisition: e.g. financing, investment, partnership, donation, bequest

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General, Treasurer General
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Objective: Support development of Rose Croix Chapters

Goal: Evaluate current state of Chapter development

Strategy: Implement annual reporting of activities by Chapters

Responsibility: Supreme Grand Council
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Goal: Increase membership and participation in Chapters by current R+C members

Strategy: Promote regular meetings (at least annual) to maintain activity

Responsibility: Supreme Grand Council
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Model and communicate successful Chapter strategies

Strategy: Solicit articles from Chapters for The Pelican

Responsibility: Pelican Editors
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev going forward

Objective: Support development of Mystic Temples

Goal: Expand geographic distribution of Mystic Temple facilities

Strategy: Establish an additional Mystic Temple facility on the East Coast

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

3. Improve Effectiveness of Grand Lodge Programs

VISION: We will uphold the highest standards of excellence and effectiveness in the practice and dissemination of our religious, spiritual, magical, and ethical teachings.

Objective: Improve initiation standards

Goal: Improve proficiency of initiation officers

Strategy: Appoint initiator training program coordinator

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Strategy: Implement requirements for memorization of degrees

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Advance by one degree per year, beginning with Ist Degree in January 2008 ev

Strategy: Encourage attendance at initiator training sessions by already-chartered initiators and other local team members

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Strategy: Form a committee to create sample training materials and supplemental resources for initiation officer training workshops

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Objective: Improve ecclesiastical standards

Goal: Implement training program for all clergy

Strategy: Form a committee to develop a training program

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Encourage Bishops to teach in their local areas and in areas where they have supervised clergy

Strategy: Require Bishops to report their educational/training activities to Primate semi-annually

Responsibility: Primate
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Objective: Improve educational standards

Goal: Provide educational resources for local body use

Strategy: Create and maintain a list of expert presenters

Responsibility: Education Committee
Timeframe: Ongoing, beginning February 2007 ev

Strategy: Create ready-to-use curricula and class plans

Responsibility: Education Committee
Timeframe: Ongoing, beginning February 2007 ev

Objective: Increase use and usefulness of Grand Lodge library

Goal: Develop online library catalog

Strategy: Specify and implement catalog storage format usable by librarian and a webmaster-supplied web display application

Responsibility: Librarian, Webmaster
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Implement library lending program

Strategy: Allow physical circulation of books by mail

Responsibility: Librarian
Timeframe: Spring 2007 ev

Goal: Develop agenda for accessions

Strategy: Compare existing holdings to USGL Study Guides and to OTO Curriculum in Book Four

Responsibility: Librarian
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Goal: Provide electronic access to key public-domain texts

Strategy: Coordinate online file storage with online catalog

Responsibility: Webmaster, Librarian
Timeframe: Ongoing, beginning Spring 2007 ev

Objective: Improve communications between Grand Lodge and the membership

Goal: Facilitate communication between the Electoral College and local body leadership

Strategy: Create new online discussion forum for local body officers and Electoral College members

Responsibility: Electoral College President
Timeframe: Completed March 2007 ev

Goal: Increase member knowledge of Grand Lodge activities

Strategy: Publish USGL Annual Report

Responsibility: Executive Council and governing bodies
Timeframe: Annually beginning June 2007 ev

Goal: Ensure local body access to SGIGs

Strategy: Individual bodymaster mentors should make sure that current bodymasters each have the ability to directly contact at least one SGIG in event of emergency

Responsibility: Electoral College Mentor Secretary
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Increase understanding of the role of second triad members in comprising "Grand Lodge"

Strategy: Convocation of the Agape Senate per se, with individual invitations

Responsibility: Grand Master, Grand Secretary General
Timeframe: Summer 2008 ev

Objective: Improve communications within Grand Lodge government

Goal: Establish comprehensive internet security policy

Strategy: Consult with IT Guild members, Executive, and membership at large, along with recommended standard practices from industry. From these sources, synthesize both rules and recommendations for GL officers and local bodies.

Responsibility: Webmaster
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Improve Annual Report Form preparation and submission process

Strategy: Design and develop a new secure online Annual Report Form submission capability (including the ability to save entries completed and in progress)

Responsibility: Webmaster, Electoral College
Timeframe: Winter 2007-2008 ev

Goal: Streamline initiation reporting

Strategy: Create a single form for reporting initiations to both Grand Treasurer General and Initiation Secretary

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General, Initiation Secretary
Timeframe: Completed February 2007 ev

Strategy: Design and develop a secure online initiation reporting capability

Responsibility: Webmaster, Grand Treasurer General, Initiation Secretary
Timeframe: Summer 2008 ev

Goal: Develop secure Grand Lodge file sharing system

Strategy: Determine requirements and propose design and development path if needed

Responsibility: Webmaster
Timeframe: Summer 2008 ev

Objective: Improve Grand Lodge financial stability and growth

Goal: Establish multi-year projected budgets

Strategy: Develop budget document based on past years' income and expenses

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Ongoing beginning Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Establish investment policy

Strategy: Develop investment policy document

Responsibility: Finance Committee, Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Autumn 2007 ev

Goal: Encourage bequests from members

Strategy: Publish an article in Agape on Estate Planning

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: November 2007 ev

Goal: Implement independent audit of USGL books

Strategy: Select and retain outside auditing firm

Responsibility: Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Spring 2008 ev

Objective: Strategic planning

Goal: Review and revise strategic plan annually

Strategy: Appoint a Review Committee (include a mix of previous and new members)

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: By January 1, annually

Strategy: Review and revise plan

Responsibility: Review Committee
Timeframe: By February 15, annually

Strategy: Communicate pertinent revisions to officers and leadership

Responsibility: Supreme Grand Council, Electoral College
Timeframe: By March 20, annually

Strategy: Communicate pertinent revisions to membership via Agape, Pelican

Responsibility: Editors
Timeframe: First issue published in any Thelemic year

4. Build a Stronger Fraternal Community

VISION: We will espouse and defend the principle of individual liberty while cultivating strong fraternal bonds within our ranks.

Objective: Increase effectiveness of conflict resolution

Goal: Increase involvement of Chapters in mediating disputes

Strategy: Establish geographic jurisdictions for Chapters

Strategy: Communicate directly with Chapters to emphasize their role 2007 ev
Responsibility: Supreme Grand Council
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Provide formal mediation training for local body masters and Chapter members

Strategy: Form a committee to research options and make recommendations

Responsibility: Executive Council
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Goal: Evaluate conflict resolution efforts through centralized statistical tracking

Strategy: Develop a form to implement anonymous reporting of conflict resolution problems and outcomes to the Supreme Grand Council

Responsibility: Supreme Grand Council
Timeframe: Summer 2007 ev

Objective: Encourage and strengthen fraternal bonds

Goal: Clearly communicate and model expectations of fraternal behavior

Strategy: Review and, if appropriate, strengthest, and enforce standards of conduct for all official Grand Lodge online venues (and encourage their adoption by official local body online venues)

Responsibility: Grand Master, Webmaster
Timeframe: Winter 2007-2008 ev

Goal: Clarify actions which constitute "abuse of membership privileges" and "actions greatly prejudicial to the Order"

Strategy: Submit revised list of punishable charges to Areopagus for approval

Responsibility: Grand Master
Timeframe: Spring 2007 ev

Goal: Increase member participation in NOTOCON and other conferences

Strategy: Develop a "sponsorship" program to fund travel expenses for members who cannot afford to attend

Responsibility: NOTOCON Committee
Timeframe: Summer 2008 ev

Goal: Encourage and facilitate mutual aid among members

Strategy: Provide local bodies with instructions on how they can legally take up collections for distressed brethren

Responsibility: Treasurer General
Timeframe: November 2007 ev

5. Develop Constructive Relationships

VISION: We will foster harmonious and constructive relationships with the academic, business, civil, and greater social communities within which we operate.

Objective: Establish dialogue with academic community

Goal: Represent O.T.O. positively and provide accurate information to academic researchers

Strategy: Enlist members who are in the academic community (professors, researchers, graduate students) to liasion with academics studying occultism, Thelema, and OTO

Responsibility: Executive Council, Education Committee
Timeframe: Summer 2008 ev

Objective: Establish relationship with broader charitable community

Goal: Take advantage of benefits available to 501(c)(3) organizations

Strategy: Research and identify organizations, programs, grantse may be able to participate

Responsibility: Finance Committee, Grand Treasurer General
Timeframe: Autumn 2008 ev