The Catenian Association
Our Strategic Objectives
Membership
Youth
Information Technology
Finance
Break-out
The Catenian Association
Our Strategic Objectives
Strategy Committee: John Rayer, Gerry Barton,
Bernard Noakes and Peter Woodford
The Analysis
Project 2008
Launched at Eastbourne 2002
GC revisited the strategy in 2008
Strategic Plan agreed 2010
Five Themes identified in 2008
Restructuring the Association
Youth
Membership Development
Relationship with the Church
Membership Criteria
Theme: Restructuring the
Association
Aim: International development and
greater effectiveness
Allow for: bottom up representation and
an effective international governing
body
Established the Restructure Commission
Grand Council considering the report
Theme:Membership Development
Internationalisation
Communications
Younger members
Retention
Other themes
Criteria for membership
Who can become a Catenian
Freemasons, clergy, women cannot
Practising Catholic in hand
Youth: in progress
Relationship with clergy: in progress
Strategic Objectives
To increase the number of members to 15,000 by 2020.
To reduce the age profile of the membership such that by 2020 the
average age of the members will be 65 years.
By 2015 to have created a greater awareness in the Church of the
support given to the Church by our members
To develop a discussion on Catholic youth using study or focus groups
such that by 2015 a clear plan can be developed.
To review by 2013 the aims of the Association to confirm that they are
fit for purpose and enable the strategic objectives to be achieved.
To consider the recommendations of the Restructure Commission and
establish an effective form of Governance for the International
Association
Restructure
Full report to GC in February 2012
150 pages
Time needed to consider it
Aim to publish it now
Proposals to GC July 2012
Dialogue with membership
Membership
The key focus is the 15,000 members
objective
The approach is co-ordinated
Specific Areas
Retention
Recruitment
Regions - international
Ritual & Regalia
Recreation – what we do
Repackaging our communications
The Church and Clergy
Dispel the “best kept secret”
Develop positive dialogue with the clergy and
Church
They need/welcome our support
We need/welcome their support
Active Catholics and not Catholic Action
Leverage the Bursary fund
Joint activities
Vocations
Youth
“in 2018…Youth wing is made up of males and
females and has its own social activities”
David Rowley is heading the debate and
discussion to result in a plan for
discussion and then action
Aims of the Association
Have stood the test of time for 100
years
Need a review for the next 100 years
An emerging question from younger
people is a widening of charitable aims
RRPP are carrying out the review
Grand Council Actions
Membership is the key focus
Co-ordinated with Publicity and Liaison
Repackage what we say to the clergy
Youth focus
Aims review
Restructure being sorted
Province and Circle actions
Membership is the key
Check we are doing our best
Tell the world, especially the clergy
The Catenian Association
Membership
Membership Work Group
Bernard Noakes
George Brand
Kevin Doherty
Julian Taylor
Tony Godden
Director Province 2
Director Province 22
Director Province 21
Director Province 15
Past Grand President
The Strategic plan
Increase the Membership from 10000 to
15000 by 2020.
Reduce the average age to 65 by 2020
The last 6 Years
THE GOOD NEWS
Recruitment since Jan 2006 was 3429
Average per year 570
The last 6 years (2)
THE SAD NEWS
Total deaths since 2006 was 1643
Average per annum 270
The last 6 years (3)
THE BAD NEWS
Resignations/Forfeitures since Jan 2006
was 2403
Average 400
Retention (1)
The CMO’s have recruited at an average
of 570 per annum, but then we are
losing 400 by resignation. Where are
we going wrong?
Retention is the biggest single problem
we have.
Retention (2)
Active role of sponsors
The social programme
The tender early months - “mind the gap”
Welcoming (v) cliques?
Keeping in touch?
Old fashioned procedures?
Ritual and Regalia
Meeting format and prayers
Retention (3)
Dress Code?
Charitable Aims?
Taking Office?
Visiting – Good or Bad?
Quick to take Office – Good or Bad?
Retention (4)-Some suggestions
Sponsors role continues for a long time
Lively and efficient meetings
Interesting social calendar both formal
and informal –pub lunches – Theatre
visits.
Regular Contact – crucial
FRIENDSHIP – Never to be undersold
Retention (5)
If we are to achieve the necessary
increase in Membership, then we must
overcome the retention problem.
The problem cannot be solved by Grand
Council or Provincial Councils, it is up to
all Circles.
Make the Circle meeting the best
evening of the Month.
Membership today
Total membership at 31 March 2012 is
10217
Only 4883 to go!
THANKS FOR LISTENING
The Catenian Association
YOUTH
The Association’s Aim
“ To advance the interests of young
Catholics and to assist them in the choice
of a career”
Strategic Objective
“ To develop a discussion on Catholic
youth using study or focus groups such
that by 2015 a clear plan can be
developed”
MY APPROACH
As much involvement as possible
Have a link Brother in each Province (9 so far –
more please!)
Establish a network with those Brothers
Use email, teleconferencing, Skype etc. to
communicate
Produce interim report by November 2012
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW
What are we doing now? – suspect more than
we think eg Bursary Fund, Public speaking,
mock interviews, schools concerts, bibles to
schools
What are we doing in Further Education? –
suspect this is a weak area
Ideas of what we should be doing
(
quality not quantity)
Youth - What next?
See me afterwards – I need your
help!
David Rowley
d.rowley@tiscali.co.uk
Information Technology for the
Association
Infrastructure and Systems
The Catenian Web Site
Infrastructure & Systems
Improvements to hardware and
infrastructure at Head Office to deliver
improved security
automated backup
greater productivity
Infrastructure & Systems
Improvements to the Portal underway
Security at logon
Change password option
Complete Head Office returns on line
Voting on Rule & Regulation changes on line
Database search options for Secretaries
Ordering Directories on line
Further improvements envisaged
On line completion of Membership Application Form
On line Directory
Catenian Web Site
Portal
On line documents to Head Office
Data changes to main Database system
Members Area
Semi secure
Detailed information on the Association
No personal detail
Open Area
General information on the Association available to anyone
Members area and Open area to be dramatically improved
Catenian Web Site
Where is it now?
A new clean design has been produced and
shown to Head Office team
All pages have an ‘owner’ and a ‘next
update’ date
Public main site and a private main site
Other pages can be created when needed
Catenian Web Site
Next Steps
To find and train the authors of the
material
Load up all appropriate material
Aim for a release in November 2012
The Catenian Association
Finance
Who manages the Finances?
Janet Harris – Finance Administrator
Phil Roberts – Grand Treasurer
The Finance Committee
Odran Steed – Chairman
John Hogan
Phil Roberts – Grand Treasurer
The Finance Focus
Compliance
Budgetary Control
Watching the Cash
Reporting
Strategic Financial Management
Keeping the Shop Open
“Hot” Issues in 2011-12
Change of Banks
40/75 Rule
GT4 Process
Chesham Place
Draft Results 2011-12
£000s
Income
Capitation
Rents
Other
Total
Costs
Grand Council
Head Office
Directory
Conference
Other inc. tax
Total
Surplus/(Deficit)
2011-12
Budget
2011-12
Actual
2011-12
Variance
2012-13
Budget
287
58
345
285
48
8
341
(2)
(10)
8
(4)
294
56
2
352
89
128
9
25
45
296
81
131
10
23
42
287
8
(3)
(1)
2
3
9
102
137
7
25
33
304
49
54
5
48
Recent History
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12 Mgt
accounts
Income
Costs
Surplus/(deficit)
307
359
(52)
288
293
(5)
282
276
6
341
287
54
Cash at Bank
Bank debts
Circle loans
27
142
-
25
175
-
89
79
164
113
62
194
Current ratio
Quick ratio
0.29
0.26
0.25
0.23
0.84
0.80
5.53
3.01
£000s
Issues in 2011-12
Keeping the lid on costs.
Especially the cost of Grand Council meetings.
And the Conference in 2013.
To ensure funds are available to support
Grand Council’s strategies.
To support the review of the Restructure
Commission’s work and the decisions arising.
Our Objectives
In 2008-09
To balance the budget from 2009/10.
To remove the need for loan and
overdraft facilities by 31st March 2011.
Now
To ensure strategies do not fail for
shortage of funds.
To repay Circle and Provincial loans in
October 2013.
Friday members’ session
Eastbourne