An Introduction to the
Committee Toolbox
August 2011
What is AP Leadership?
• Advanced Planning Leadership provides committees the tools
and resources to be
– more effective in delivering existing member benefits and
– incubators for new and expanded member benefits
• The AP Leadership Committee (APLC) is composed of
experienced Section leaders specially selected to guide
committees through the AP Leadership planning process
The Committee Toolbox
A resource for all committees
What is the Committee Toolbox?
• Collection of key documents, templates, and sample
documents to help all committee leaders in crucial areas
• The Toolbox is for everyone, not just AP Leadership selected
committees
• Link from Leadership Portal home page on right hand
navigation bar under “Quick Links”
– http://www2.americanbar.org/sites/portal/litigation_lead
ership/default.aspx
• Committee leaders should suggest additions or changes
What Does the Toolbox Cover?
• The toolbox collects materials related to:
Applying for Selection as an
AP Leadership Committee
Committee Self Evaluation
Tools
Committee Planning Tools
Committee Membership
Surveys
Three Year Plan Format
Calendaring Tools for
Committee Management
ABA Structure
Contact Information for ABA Staff
and Section Leadership
Tools to Develop Programming
for Section Annual and ABA
Annual Conferences
Regional CLE Programming Tools
Publications Tools
Committee Structure Tools
Membership Growth and
Sustainability Tools
Committee Self Evaluation
• This section of the toolbox collects materials that
help committees:
– understand how they can in engage in AP Leadership
techniques
– conduct self-assessments and establish a vision
– look at the committee’s SWOTs
• These materials are useful for committees that want
to take a fresh look at what they have done and
what they should be doing
Committee Survey
• This section of the toolbox provides:
– results from past surveys of Section members
– template committee surveys
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to examine what members are
telling us they want from the Section and the
committees
APLC Quick Tip – Survey Data
• The ABA and the Section have survey data
available to committees that tell us who are
members are (age, geography, etc.) and what
they want from the Section
• The data is there; ask for it and use it
• The APLC has created a committee survey that
any committee can send to its members
Survey Results Example
Committee Self Assessment
• What needs to change?
• What needs to be done better?
• What new things need to be done?
APLC Quick Tip – SWOT Analysis
• What is a SWOT Analysis?
• The acronym stands for Strengths
Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats
• SWOT analyses are a strategic planning tool
that helps a committee articulate the
objective of the committee (or a committee
project) and identify the internal and external
factors that facilitate or hinder achieving the
objective
SWOT Analysis Example
•
STRENGTHS
•
WEAKNESSES
•
OPPORTUNITIES
•
THREATS
•
6th largest committee
•
Personal agendas for
business development
over altruistic goals to
help organization
succeed
•
AP Leadership
Program
•
Public’s lack of
appreciation for
lawyers
•
ABA is largest and most
influential legal
organization in the US
•
Organizational
communication
problems
•
Website
•
Competition in key
substantive areas by
businesses fully
staffed to provide
immediate updates
and that have greater
IT resources,
technology, etc.
•
Legal acumen,
experience
•
Mixed messages
•
Networking
•
Economy
•
Diversity
•
Too much uniformity
that stifles creativity
•
Publishing
•
Legislation
Planning Tools
• This section of the toolbox collects materials
that:
– help committee chairs get organized
– provide ideas on planning & implementation
– provide a template & framework for setting
SMART goals
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to get off to a quick and coherent
start
Committee Vision
• Where do you want the committee to be in 3
years?
• What does your committee want to be known
for?
• What “space” does the committee want to
own?
APLC Quick Tip – SMART Goals
• What are SMART goals?
• The acronym stands for Specific Measurable
Achievable Realistic and Time-bound
• The SMART criteria are a way for committees
to assess their objectives and ensure they are
taking on projects that are relevant and
capable of completion
SMART and Not SMART Goals
NOT SMART
Improve committee enewsletter
SMART
Publish an e-newsletter
each quarter with at
least four articles
Increase membership
Increase membership
by 100 members
Required Three Year Plan Format
• This section of the toolbox provides the
current format of the committee three
year plan
Calendaring Tools
• This section of the toolbox provides:
– the Section calendar
– templates for a committee calendar
– tips for using technology to create a common
calendar that all committee leaders can access
simultaneously
• These materials are useful for committees to
set up deadlines and work streams for
committee projects
Sample Project Management
Listserv Calendar
ABA Structure
• This section of the toolbox collects:
– the organization chart for the Section of Litigation
– The organization chart for Section staff
• These materials are useful for committees
that need to figure out who can help them
with a particular issue
Contact Information
• This section of the toolbox collects contact
information for ABA staff and Section
leadership
• These materials are useful for committees
that need a phone number or email address
of someone in the Section
Programming Tools
• This section of the toolbox collects:
– a sample program submission form
– top ten tips for a successful program
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to improve their chances of having
a program selected and ensure a memorable
program
Tips for a Successful Program
Regional CLE Programming Tools
• This section of the toolbox collects materials
useful in designing and receiving approval for
a regional CLE
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to put on a Regional CLE
Toolbox Includes Sample Regional CLE
Docs from A to Z
Publications Tools
• This section of the toolbox collects policies
and tips related to publications, podcasts, and
the committee web page
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to develop new content
APLC Quick Tip – Publications
• The Web and Print Editors Resource Center is
another great resource:
– Link from Leadership Portal home page on right
hand navigation bar under “Quick Links”
– http://www2.americanbar.org/sites/portal/litigation_lead
ership/Quick%20Links/Print%20and%20Web%20Editors%
20Resource%20Center.aspx
Committee Structure Tools
• This section of the toolbox collects tips and
templates for a vibrant and active
subcommittee structure
• These materials are useful for committees
that want to strengthen their subcommittees
APLC Quick Tip – Subcommittees
• Committee Chairs need to set expectations of their
subcommittee chairs
• Consider an annual “appointment letter” that sets
out your expectations for
– attendance
– participation
– deliverables
• Make appointments for a defined term
Tips for a Strong Committee
Structure
More Tips for Subcommittees
Membership Growth &
Sustainability Tools
• This section of the toolbox helps increase
membership in your committee
• These materials are useful for every
committee in the Section because
membership growth and retention are vital
• The Section’s Marketing & Membership
Committee is an additional resource for
committee chairs
APLC Quick Tip – Listservs
• What is a listserv?
• A listserv is a brief (<2500 character) message sent to
every committee member who has provided an
email address to the Section
• Listservs may be the most under-utilized tool
committees have to communicate with members
• Committees can send two listserv messages a month
• Plan out how you can use a program of listserv
messages to drive membership and participation
• The AP Leadership Toolbox has a model listserv
schedule that will help you get started
Listserv Schedule Template for
(Almost) any Committee
Applying for Selection as an AP
Leadership Committee
• Competitively selected committees engage in multi-month
planning having
– close support of a senior Section leaders and staff and
– additional resources
• Effort culminates in one day meeting following the Section
Annual Conference to finalize plans for delivering enhanced
and expanded member benefits with
– senior Section leadership and staff,
– participating committee leaders, including subcommittee
chairs (up to a maximum of 10 attendees per committee)
Toolbox Resources for Applying for
AP Leadership
• This section of the toolbox collects materials that
explain
– the AP Leadership program
– the AP Leadership application
– the timeline of tasks and deadlines for AP Leadership
committees
• Check the timeline in the Toolbox for an exact date,
but applications for AP Leadership are generally due
on or about the second Friday of November
APLC Quick Tip – Applying for AP
Leadership
• Why apply?
• It is a chance for you to take your committee to the
next level
• You will set the direction of the committee for the
next few years
• You will help groom the next generation of leaders in
your committee.
• You will be leaving the committee stronger and
more focused than when you got there
• It’s a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of FUN
Questions?
Contact the AP Leadership
Committee Co-Chairs or
your Division Director