SARRAH Capacity Building Working Group

Terms of Reference

In early 2008, SARRAH commissioned Patrick Daly to conduct a review of member and non-member communications, and member recruitment and retention initiatives. A Communications Working Group was established in March 2008, to prioritise and implement the recommendations in the report.
At the SARRAH Summit on 11 August 2009, the issues of SARRAH membership and communication were revisited. It was agreed to resurrect a working group to progress these discussions into action.
On 20 August 2009, Expressions of Interest were called. The new Working Group was subsequently formed. A copy of the Patrick Daly Report, together with a discussion paper on ‘SARRAH Membership’ prepared by one of the Summit delegates circulated to all working group members.
The working group met for the first time on 29 September 2009. They agreed the purpose of the working group is to build SARRAH’s capacity to achieve it’s vision & primary objective through increasing membership and the effectiveness of communication – hence the name, ‘SARRAH Capacity Building Working Group’.

To clarify SARRAH’s “value proposition” to members and prospective members.
To identify strengths and gaps in existing capacity to meet SARRAH’s vision and primary objective (as outlined in the Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012).
Develop recommendations for strengthening SARRAH’s capacity.

By June 2010, the Working Group will submit Recommendations to the SARRAH Board regarding ways to increase SARRAH’s capacity, including an emphasis on member recruitment & retention, engagement and communication.

Working Group members include:

Meetings of the Working Group will be convened via teleconference and it is anticipated that they will be held no more than one per fortnight but at least monthly.
The Working Group will be responsible for developing minutes of meetings using the SARRAH template and posting a copy onto the SARRAH website. Fran Schiller from the SARRAH Secretariat will provide administrative support to the Working Group.
The Chair of the Working Group will be required to submit a brief monthly activity report to the CEO who will in turn provide the report to the Board and SARRAH Advisory Committee for information.
The Working Group will provide recommendations to the SARRAH Board as identified, with a final report to the Board in June 2010, in time for the 2010 SARRAH Conference. Following completion of this task, the role and purpose of the Working Group will be reviewed and potentially disbanded.

13 October 2009