120 likes | 242 Vues
Discover effective methods for establishing and maintaining partnerships between OLLI programs and community entities such as churches, hospitals, and retirement communities. This guide explores how to identify potential partners, evaluate your needs, and communicate your mission effectively. Learn the benefits for both OLLI and its partners, including space usage, member access, and mutual recognition. Gain insights into negotiation strategies, maintaining relationships, and fostering collaboration through shared activities and continuous engagement.
E N D
Win Win Collaborations OLLI 2011 National Conference
Collaborations/Partnerships with Community Entities • Churches • Hospitals • Retirement communities • AARP • Local businesses • Community based organizations • Multicultural Center • Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences
Selecting which organizations to approach • Evaluate your needs • Classroom space • Size, parking, access to technology • Centrally/conveniently located • Comfortable/suitable for your group
Who do you talk to? • Find the person or people that can make the decision about use of space, or the person that has the ear of those people • Does the organization have an education person on staff? • Marketing departments with budgets • Ask for a meeting with key players
What do you say? • Talk about your OLLI • How it serves the community and what your mission is • Sell your program • Tell your stories • Bring a member with you to talk about his/her experience • Tell them what you want • Tell them what you can offer in return • Stress mutual benefits
Benefits for your OLLI For OLLI: • Use of space • Access to potential members or faculty • Publicity for OLLI programs • Additional support
Benefits for the Partner • Bringing OLLI into their space • Fulfilling an educational mission • Recognition in OLLI brochure/announcements in classes • Rent • Establishing technology at the site • Seats in classes at the site for the partner’s members • Partner in Learning designation on the website and in the newsletter
Negotiating • Often after presenting your story, they are open to some sort of partnership or collaborative relationship • Tell them what you are prepared to offer • Tell them if you are not prepared to do something • Write it into an MOU so there is no misunderstanding later
Examples of successes • Our Savior’s Lutheran Church • AARP • Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences • Trail Ridge Retirement Community • AveraMcKennan Hospital • A word about capitalizing on competition in your community
Where we’ve failed • The local community college • Retirement communities
Maintaining the relationship Keep in touch with your key contact(s) • Send them the brochure when it’s printed • Run courses by them – give them a say in what’s offered at their location • Meet with them annually to talk about how it’s going and get feedback • Offer to come and talk about OLLI to their clubs/groups
Maintaining the relationship • Email them about enrollment, space availability in classes • Email them about “Open to the Public” events you have going on. Keep them informed about OLLI. • Consider other ways to partner: field trips