Saugatuck -Douglas Historical Society

PROGRAM PROCESS
Click HERE for Project Proposal Form, HERE for Guidelines
and HERE for Current Project Proposals

May 2009

W O R K I N G   G R O U P S  | Successful projects generally require a wide range of specialized expertise to engage in the following activities:

a) information collecting (research),
b) interpretation,
c) dissemination, and
d) support.

Driven by individual project needs, the Society encourages flexible project-specific “working groups”  to carry out its projects and programs, drawing together the appropriate skill sets for optimal effectiveness. Projects will have a designated leader—a “go-to” person who is the spokesperson and who is accountable for the project. A “working group” consists of this leader, a core group of volunteers particularly interested or experienced in the subject area and capable of addressing the project subject matter, and additional members brought on board to represent the necessary support activities (e.g., fundraising, publicity, design, etc.)

P R O J E C T S  | Society “projects” are the various activities and initiatives that are undertaken in order to fulfill the Society’s mission. As direct responses to defined goals and priorities, they are the manifestation of the Society’s purpose and stand at the very the center of its operations. Managing the Society’s ongoing suite of projects is the one of the Board’s primary governance functions.  

H O W   P R O J E C T  S   A R E   I N I T I A T E D  | Projects can be initiated from any area or member of the Society (or from outside): by the Board, by working groups, or by individual volunteers or members. Understandably, most projects are brought forward from a particular working group (e.g., the proposal for the annual Museum exhibition comes through the Exhibit Group). But project ideas may also originate elsewhere—from an unrelated groups or from an “outside” individual (e.g., the Publication Group may initiate a project to host a reception to introduce a new book, which would fall generally under the area of the Social Events; or a member of the Society may wish to initiate a new topical project). Regardless of the point of origin, to proceed, all projects begin as proposals for consideration and approval by the Board.

The project approval process consists of submitting a proposal for the Board’s consideration. A simple proposal format provides guidelines for the types of information needed (e.g., project title, dates, duration, “go-to” person, brief description, anticipated budget, etc.)