No summer doldrums here. Docents are marking the end of the early summer “monsoon season” and the arrival of summer by hitting the streets and the river. A particular high note is the launch of our much-awaited new GTS system.
Lynn and the Leadership Team are ensuring the sales plan and strategies for the year are accurate and will make adjustments as needed to support the growth of revenue, attendance, and awareness of all CAC product offerings. In July and August, CAC is offering discounts on CAC admissions and walking tours to drive attendance, revenue, and awareness of these offerings.
The Docent Council meeting in early July was a most productive one.
- Council approved the revised Articles that were posted last month for general review. The articles will be presented at the next full meeting of the Board of Trustees later this year, for their approval and ratification.
- A new task force has been assembled to review the docents’ Policies and Protocols. Their #1 priority is to revisit the current weather policy. Guidelines have been based on temperature extremities, but the crazy weather this spring has added safety from lightening to the list of issues.
- Later this year, the committee will consider policies such as the yearly requirement of 10 tours, weekend or evening tour requirements, how best to acknowledge outstanding work — whether that is tour quality, tour quantity, or Core Values good works — and similar issues. Again, if you would like to see certain topics brought to the fore, please email me: cr*****@st**************.com.
There are also some announcements that will be coming soon as a result of this meeting:
- DAN venue and perhaps some other salient details.
- The Tour Roster Task Force and Tour Committee will soon be announcing several new tours that will launch during the 2020 season. Updates about tour development and recruitment of docents to give these new tours will follow thereafter.
- Solicitations of candidates for Docent Council. Yes, it may sound early, but we need to get the slate in place by about Labor Day.
The Election Committee is getting organized, after which Council will consider whether or not we need to make any adjustments to the election procedures pioneered last year. - And, it is never too early for me to put in my genuine pitch for people to think about running for Docent Council. We need to keep revivifying our ranks to stay fresh and enable us to fulfill the role intended for the Council to play in docent life.
Finally, I call your attention to another posting on The Bridge — the current operating version of the Handbook. This is our “owners’ manual.” Everything you need to know you will find there. This version reflects current practices, including several modifications made over the past few years. I hope you will all download it and put a copy on your desktop for easy consultation.
Stay as cool as you are,
Constance