RFP -- Interim Structure

Victim Offender Mediation Association
VOMA: promoting and enhancing restorative justice dialogue, principles & practice

Dear Colleague:

VOMA is seeking a strategic partnership with a restorative justice ally. We have been developing a strategic plan for our future. It focuses on the needs of our membership who are restorative justice dialogue practitioners, advancing the principles of and support for RJ worldwide, strengthening the quality practice of RJ dialogue for all who engage in it, and evolving VOMA as a strong and healthy organization.

Our interest is in a short term partnership with an organization that shares our mission, brings needed administrative and organization development expertise, and whose long term interests are served by a viable, independent VOMA that has the capacity to serve, strengthen, and lead in the field of restorative justice and dialogue practice.  

Currently, much of the work of VOMA is done through a volunteer committee structure.  Existing committees include: Executive, Publications/Communications (includes web site), Scholarship, Ethics and  Standards, Fundraising, Conference (site & program), Membership, Public Relations and Strategic Planning.  Coordination of the work of these committees is not as important as providing a support role for their work and being a communication hub between and among the committees and the board.

Attached is an excerpt from our draft strategic plan document. It contains our mission statement and goals.  VOMA’s host agency would have responsibility for the general
administration, day-to-day coordination of VOMA activities and committee & board support and communication regarding goals 1-4.  In addition, the host would have accountability for the specific objectives in Goal 5 and it is this goal in particular which we are interested in talking with you about. Please review the information and share with us your thoughts, interests, and capacities related to the achievement of the objectives.

Our request is that you provide us a letter of interest and a brief document that includes the following information:
1.	A description of how you might approach this partnership,
2.	What values and activities you believe are essential to achievement of the objectives,
3.	An estimate of costs involved in achieving them and a timeline or work plan that would demonstrate the task sequence and success measures you would use to evaluate progress,
4.	Assumptions you might have about the role the VOMA board, other contractors, members, and current VOMA staff will play
5.	Background or resumes of the specific individuals you would involve in carrying out the project.

We would like you to focus on the objectives we believe need to be achieved in the first 2 years of the plan, but are also interested in your opinions if you would order them differently. We hope to allocate approximately *50-60,000 (?) for the first year of this contract and have assumptions that some new revenue will help offset expenses for the second year. We also assume that this transition partnership will be in for 18-24 months.

Please send your response to Annie Roberts, 1406 Palace Ave, St Paul, MN 55105-2567, or e-mail: annwarnerroberts@compuserve.com, by 1/15/01.

We are excited about our future! We believe we have chosen a creative, innovative, powerful, and successful strategy for organization development and hope you are interested in joining us.

VOMA will review responses during the week of 1/22/01, and contact selected partners for follow up conversations by 1/29/01. We expect the Board of Directors to make a final decision by 2/15/01. Our goal is to commence the partnership agreement by 3/1/01, subject to the date of termination of existing contract for administration, and preparation
and signing of new contract.  Note: VOMA’s mid-year board meeting is scheduled for
March 22-25, 2001 in Akron, PA.  We would hope that new partner will be able to join us.

If you have any others questions, please contact Annie Roberts at 651-699-4532. We will do our best to get to you whatever you need to proceed.

Sincerely,

Kathy Elton and David Doerfler
VOMA, Board of Directors Co-Chairs

*  Note: an additional $15-21,000 per year in contracted services will be allocated in 2001 for Publications/Communications.   Also, some additional funds are also already budgeted for expenses related to committee and board activities. None of these funds are included in the contract amount.  The costs of these activities should not be included in the host agency’s calculations of its own expenses except for administration of the contract and budget disbursements.

Note: additional information on VOMA (including a list of board of directors, past newsletters and other publications) available at: www.voma.org.

Enclosure:
Excerpt from Plan

VOMA Strategic Plan Excerpt

Mission:
Promoting and enhancing restorative justice dialogue, principles, and practices.
Our mission will be achieved only with a commitment to full diversity and equality of participation for all people. VOMA holds this commitment as central in its work.

Niche:
VOMA is an information resource and activist membership organization, advancing the heart of restorative justice principles and the effective practice of Restorative Justice Dialogue.

Goals 2001-2003:
It is our understanding and commitment that diversity is embedded in all of our goals and the work we do to achieve them.
1.	Become a global leading information and resource network for Restorative Justice Dialogue practitioners and others.
2.	Grow as a leading and diverse membership organization advancing the Restorative Justice field.
3.	Expand the understanding and application of Restorative Justice principles.
4.	Enhance the effective practice of Restorative Justice Dialogue.
5.	Evolve governance and expand management to further excellence in achievement, accountability, and inclusion. 

Goal 5: Evolve governance and expand management to further excellence in achievement, accountability, and inclusion.

a. Enter into a 1-2 year agreement with a "host" organization with the resources and capacity to house VOMA and assist with organization development.	2001/2	
b. Establish a permanent home and become a professionally managed organization with 4 FTE's and additional contracted specialists.	2003	
c. Implement short and long term collaborative and strategic affiliation agreements that maximize shared program resources, in-kind value exchanges, and efficiencies in administrative costs.	2001/2/3	
d. Increase fiscal strength: $500,000 annual operating budget (with 30% earned 70% operating and project grants), $50,000 operating reserve.	2003	
e. Build and provide ongoing support for an enhanced web site worldwide.	2001/2/3	
f. Revisit regional structure and either strengthen or modify it.	2001/2	
g. Increase earned revenue through sale of VOMA produced publications, services, and products to 15% of annual budget.	2002/3	
h. Adopt and implement a Policy Governance model; modify board composition, structure, and practices, as called for.	2001/2/3	
i. Enhance board competence and awareness regarding issues of diversity and inclusion/disparity of participation. 	2001/2/3	
j. Develop and implement a marketing plan (options/components, packaging, pricing, and promotion) for organization including training, membership, plan etc.	2001/2/3	
k. Develop pricing/payment policies that ensure cost is not a barrier to VOMA information, membership, products or services.	2001/2/3	
l. Implement a results-based performance assessment process for VOMA and its member programs. (Does not assume individual accreditation, but rather a process of reflective assessment - likely to include customer and peer review - to assess effectiveness.)	2002/3	
m. Conduct semi-annual sessions that assess and modify the strategic plan to keep it current and useful as a guiding document for overall organizational action.	2001/2/3	

[5VOMA-RFP]
11/30/00