The Homenetmen Leader's Guide
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WHAT EVERY HOMENETMEN LEADER NEEDS TO KNOW THE HOMENETMEN LEADER’S GUIDE 2019 Հ.Մ.Ը.Մ. ական ՂԵԿԱՎԱՐԻ ՈՒՂԵՑՈՅՑ Dr. Shahe Yeni-Komshian ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project started with a phone call from Yeghpayr Manuel Marselian and Yeghpayr Aram Bekarian. We need an educational document in the English language to assist our Chapter leaders. Can you prepare one? The project took more significance from the realization that Homenetmen leaders in in USA (and elsewhere) did not have a comprehensive leadership reference guidebook. Soon the project was endorsed and officially commissioned by the Homenetmen Western USA Regional Executive Board. The Homenetmen Central Executive Board followed by sponsoring it. The content of the Homenetmen Leader’s Guide mostly includes original writings. It also contains edited past Homenetmen documents, as well as few unedited general topic documents that I credit in the body of The Guide. I am indebted to all. This book has some articulate champions. I want to thank in particular Kouyr Karin Yeni-Komshian for her editing and formatting; her assistance was invaluable. Yeghpayrner Aram Bekarian, Manuel Marselian and Art Khachaturian for their guidance and assistance in the printing aspects of this book. Yeghpayr Vik Kortian and yeghpayr Pierre Manoukian for insightful suggestions. This project started as an on-line e-document at: www. Homenetmen.net and their involvement was instrumental in making the book version possible. Without the encouragement and constructive input from Ani, my wife, and my three children, Sevan, Lori and Karin, perhaps this Guide would not have been written. All four have served many years in Homenetmen and personally felt the need of a Guide. Their insight and good humor during the many drafts was essential to me. I am eternally grateful to my late parents Dr. Vahram and Mrs. Kegharpy (Der- Melkonian) Yeni-Komshian for introducing me to Homenetmen as a young child, always encouraging me to serve our organization and instilling in me the notion that Armenian identity preservation is key for the continued strength of our nation. i Above all, I would like to thank all the leaders who mentored me in Homenetmen and elsewhere. Their wisdom and dedication was an inspiration to me. To all of them, I offer my deepest appreciation. Finally, I would like to emphasize that this is not a perfect book. It’s work in progress. It has — and will — continue to have updated versions. I encourage all of you to make constructive criticism. ii TABLE of CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 • WHY DOES ONE SERVE AS A HOMENETMEN LEADER? ...................................... 1 THE HOMENETMEN MISSION ................................................................................................................ 4 WHAT IS IT THAT WE DO? WHO DO WE SERVE? .......................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 • THE TASK OF HOMENETMEN LEADERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARDS ............. 11 THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF A HOMENETMEN EXECUTIVE IS TO BE THE CHAMPION OF HOMENETMEN CORE VALUES .............................................................................. 13 THE HOMENETMEN LEADER IS A STRONG MANAGER THE HOMENETMEN BOARD IS AN EXECUTIVE BOARD .......................................................................................................................... 16 FUNCTION OF THE BOARD: SIX FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES .................................. 17 THE 3 PS: HOW THE EXECUTIVE BOARD “EXECUTES” SUCCESSFULLY .............................. 29 CHAPTER 3 • THE HOMENETMEN SYSTEM: HOW DO WE FUNCTION? HOW DO WE SERVE? ........................................................................................................................................................ 35 GOVERNANCE RULES AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ........................................ 35 THE CHAPTER CONCEPT AND VOLUNTEERISM .......................................................................... 39 THE HOMENETMEN PROGRAM AND ITS SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES ........................................... 42 AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES: IDEAS FOR NEW MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES .............................. 44 CHAPTER 4 • THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF HOMENETMEN WITHIN THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................................................ 47 COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN THE DIASPORA .............................................................................. 49 INTERCOMMUNITY DYNAMICS – COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HOMENETMEN COLLABORATES WITH AND WHY ..................................................................... 55 WHAT SHOULD A LEADER KNOW ABOUT ITS COMMUNITY POPULATION STATISTICS? ................................................................................................................................................ 59 iii THE KEY LEADERSHIP ROLE OF HOMENETMEN IN THE COMMUNITY – SUSTAINED ARMENIAN IDENTITY ............................................................................................................................. 63 THE IDEAL PATH FOR A SUSAINED ARMENIAN IDENTITY ...................................................... 67 CHAPTER 5 • THE EXECUTIVE BOARD (OR SIMPLY: THE BOARD) .......................................... 69 BOARD MEMBERSHIP .............................................................................................................................. 69 JOB DESCRIPTION OF BOARD MEMBERS ......................................................................................... 70 CHAPTER BOARD OPERATIONS: PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY DIVISIONS ................................ 74 SPECIFIC DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD ................................................................ 75 THE HOMENETMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ................................................................................. 77 CHAPTER 6 • BOARD MEETINGS ........................................................................................................ 87 HOW TO CONDUCT AN EFFICIENT BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEETING ............................ 88 THE AGENDA .............................................................................................................................................. 91 CHAPTER 7 • REFLECTIONS ON BOARD MEMBERSHIP ............................................................... 97 WHY WERE YOU ELECTED? ................................................................................................................. 97 WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU? ............................................................................................................. 98 A SPECIAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH COACHES AND SCOUT LEADERS ............... 99 CHAPTER 8 • GUIDELINES FOR BOARD CHAIRPERSONS .......................................................... 101 THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON AS A LEADER .................................................................................... 101 GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................................................ 101 VOLUNTEER — PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP .......................................................................... 103 RELATIONSHIP WITH BOARD OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE LIAISONS ............................. 103 THE BOARD CHAIRMAN AND THE PUBLIC/COMMUNITY ...................................................... 104 THE BOARD CHAIRMAN AND THE FINANCIAL PROGRAM ..................................................... 105 PARTICIPATION OF THE BOARD CHAIRMAN IN EVENTS (WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY) ..................................................................................... 106 CHAPTER 9 • GUIDELINES FOR CHAPTER VARCHAGANS (OFFICERS, DIRECTORS) ......... 109 GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................................................ 109 THE BOARD OFFICER ACTS AS A COUNSELOR, ADVISER, MENTOR, SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AND DONOR ....................................................................................................... 110 RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD OFFICERS ....................................................................................... 111 CHAPTER 10 • ENHANCING THE HOMENETMEN BRAND AWARENESS ............................... 113 ENHANCING THE HOMENETMEN BRAND AWARENESS HOW TO MARKET THE HOMENETMEN “PRODUCT” ............................................................................................................... 114 iv MARKETING STEPS ................................................................................................................................. 117 PR ACTION PLAN/EXECUTION........................................................................................................... 120 CHAPTER 11 • PLANNING AND ORGANIZING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS .............................. 125 THE PROGRAM OUTCOME MODEL ................................................................................................. 126 BIG PICTURE: ANNUAL GOALS .......................................................................................................... 128 ACTION PLAN FOR EACH GOAL: HOW, WHO AND WHEN? ................................................... 129 UNDERSTANDING INCENTIVES......................................................................................................... 131 CHAPTER 12 • THE SCOUTING PROGRAM .................................................................................... 133 HOMENETMEN SCOUTING