Leaders as Listeners Strategic Program

Why was the Leaders as Listeners launched?
Quota leaders launched the Leaders as Listeners program in 1995 in response to what was learned from an international needs assessment that included (1) findings from an organization-wide membership survey; (2) an assessment of global economic, population, and social trends; (3) an assessment of Quota International membership trends; and (4) findings from an organizational audit conducted by the board of directors.

What did leaders learn from the needs assessment?
First, leaders learned that Quota was experiencing a slow gradual loss of members each year, a trend most service organizations were experiencing. They also learned that a wide discrepancy existed between how the organization was operating and how it was supposed to operate according to bylaws in force at that time. Over half of Quota's members did not reflect the membership intent and description contained in the bylaws, and almost half did not qualify for active membership or international leadership positions. It's not that members, clubs, or leaders intentionally chose to operate differently than what was prescribed; the situation evolved over time as the world and members changed, yet Quota's operations and bylaws remained the same.

What action did the board take?
The board concluded that it was time to systematically ask the members what they wanted, how they wanted to operate and who they really wanted as their future members—and then act on the members' collective wishes.

What lessons did board members learn?
Click here to learn 14 important lessons that board members used to reshape Quota International for the 21st Century.

What improvements have been made?
Quota International leaders and staff have:

• Streamlined Quota International administrative operations, reducing expenses and staff and involving more Quota volunteers in planning special events (i.e., convention) and implementing international programs (i.e., fund raising, Quota-wide parenting/mentoring drug prevention program).
  
  
• Simplified Quota's dues collection process, reducing dues collection from semi-annual payments to annual payments.
  
  
• Reshaped member, club, and district services based on Leaders as Listeners quantitative market research. Connecting with, understanding, and supporting your club is Quota's primary goal this year. In addition, we are creating more opportunities for members to connect with fellow Quotarians worldwide through our Friendship Club Program, at convention, on our Quota International Web Site, and through other new programs such as the Friend of Quota program.
  
  
• Improved leadership development for all leaders. We are sharing what we are learning about our individual clubs with our governors, and we are training them to provide customized support to you. In fact, our Encouraging Leadership Philosophy was awarded the top Keystone Award for Program Excellence by the American Society of Association Executives in 2000.
  
  
• Launched an initiative to improve the impact and expand the visibility of its charitable arm, the We Share Foundation.

What bylaw changes have been made?
Quota International's voting delegates made the following decisions:

• Convention '96: Delegates voted in bylaws that provided clubs with increased flexibility in whom the club can invite for membership and how the club chooses to recruit new members. Quota's objects were changed to read: "The business and objects of Quota International shall be to seek individuals of diverse occupations committed to sharing their time, talent, and resources to meet Quota International's service goals…." In addition, voting delegates reduced the classes of membership from four to two: active members and members-at-large.
  
  
• Convention '97: In a move to streamline and increase flexibility, delegates voted (1) to change the date of the local Quota club year so that it would coincide with the Quota International fiscal year and (2) to allow districts to determine the amount of their annual dues.
  
  
• Convention '98: Delegates voted (1) to reduce the size of Quota International's board of directors by eliminating the Vice President's position (beginning in July 1999) and (2) to retain Quota International's current governance and voting system.

What Leaders as Listeners activities are underway today?
Beginning in 1998, Quota International has been operating ongoing "learn and improve" activities. We "assess needs" before beginning new initiatives and we "evaluate" existing programs or meetings when they end. As we learn, we continue, simplify, improve, or eliminate the program or service we are assessing. We seek anonymous feedback from club presidents and governors at the end of their leadership year so that we can better help future leaders. Also, the board conducts an annual Leaders as Listeners Strategic Think Tank, and a Leaders as Listeners Town Meeting is now a convention tradition.

In addition, as the result of a Task Force report presented at Convention 2002, the board is testing a new proposal to alleviate the impact of the cost of membership in Quota International—to reduce costs and simplify the way in which Quota International operates. In response to these findings, the Board of Directors created a proposal recommending changes in Quota International's calendar that would:

1. Result in the reduction in costs to clubs, districts, and Quota International.
   
   
2. Simplify the workload of club, district, and international leaders.
   
   
3. Simplify and streamline operations Quota-wide while at the same time increasing direct international support and service to members and clubs.