36th General Convention - William Penn Life

The William Penn Initiative, as it will be called, will
take into account 10 goals to be developed and implemented over the next four
years. Each goal is intended to provide the Association with growth, stability,
expansion, dedication, fraternalism and ethnicity. Our goal is to be an Association
that is more accessible, innovative and able to react quickly.
1. Improve Communications
The William Penn Association needs to present a
clear and consistent message celebrating our traditions,
our values and our history and to enhance our
name throughout the community. Through improved
communications, the William Penn Association will
develop and implement a comprehensive marketing
strategy to extend to all areas of the media ensuring
substantial membership growth, increased premiums,
higher profits and greater name recognition.
2. Development of Penn Scenic View
The Association needs to immediately act on a wide
ranging and comprehensive strategic plan for the
development of one of our greatest assets. For far too
long, this property, Penn Scenic View, with its
breathtaking views and lush green landscape,
remained undeveloped and was not given the
resources to help reach its potential. The time is now
to substantially increase the financial resources
needed for expansion and development. We must
increase the attractiveness of the place to increase the
occupancy and finally the growth of Penn Scenic
View.
3. Mergers and Acquisitions
The William Penn Association will aggressively
explore opportunities to grow and expand outside of
the Association. There is great potential in new
markets which provide a good investment capable of
generating new members, higher premiums and a
greater rate of return for our membership. But in
order for this to happen, we must put aside our
differences of the past and embrace the challenges of
the future.
4. Governance
The William Penn Association will continue to
improve on its current Governance Policy.
• We need to strengthen our controls throughout
the organization to support the business, to help it
grow responsibly while minimizing mistakes and
ensuring that when mistakes occur, they are handled
properly.
• We will expand our audit coverage and
procedures to validate our controls and provide
additional depth and perspective.
• The Association must assess its operations to
ensure we are checking the right things, and we must
do a better job at anticipating challenges and vulnerabilities.
• In the coming months, we will develop a
Succession Plan for our National Officers and
Directors to ensure a smooth transition of operations
should the need arise. Also, we will finalize a
Disaster Recovery Plan to guarantee that operations
will continue during a natural or other type of
disaster. Finally, we will review our compensation
practices and policies to make certain our employees
are fairly and justly compensated.
5. Fraternal Initiatives
The Association must continue to support current
programs, such as the WPA Picnic-A Great Fraternal
Fest, the Sara Project and Join Hands Day; and we
must seek opportunities to support new concerns.
We must begin to diversify our fraternal activities
that reach out to churches, Hungarian and non-
Hungarian groups, schools, boys and girls clubs and
sports groups, such as Little League or soccer clubs.
All of these are new opportunities that can provide
substantial growth and additional membership for
the future. The William Penn Association must not
be afraid to engage these groups or their activities,
and we must encourage our branches to reach out
and support them. This is where our future lies.
6. Our Heritage
The William Penn Association must not forget our
roots. We must continue to vigorously support
organizations and programs which reinforce and
promote our tradition, customs and language; and
we must first start by increasing youth attendance at
our Hungarian Heritage Experience. This is so
important for the future of the program and to our
future. The next generation is the future, and we
must do everything possible to make these programs
attractive.
Continued on next page
William Penn Life, Special Convention Edition, December 2007
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