1. _____ Do basic research on the issue. Involve community members whenever possible.
2. _____ Identify and select chairpeople, with elected leadership, preferably at least 14 days prior to planning meeting. Chairpeople should have credibility in the community and be directly affected by the issue to be addressed at the meeting.
3. _____ At least 10 days, meet with chairpeople to review identify potential planning meeting participants, research and strategies, discuss alternatives for resolving issue, identifying specific tasks to be completed before planning meeting and action meeting, and set tentative date of planning meeting.
4. _____ Between the 7^th and 10^th day prior to planning meeting, go over research, alternatives and potential planning meeting date with identified planning meeting participants.
5. _____ At least 7 days prior to the planning meeting, set a time, date and place for the meeting with chairs.
6. _____ Potential participants should receive a planning meeting notice at least 7 days prior to the planning meeting.
7. _____ Get chairpeople (and others) to call potential planning meeting participants, 2 or 3 days before the meeting.
8. _____ Meet with chairpeople, at least 2 days prior to the meeting, to set the agenda.
9. _____ Call chairpeople the day before meeting to check on details. Does anyone need a ride? Will there be refreshments? Is anyone nervous or trying to back out of the meeting?

1. _____ Make last minute reminder calls.
2. _____ Arrive at the meeting at least a half hour early to help the host set up chairs and go over last minute details with chairpeople.
3. _____ Make sure everyone signs the sign up sheet.
4. _____ Accomplishment of strategic planning meeting checklist
  Before making an action plan, there are two critical preliminary phases of strategy development:

• Cutting an issue (see training-strategy development for more detailed questions)

1. What are the specific outcomes you want to achieve (goals)?
2. Who are the specific people who will participate (constituency)?
3. Who are the specific people to make the change (or keep the status quo) we want to achieve (decision-makers/targets)?
4. How will we gain the necessary leverage or handle to move into action (handles)?

• Strategic analysis (see training-strategy development for more detailed questions)

1. What is the cost and benefits to the organization (organizational pay-off)?
2. What is the nature of the change you want in the area of housing? Attitude or power change? How much does target agree with us (nature of change)?
3. Who is likely to be our opposition (opposition)?
4. What are factors beyond the organization’s control that may have a major impact on whether a campaign can be successful, which create opportunities or limit possibilities (objective conditions)?
5. Does the organization have the capacity to win this campaign (organizational capacity)?
6. Who are our potential allies (support)?

1. What are the goals of the meeting?
2. Who can give us what we want out of this meeting?
3. What else do we need to know to get what we want?
4. What handles or leverages might we have available, and want to use at this meeting/event?
5. What is the nature of the change we want to achieve at this meeting, and in who?
6. What specific tactic could we use to keep the opposition off-balance at this action/event? Appeal to electronic media? Arouse support of our people?
7. What counter-tactics have the opposition used, or may use at the meeting, and how can we combat it?
8. Who in our neighborhood (and elsewhere) is affected by this issue, and would motivate them to come to the meeting/action?
9. What is the best way to reach, and get people to the meeting/action?
10. What type of testimonials will get our people enthused and get the general public in our favor?
11. Who’s responsible for providing leadership to specific parts of the meeting plan?

AFTER THE MEETING

1. _____ Within two days of planning meeting, talk to chairpeople. Ask what they thought of the planning meeting. Did people participate? Do they have a clear idea of what needs to be done before the action meeting? LISTEN to what chairpeople have to say. Encourage them and congratulate them for doing a good job. Make tactful suggestions for improving chairpeople’s skills if necessary.
2. _____ Talk to everyone else who attended the meeting. Listen to their impressions, make note of their suggestions, and encourage continued participation. Remind them of any tasks they volunteered to do.
3. _____ Do any follow up tasks requested and monitor the completion of tasks by others (see Checklist for Action Meeting, Before the Meeting).