K9COLA Board Goals

Board Goals for 2012:

Site Committee

  • Hold three recall test sessions 
  • Identify the needs of each park and present to board
  • Hold two clean up days at Cheyenne and one at the new park

Fundraising Committee 

  • Raise at least $15663.11 in funds
  • K9COLA's 4th Annual Wine for Good Cause!
      •     Increase Revenue to at least $2110.18 
      •     Increase Attendance by 25% over 2011
  •  Complete two grant applications

Volunteer Committee 

  • Accurately Track Volunteer hours (including K9Splash!)
  • Report Volunteer hours to the City quarterly
  • Rebuild our group of core volunteers (20 people active)

Public Education/Social Media Committee

  • Participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade
  • Host 15 information tables (8 farmers markets, 1 K9splash!
  • Other locations could include at the park(s) or local stores).
  • Work with organizations to complete projects for park & to gain volunteers
  • Maintain K9COLA's social media presence and explore new venues.
  • Host Grand Opening for new off-leash area
  • Grow Facebook likes by 25% or 88 people
  • Grow Facebook check-ins
  • Increase number of posts, events, and pictures
  • Hold contests

K9Splash! Committee

  • Host K9Splash! 2012
      •     Increase revenue from: Entry Fees, Sponsorships, K9Splash! Table 10%
      •     Increase attendance by 10%

Officers

  • Create a budget for 2013
  • Complete 2013 goals by December board meeting
  • Provide support to committee chairs as required

At-large directors should assist committees and officers as needs require.

Board Goals for 2011:

  • Continue to raise money for the new OLA (goal $25,000)
    • Create a budget for 2012
  • Participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade
  • Hold K9COLA's 3rd Annual Wine for a Good Cause!
    • Increase profits by 10%
    • Increase attendance by 10%
  • Break ground and host grand opening for new off-leash area
  • Complete the Cheyenne Park Rebuild
  • Have a Birthday Party for Cheyenne
  • Support American Heart Association by participation in their August walk
    • Have at least seven people walk
    • Raise at least $350
  • Team with Cedar Rapids Recreation Department to host K9Splash!
    • Be sure to incorporate improvements/suggestions from 2010
      • Accurately track volunteer hours
      • Volunteers record hours spent between meetings; update spreadsheet at each meeting
    • Have volunteer coordinator responsible for tracking hours at the event
    • Increase attendance by 10%
    • Increase profit by 10%
  • Work with the Boy Scouts to complete at least two projects in 2011
  • Hold two recall test sessions
  • Complete the FY 2013 Hotel Motel Tax Grant (begin working on in January)
    • Financial pages
    • Identify project, begin questions
  • Participate in Downtown Farmers Markets
  • Accurately track volunteer hours for everyone
    • Volunteers record non-splash hours; update spreadsheet at the monthly board meetings
  • Revise/ Update list of duties for board members
  • Rebuild our group of core volulnteers
    • Involve at least 20 different people with K9COLA/K9Splash!
  • Complete 2012 Goals by December board meeting 2011

Board Goals for 2010:

  • Raise $25,000 for new OLA at Squaw Creek
    Outcome: We brought in $13,470.08 and spent $9,578.75, for a net of $3,891.33. Much of the outflows were for K9Splash! expenses, and we will recoup the costs in 2011.
  • Participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade
    Outcome: Completed March 17th, 2010. Probably close to 30 dogs walked with us.
  • Hold a wine tasting fundraiser
    Outcome: Completed May 21st 2010.
  • Break ground and host grand opening for new off-leash area
    Outcome: We did not complete nor make any progress on this goal as the City never got the park to that point
  • Support American Heart Association with their August walk.
    Outcome: Five people joined the team and we raised $290 on August 7, 2010.
  • Team with Cedar Rapids Recreation Department to host K9Splash!
    • Be sure to incorporate improvements/suggestions from 2009
      Ouctome: completed
    • Accurately track volunteer hours
      Outcome: Needs improvement and we have some ideas on this.
    • Increase attendance by 10%
      Outcome: Attendance by dogs did not increase this year, but people almost doubled.
    • Increase profit by 10%
      Outcome: Profit didn’t increase by this much due to expenses, but  it should in 2011.
  • Work with the Boy Scouts to complete at least two projects in 2010
    Outcome: We did not complete this goal as neither park was ready for it. Fundraising Coordinator Nancy Grindle and Public Education Coordinator Noelle Witkop did some work with the regional leader to pave the way for 2011.
  • Hold four recall tests sessions (assumes fees & discounts are reinstated early in year)
    Outcome: Fees were not reinstated so we didn’t work on this goal.
  • Complete the FY 2012 Hotel-Motel Tax Grant application (begin working in late August)
    Outcome: Completed Oct 1, 2010.
  • Participate in Downtown Farmers Markets
    Outcome: We attended all but one farmers market and made a good profit from it.
  • Accurately track volunteer hours for everyone
    Outcome: Needs work we have put into place a method for 2011.
  • Complete 2011 Goals by December board meeting 2010.
    Outcome: Completed December 1st, 2010.

Board Goals for 2009:

  • Raise $100,000 for off leash-park flood recovery
    Outcome: City is chipping in $125,000 for a new park; we have raised $11,984.15; FEMA estimates $158,000 for old park; found a volunteer (Denise Clark) to design new park; her time/service is usually expensed out at $65/hour for a total value of $2,600 for this year
  • Plan & Design a new Dog Park (possibly including a timeline)
    Outcome: Initial design revealed to Board September 2, 2009
    • What do we want to see?
  • Update Website (Overhaul/facelift)
    Outcome: Found a volunteer designer (Steve Schenck from Ohio) on April 1; unveiled new Web site July 2009
  • Update By-laws
    Outcome: Completed March 20009
  • Support American Heart Association with their August walk.
    Outcome: Completed August 8, 2009
  • Team with CR Rec Department to host K9Splash!
    • Be sure to incorporate improvements/suggestions from ‘08
      Outcome: Completed
    • Increase attendance by 5%
      Outcome: Increased by 34% August 23, 2009
    • Increase profit by 10%
      Outcome: Increased by approximately 8.7% August 23, 2009; 2008 - $2,683.20, 2009 - $2,917.08
  • Work with the boy scouts to complete @ least two projects in 2009
    Outcome: Cindy has started the process for a backgroun check; we currently have no projects for the boy scouts to do.
  • Hold 4 Recall tests sessions (assumes fees & discounts are reinstated early in year)
    Outcome: As of the end of November, no fees have been reinstated and there is no date from the city on when the fees will be reinstated; therefore it hasn't been logical to spend resources on holding recall tests for discounts, when there is no discount to receive.
  • Double the number of our newsletter subscribers
    Outcome: Our first electronic newsletter sent out 10/11/08 went to 1,409 people. Our most recent newsletter went to 1,301 people. Although this may look like we have failed at our goal since it indicates a net loss of 108 people, the newsletter has changed a lot over this time and looking at more data points allows us to get a better understanding of what is happening. Our high number of newsletter subscribers was 1,453 in November '08, and our low was 1,189 in February '09. If we look at just February '09 to present we have seen an increase of 112 subscribers, or almost 10%. This number continues to grow. This could reflect the fact that we have finally established a frequency and content in which people are interested and which they will read.
  • Get a semi permanent feature on gazetteonline.com
    Outcome: Our Public Education Coordinator who established this goal left our organization early in the year, and the position remains vacant, so we have not worked on accomplishing this. We have had a Gazette article written about our organiation and have had three different news segments appear on local television stations. We also launched MySpace and Facebook pages (social networking sites). The Facebook page has been especially successful recruiting "fans" and allowing an easy and quick method for communicating news with our park users. We also received Dog Fancy's Most Determined Volunteer Award, placing us in the top ten dog parks in America!
  • Complete 2010 Goals by December board meeting 2009.
    Outcome: Completed 12/02/09

Board Goals for 2008:

  • Update Use Agreement with the city of Cedar Rapids. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Plan improvements in small dog yard and set date for execution of plan. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Recruit qualified people to serve on board of directors. (status: done)
  • Continue "Come Join Us" campaign that focuses on retaining and gaining K9COLA members. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Continue “Dogs Gone Wild” campaign that focuses on fun events. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Participate in 2008 Pet Expo April 26th & 27th at Hawkeye Downs. (status: done)
  • Compile training material for Park Rovers (Park Greeters) and recruit volunteers. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Hold four recall test sessions. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Support American Heart Association with their August walk. (status: done)
  • Team with Cedar Rapids Recreation Department to host K9Splash! (status: done)
  • Define additional Boy Scout projects. (status: pre-empted by flood)
  • Complete 2009 Goals by end of December 2008. (status: done)