The Speaker’s House has entered a new and exciting stage – planning its future! Thanks to a grant from The Lenfest Foundation, The Speaker’s House has hired the Osiris Group to develop a strategic plan for the next 3 – 5 years. In an era where attendance at historic house museums is declining, we want to ensure that we are embarking on a plan that takes into consideration opinions from our most important stakeholders: you, and dozens more like you who have supported us during the past seven years.
The Osiris Group, which was selected after we reviewed proposals submitted by firms all over the country, is a Philadelphia-based business strategy and communications firm. You may have unwittingly come across one of their most recent projects: developing an outreach strategy for the Municipality of Norristown (or in more common language, developing a Norristown “brand.”) The Osiris Group does not work exclusively with historic sites, but it was their experience and creativity that excited the Strategic Planning Committee. Check out this link and you will see what we mean: http://www.osiris-inc.com/_home/osiris_movie/index.html
Throughout the strategic planning process, the Board of Trustees and Executive Director Allison Weiss will be re-examining The Speaker House’s mission, its impact and role in the community, and its role among historic preservation and public history organizations locally, regionally, and nationally. (Try saying that all in one breath.) So how do we do that? In order to make decisions, we need to hear from you, our stakeholders. During the first two months of the strategic planning process, the Osiris Group will be conducting dozens of interviews with community leaders, preservation specialists, educators, and potential visitors to The Speaker’s House.
This is where you fit in. Have a strong opinion about the future of The Speaker’s House? Want to make your voice heard? Contact us right now (info@speakershouse.org) to be part of a focus group. This will only take about an hour of your time but you will be serving a crucial role in planning for the future of this historic resource.
November 2, 2008 at 9:58 pm |
Lisa Minardi asked me to check your site. Small museums often struggle for financial survival. Perhaps active Board members from large local corporations (such as Merck) may help. You need a “sugar daddy.” Fund raisers with renactors, town involvement, a history day, whatever works. Good Luck.
Don Herr