1. Mission Statement Quest

2. Now that we have finished reading Freak the Mightyand had some personal experience in attempting to apply the lessons it teaches, it’s time to take it one step further. Many of us have noticed how difficult it can be to accomplish worthwhile goals on our own; when we work with others we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. The goals we have chosen may not seem like the sorts of things in which we would normally choose to include other people, but if we are willing to expand our visions and our circles of influence, we might be amazed how many other people there are who share our dreams.

3. Any time individuals gather for a common purpose it is important to define exactly what that common purpose is so that the maximum amount of time and energy can be focused on the most important actions. Take a minute and write your group’s answer to these questions. Q1. What might happen if a group of people didn’t take the time to define their purpose(s)? Q2. Do you think it is possible for an organization to have more than one main purpose? Q3. What could be some of the advantages of having more than one main purpose? Q4. What could be some of the disadvantages?

4. Many of these groups of dedicated citizens are called non-profit organizations. Q5. Discuss with your group and write your opinion on why they are called “non-profit organizations.” According to Wikipedia, there are over 1,600,000 NPOs in the United States alone. Q6. Why do you suppose there are so many? Q7. As a group write down five NPOs that you know of. Q8. What are some ways that you can learn about the different NPOs?

5. With so many NPOs to choose from, it can be tough to choose one that we want to join and support. There are many questions which one must ask before giving time, energy, or money to a group. Q9. What are some of the questions you would ask before joining a group? (Write three) To help answer these questions for outsiders and to give focus to the members, many NPOs create what is called a mission statement. A mission statement is usually a short description of the purpose of the organization, the actions they perform, and the values they follow.

6. Boys and Girls Club Mission Statement: To inspire and enable the youth in our communities, especially those who need us most, to become caring and responsible individuals through guidance-oriented adult relationships and engagement in a variety of enriching activities within a safe environment.

7. Sometimes a mission statement is broken into sections which describe the purpose, actions, and values separately.

8. The Boy Scouts of America Mission Statement The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Vision Statement The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law. Scout Oath On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Scout Law A Scout is: Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent

9. A mission statement is considered a “primary source” of information about an organization. An article in the newspaper or in an encyclopedia, about the organization would be considered a “secondary source” of information. Q10. What’s the difference between a “primary source” and “secondary source” of information. Primary sources are generally considered to be more reliable and valid sources of information. If you are trying to make a decision about whether to join or support a NPO, you need to check primary sources.

10. If you want to convince or persuade someone else to believe the way that you do about an organization, your argument will sound much more convincing if you use primary sources. Imagine, who would you be more likely to believe, the guy who actually knows a person, or someone who has only heard rumors about them? Who would you be more likely to believe, a person who has actually studied the mission and plans of an organization, or someone who’s read articles about them in the newspaper?

11. Web quest Go to idealist.org In the middle-top of the screen, click on organizations. Click the dropdown box next to Area of focus

12. Choose an appropriate topic which interests you from the list. You can then narrow the field by location if you want. Click the search button at the bottom. Choose an organization that interests you. Copy their mission statement from the idealist.com page.

13. Click on the organization’s webpage link if it is available. See if you can find their mission statement on their website. If there are any differences between this copy and the idealist.com copy, make a copy of both of them.

14. Find the mission statements for two more organizations that interest you. Write a brief explanation of why you were interested in them in the first place and which one you like the best and why.

15. What Should Be in a Mission Statement? The following concepts are critical in defining "who" your organization is: The Purpose Statement The purpose statement clearly states what your organization seeks to accomplish: Why does your organization exist? What is the ultimate result of your work?

16. Purpose statements usually include two phrases: an infinitive that indicates a change in status, such as to increase, to decrease, to prevent, to eliminate an identification of the problem or condition to be changed. An example of a purpose statement is "to eliminate homelessness." In defining purpose, it is essential to focus on outcomes and results rather than methods: How is the world going to be different? What is going to change? Thus, the purpose of a mental health counseling agency would never be simply "to provide counseling services," for that is describing a method rather than a result. Rather, the purpose might be "to improve the quality of life" for its clients.

17. The Business Statement This statement outlines the "business(es)" (i.e., activities or programs) your organization chooses in order to pursue its purpose. Specifically, you must answer, "What activity are we going to do to accomplish our purpose?" For example, there are many ways to work on the problem of homelessness: to construct housing for homeless individuals to educate the public and advocate for public policy changes to provide job training to homeless individuals. Each of these are different businesses, but they may be different means of achieving the same purpose.

18. Business statements often include the verb "to provide" or link a purpose statement with the words "by" or "through." For example: "To eliminate homelessness by providing job training to homeless individuals." A cautionary note: If the word "and" is in your purpose or business statement, ask yourselves, "Are we really committed to both ideas connected by the word" and, "or have we simply not been able to accept that one idea is more important?"

19. Values Values are beliefs which your organization's members hold in common and endeavor to put into practice. The values guide your organization’s members in performing their work. Specifically, you should ask, "What are the basic beliefs that we share as an organization?" Examples of values include: a commitment to excellent services, innovation, diversity, creativity, honesty, integrity, and so on. Values may include beliefs such as: "Eating vegetables is more economically efficient and ecologically responsible than eating beef." (Vegetarian Association) (http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/faq/66-22/16-27)