The Trusted Authority for Starting, Improving, & Selling Private Schools: 2007-04-15

Hi Inner Circle Member:

I wanted you to be the first to know that I’ve re-launched my web site. I’d like to thank my webmaster, DPG Associates (http://www.dpgassociates.com) for helping me out big time. They’ve been really patient (understatement) with me, and I think their quality of work shows. When you get a chance, quickly check it out at:

--> http://www.HalladayEducationGroup.com

I’ve added new articles that will help you maximize your private - independent school or non-profit. In addition, I’ve added an ONLINE STORE. To see it, just click here:

--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/products.php

To celebrate the re-launch of my web site, I’m going hold a 50% off sale for ALL products sold. So keep an eye on your email inbox for an announcement that will include an unheard of special discount off, just for our subscribers!

I'm off to Maui and Honolulu on Monday for 4 days to meet with clients. My wife,

Hope, thinks I'm a bit crazy not to stay longer for a mini-break, but I really enjoy spending time with my family, so it's 4 busy days in paridise and back to Vancouver again. I'm co-coaching my son's Tadpole team, and I enjoy seeing him learn to play the game. Also, I woudn't want to miss too many Canuck's playoff hockey games (it's been 3 years!). And I don't think they'll be carrying the games on Hawaiian TV.

Enjoy today's eZine,Zine,

Doug Halladay
President

Halladay Education Group Inc.
www.HalladayEducationGroup.com

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In This Issue

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1. Services You Can Use

2. Products You Will Want To Have

3. Starting A School – Essential Legal Steps

4. Strategic Planning – 7 Problems That May Arise

5. Inner Circle Thought of the Week

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1. Services You Can Use

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Do you want your organization to be more successful in board governance, to effectively develop your own strategic plan, or start your own school? If so, our services can help. Please email info@halladayeducationgroup.com or call us at 604-868-0002 to find out more about how to:

- Start a School

- Strategic Planning

- Board Governance Workshops

- Head of School Searches and Evaluations

- Coaching for Chairs and Heads of School

- Institutional Assessments

- International Education Development Projects

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2. Products You Will Want To Have

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(A). "Strategic Planning Toolkit: 10 Steps To Success!!" (#1 BEST SELLER)

Learn How To Develop Your Own Strategic Plan Like The Pro's With This Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step, All-In-One Strategic Planning Toolkit. To find out more click here:

--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/stratgic_planning_toolkit.php

(B). "Inner Circle Webinar Series -- Secrets of Starting Your Own School” (#2 BEST SELLER)

Are you still struggling with starting your own for- or non-profit K-12 School, College, University, or Institute? You're not alone. I share with you how to start a school from the viewpoint of those who have been in the trenches and understand how to put a school together efficiently, and cost effectively. To find out more click here:

--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/products/webinaroverview.php

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3. Starting A School – Essential Legal Steps

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When you’re establishing your organizational structure, you should consult with an attorney to help you set up the legal structure and to incorporate the new private-independent school. For example, if you want to start a Christian School, the simplest way would be place the new school under the existing corporate laws of the church and operate the school as a ministry of the church. This could be accomplished by revising your current church by-laws to include a few sentences describing the educational and ministry purpose and goals of the school, and add whatever legal language your lawyer recommends. However, many schools have a preference to operate as a separate 501-(c)3 non-profit corporation. If that’s how you would prefer to structure your school then have your lawyer draw up by-laws and set up your corporation. This would also suit founding groups that want to start a school not associated with a particular church. Your by-laws will be a set of legal rules that provide a framework for operating a business, establish a board of directors (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.), legal responsibility to hire staff, acquire facilities, raise funds, conduct business, and operate the school. Your by-laws determine meeting times of the board, how the board is elected/appointed, how long they serve, and how to dissolve the corporation and distribute remaining funds should the school fail. Because the school is set up as a non-profit, donations may be tax deductible. However the board must request tax exempt status from the IRS.

If you would like more information about STARTING YOUR OWN SCHOOL call me at 1-604-868-0002 or email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com , or go to:
--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/services.php

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4. Strategic Planning - 7 Problems That May Arise

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(1). PLANNING IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION ON WHICH IT IS BASED: Too often, groups rely on untested assumptions or hunches, erecting their plans on unsteady ground.

(2). PLANNING ISN'T MAGIC: YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT: Frequently, organizations contemplating new initiatives - a program, a facility, staff expansion, begin by writing the last page of their plans, the one where everyone lives happily ever after. But the process of planning is one of research and investigation. Results can no more be predetermined than can the outcome of a scientific experiment.

(3). ADAPTABLE BEATS OBSTINATE, ANYTIME: Some planners see themselves as creating a blueprint, building a future the way one builds a house. If things don't go according to plan, they blame other people's failure to "get with the program." In contrast to a construction project, organization-building is never complete -- like all life-forms, an organization's choices are to continuously adapt or die. Rather than planning as if the future were pre-determined, plan for flexibility. Plans that can't be changed shouldn't be written.

(4). PUT PLANNING IN ITS PLACE AND TIME: Some groups don't recognize that it takes time and effort to plan well. They want the results, but aren't able or willing to make the investment. They end up in the worst of both worlds -- their ongoing work is set back because they took time to plan without thinking through the implications; and their too-rushed plans end up half-baked ideas.

(5). TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING - PLANNING CAN BECOME A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTION: Times have been challenging for many non-profit organizations. One of the ironies of funding cutbacks in recent years is that it has sometimes been easier to obtain support for planning than for programming. This can lead to an obsessive internal focus -- fleeing the indifferent outside world - the "big world" - people retreat to the "little worlds" of their organizations, where they can at least have company in their misery.

(6). BOILERPLATES AND COOKIE-CUTTERS ARE THE WRONG TOOLS FOR THIS JOB: Some planners opt for one "model" works approach. It's not that other organizations' experiences aren't relevant to your own. Sometimes they're perfectly germane. But not often. Organizations, multiplying the complexity and diversity of their individual members, deserve to find their own paths rather than being pushed through one way. Every one is unique.

(7). WRITING IT UP IN PLAINSPEAK RATHER THAN PLAIN LANGUAGE UNDOES THE GOOD OF PLANNING: Sometimes organizations have great face-to-face planning experiences ‑‑ good discussions, moments of profound insight, the excitement of contemplating future possibility, the elation of a meeting of the minds. But feelings don't last long; they need to be carried forward into action, guided by a written plan. Some planning documents are so vague, abstract, and general, they're useless to the people who invested so much in considering their futures. If you are going to take the time to plan, do it right; be concrete about guiding values, deadlines, and ways to evaluate your strategies. Put enough flesh on the bare bones of your plans to keep the document alive and kicking, or it will be buried in a drawer before the ink has dried.

If you would like more information about STRATEGIC PLANNING call me at 1-604-868-0002 or email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com , or go to:
--> http://www.halladayeducationgroup.com/strategic.php

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5. Inner Circle Thought of the Week

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1. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
2. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
3. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
4. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
5. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
6. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

Smile and enjoy your day.

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To your success,