Vision

The Annapolis Dragon Boat Club is the regional dragon boat community for those impacted by breast cancer, where everyone is welcome.

Mission

To develop healthy bodies and spirits and build a community through dragon boating for everyone impacted by breast cancer, including those who have received a diagnosis and supporters.

Pillar 1. Develop healthy bodies and spirits

Goal 1.1 Enhance the paddling program

Tactics include:

  • Establish a paddler program and train new and current members.
  • Strengthen the coaching program and train new and current coaches.
  • Strengthen the steering program and train new and current steerers.
  • Establish a buddy program to welcome new members and grow friendships among current members.

Goal 1.2 Enhance the racing program

Tactics include:

  • Establish an annual race program for 2025-2027.
  • Establish race preparation standards.
  • Research and document other clubs’ racing programs.
  • Get member feedback on races and racing.

Goal 1.3 Provide year-round fitness opportunities

Tactics include:

  • Establish physical activity guidelines, factoring in age, ability, interest, etc.
  • Increase the percentage of members participating in practices and paddles during the on-water season.
  • Increase the percentage of members participating in off-season fitness events.
  • Ensure the buddy program includes a fitness aspect for accountability and friendship.

Goal 1.4 Provide year-round social opportunities

Tactics include:

  • Establish an annual social program for 2025-2027.
  • Research and document other clubs’ social programs.

Pillar 2. Build a community through dragon boating

Goal 2.1 Engage and retain individual members

Tactics include:

  • Implement all tactics under Goal 1. Develop healthy bodies and spirits and Goal 2. Build a community through dragon boating.
  • Conduct an annual member satisfaction survey and create ongoing opportunities for members to provide feedback.
  • Establish a recognition program to engage and recognize members.
  • Conduct exit interviews with members who leave the club.
  • Maintain contact with former members.

Goal 2.2 Recruit new individual members with intentionality

Tactics include:

  • Reorganize the outreach and hospitality functions and committees.
  • Create or update communication, outreach, and marketing materials.
  • Identify and establish relationships with regional medical organizations.
  • Develop an outreach strategy for underserved communities.
  • Identify and establish relationships with regional organizations that serve underserved communities.
  • Implement a tool to track membership, outreach, development, and other activities.
  • Extend reach to communities within a one-hour drive of Annapolis.

Goal 2.3 Develop strategic partnerships

Tactics include:

  • Establish a Partnership Committee.
  • Identify and establish mutually beneficial relationships with select nonprofit organizations.
  • Identify and establish relationships with select state and local government organizations.
  • Identify and establish relationships with select environmental organizations to strengthen our stewardship of Spa Creek.
  • Ensure the efforts include partners for future facility needs.

Pillar 3. Build capacity to meet the unprecedented demand for dragon boating and increased incidence of breast cancer

Goal 3.1 Organize for growth

Tactics include:

  • Redesign governance and volunteer structure.
  • Increase the percentage of members who volunteer.
  • Create opportunities and recruit volunteers for tasks and committees.
  • Train more coaches, steerers, and operations folks as described in Goal 1.1 Enhance the paddling program.
  • Research and identify any gaps that might be filled by contractors or staff.
  • Create an operational and financial plan to address unmet demand, including identifying any untapped capacity among current coaches, steerers, boats, etc.

Goal 3.2 Build financial security

Tactics include:

  • Establish a Development Committee for fundraising.
  • Establish a new foundation board and recruit individuals who will “give and get.”
  • Create an annual development operating plan and identify new fundraising and sponsorship opportunities, including special events like a Spa Creek Race.
  • Increase member dues to meet a larger percentage of mission essential operating costs.
  • Secure new, unrestricted grants and contributions, including setting stretch goals for the percentage of contributions from new donors each year.

Goal 3.3 Begin work to secure a stable home

Tactics include:

  • Research and develop a facilities plan and evaluate options.
  • Document the current state of assets, space, capacity, etc.
  • Document the future capital asset needs.
  • Create the business case for a shared on-water facility with similar local clubs.
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