Susan Schantz was the fifth Member of WGA to serve as president, and she was at the helm of the organization from 2011–2012. From celebrating WGA’s 10th anniversary to updating its strategic plan, this was a memorable time in WGA history. Read on to hear more about Susan’s reflections and to learn about her favorite “sweet” memory.
When did you join WGA, and what prompted you to take a leadership role within the organization?
When we moved here in 2004, we reconnected with the Van Vlecks, who had been our neighbors in Ohio. Right away, Joan took me to my first WGA meeting. I was hooked. WGA members became some of my best friends, and my involvement helped me get to know the community. After I’d served as education co-chair, then grants co-chair, I was nominated to serve as Barbara Harrell’s vice president, a wonderful experience that prepared me for the presidency.
During your time as president in 2011–2012, what significant happenings took place in WGA?
It was our tenth anniversary, and we hit the ground running. I had a fantastic steering committee and wish I could name every person, including many not on the SC, who helped accomplish all we did at a critical time in WGA’s evolution. We had grown in numbers and aspiration and had a daunting agenda: to recommit to our mission; to solidify our ongoing relationship with TCF by delineating our respective roles and responsibilities in a joint Memorandum of Understanding; to bring our communication tools into the digital age; to expand and institutionalize our connector program to nurture members’ relationships with WGA and one another and support recruitment; to diversify our educational programs and site visits; and to refine our grants process to deepen and broaden our impact and make us more responsive to our grantees and those they serve. And we wanted to celebrate meaningfully the remarkable results of our Founders’ and TCF’s vision.
During your time as president, WGA updated its strategic plan. Can you share a bit about that?
From a new strategic planning process emerged the idea of updating and expanding WGA’s pioneering 2004 research as an anniversary gift to the community. The project involved bringing together representatives of women- and girl-serving agencies from across the community to have them share their perspectives with us and with one another. This began WGA’s important ongoing role as a community convener. The member-led and member-staffed research team also analyzed statistics and ultimately identified themes to guide our grantmaking. Findings were presented at our 2012 Member Forum and in a written report, Stronger Voices…Better Lives, building on the 2004 report, Voices Heard…Women and Girls Speak, and informing our new single-focus, multi-year grantmaking, with mental health as the first focus area.
What is a fond memory from your time as president?
I believe doing hard work together is the best team-builder, and we demonstrated that. We also had fun. An example is our M&M game plan. With an abundance of ideas and energy from a growing group of members (up 20% in 2011–12), we needed to harness our resources and stay focused. We adopted the M&M mantra: “Minimize meetings, materials, messages, and mission creep.” It was posted at every steering committee meeting, with bowls of M&Ms on the table as a sweet reminder. I never eat one without remembering what a joy and privilege it was to be WGA’s president.
