NATIONAL RECYCLING COALITION
FINAL DRAFT
WORK PLAN & BUDGET

FISCAL YEAR 2004
APRIL 1, 2004 – MARCH 31, 2005

OVERVIEW

In Fiscal Year 2002, the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) board of directors passed a strategic plan to guide the organization’s priorities and focus for the next five years. The board identified three broad goal areas for NRC and to simply and effectively communicate those goals, we have creatively retooled the 3R’s to capture their essence:

1. RISE. We strategically advance our organization and lead in emerging areas of concern.

2. RELATE. We create meaningful dialogues with our members and other interested parties.

3. REALIZE. We secure and maintain financial viability for the organization's current and future endeavors.

Each goal is described in detail below and our project work and administrative functions have been distributed among them. Organizing our work in this way reinforces the 3 R’s and will help simplify the way we communicate about NRC’s work.

NRC’s FY 04 workplan is designed to provide the foundation for the organization to achieve these goals. The following narrative describes the key actions NRC will take in FY 04 to implement each of the three goals.

1. RISE …

About the Goal

Recycling is more than placing bottles and cans in a bin at the curb. It’s a complex industrial system that affects how natural resources are extracted, how consumer products are designed and manufactured, and how discards from homes and businesses are managed. Recycling is both a movement of activists and an industry of entrepreneurs. From the smallest communities to the largest corporations across America, tens of thousands of organizations and millions of individual Americans participate in all aspects of recycling, every day. This great diversity can be both a weakness and strength. NRC is rising to the challenge to ensure it is the latter, by providing needed leadership on the pivotal issues that will determine the future of recycling.

Promoting Product Stewardship

In FY04, NRC will endeavor to promote a shared responsibility model of product stewardship across a broad range of materials and industries. The product stewardship movement represents a new approach that can revolutionize recycling from the front end of design issues to the back end of discard management. Product stewardship refers to a fair and effective means for managing discarded products and packaging with shared roles for consumers, government, and manufacturers in funding and implementing management systems. In 2001-2002, NRC developed a strategy to guide the coalition's work on product stewardship issues, resulting in the adoption of the "Framework for Evaluating Product Stewardship Policies and Initiatives."

To advance this concept, and to demonstrate its potential to revolutionize recycling, NRC is pursuing public policies and creating partnerships with leading manufacturers. NRC’ Recycling Works! Initiative has traditionally been the programmatic area devoted to equipping recycling practitioners with tools and information to effectively design, expand, and evaluate and improve the cost-effectiveness of local programs. As NRC has substantially expanded its efforts to partner with the private sector in new initiatives, the Recycling Works program has been retooled to encompass this collaborative, leading- edge work.

Under this program, NRC is partnering with several of the nation’s leading companies to develop and implement recycling programs and communication strategies that will provide direct benefits to our members. NRC believes engaging corporate leaders in forthright dialogues and working in partnership is imperative to recycling's continued growth and success. It is in this spirit that NRC staff recommend the five projects outlined below:

A. ReMix Magazine Recycling Program
B. Computer Recycling Partnership with Dell
C. Addressing Challenges to Glass Recycling
D. NRC-Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Partnership
E. Beverage Packaging Environmental Council


A. ReMix Magazine Recycling Program

NRC is teaming up with TI Paper Co., the paper-purchasing arm of Time, Inc. and the world’s largest buyer of coated papers, and International Paper, the world’s largest producer of coated paper, with the goal of increasing magazine recycling.

To achieve this goal, the project team is implementing an intensive magazine recycling pilot program in the City of Boston and will launch a similar campaign in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The team will test ways to significantly boost magazine recovery, including intensive consumer education.

The public launch of the ReMix program is set for March 2004 in Boston with a press event that will include all of the project partners. Beginning in March 2004 Time, Inc. will run promotional ads on magazine recycling in local editions of several of their weekly and monthly publications including Time, Sports Illustrated, and In Style. The campaign will last one year. If the pilots are successful, the campaign and model developed in the pilot could be expanded to numerous NRC member communities around the country.

Each project partner will contribute resources and expertise to the project. TI Paper Co. will bring the publishing power of their parent company; Time Inc. International paper is taking the lead in devising the messaging and outreach campaign. NRC will play a variety of roles:

• Providing a critical link between the project partners and city recycling officials on the front lines of the nation’s recycling efforts.

• Guiding how to effectively infuse the resources and tools of the project partners with existing elements of the City’s recycling program.

• Tracking and analyzing data to chart the progress of the pilots, and provide ongoing feedback to project partners on ways to adapt the program to improve results.

B. Computer Recycling Partnership with Dell

Under the program banner No Computer Should Go To Waste, Dell has assumed a leadership role among computer makers in establishing convenient and cost-effective opportunities for consumers to access recycling and reuse options for their computers. Throughout FY 03, NRC worked closely with Dell on a variety of efforts to help build the electronic recycling and reuse infrastructure. In FY04, NRC will continue and expand this key alliance.

Technical Assistance Program for Grantee Organizations

After seeking advice from NRC on the best ways for the company to support communities wishing to collect used computers, Dell awarded $120,000 in a series of $10,000 grants to select U.S. communities, universities, and nonprofit organizations interested in holding computer collection events between February 1 and June 30, 2004.

Recipients of Dell’s Recycling Grant Program awards for spring 2004 are:
• Anchorage, Alaska – Green Star, Inc.
• San Ramon, Calif. – Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
• Washington, D.C. – D.C. Department of Public Works, Office of Recycling
• Atlanta – City of Atlanta, Benjamin E. Mays Center, Tech Corps Georgia, Inc.
• Kansas City, Mo. – Bridging the Gap
• Jackson, Miss. – Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
• Santa Fe, N.M. – Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency
• Albany, N.Y. – Town of Bethlehem
• State College, Penn. – Centre County Solid Waste Authority
• Columbia, S.C. – Recycling Market Development Advisory Council
• Knoxville and suburbs, Tenn. -- City of Knoxville, Solid Waste Office
• Milwaukee – Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful

Beginning in February 2004, NRC will deliver a range of technical assistance to the twelve grantees selected by Dell to implement special one-day computer recycling collection events. Technical assistance will be provided in four priority areas:

1) Fundraising
2) Selecting a recycler/vendor
3) On-site logistics
4) Promotion

Working with a core team of experts in each of these areas, NRC will use a variety of communication tools to deliver a range of technical assistance to the grantees. To link grantees with our team of experts, a series of online forums and teleconferences will be held over the course of the grant to share best practices, create a supportive team atmosphere, and encourage peer-to-peer dialogue and interaction among the participating organizations. The forums will address the four priority areas identified above. To provide a forum for ongoing, day-to-day communications among grantees and the project and program coordinators, a closed listserv will be established. NRC will monitor and moderate the listserv discussions.

NRC will develop a standardized reporting form for use by grantees to record and tabulate the results of each collection event. NRC will conduct interviews with each grantee at the conclusion of the grant period to assess the impact and effectiveness of the technical assistance program and the overall project. To provide direction for future grant programs, NRC will compile and analyze the results of the interviews, conference calls and reporting forms and will issue a final evaluative report.

Computer Recycling Workshops and Trainings

As an exclusive benefit for NRC members, in FY03 NRC partnered with Dell to hold two free hands-on computer recycling workshops and trainings. These two-day conferences were hosted by Stanford University and University of Texas at Austin, and each event provided attendees the opportunity to study and experience best practices for computer collection events first hand, while also providing a broad overview of the state of electronics recycling, the latest in environmental design work and the best communication practices to generate participation in recycling.

The first-day workshop featured national recycling experts as speakers in a program designed for municipal and university recycling coordinators who wished to learn how to stage their own recycling events. The second day was a computer collection and recycling event open to all area residents. NRC conducted outreach and promotion for the workshops to our members, coordinated site selection and attendee registration, and assisted with agenda development and speaker recruitment.

NRC and Dell will hold four more computer recycling workshops and trainings in FY04. Events will be held in New York City, NY; Boston, MA; Los Angeles, CA; and New Orleans, LA. We are discussing holding an additional workshop at the San Francisco Congress.
C. Addressing Challenges to Glass Recycling
NRC, the Glass Packaging Institute, and Recycle America Alliance have launched a national project to increase glass recycling in the United States. The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency of the glass recycling system and improve the quality of market-ready glass cullet. Based on extensive analysis by three project workgroups in the scoping phase, as well expert input received from 30 of the nation’s top stakeholders in glass recycling, it is clear that many of the fundamental technical, economic and political factors impacting glass recycling are ingrained in the system. Recognizing this reality, this project will focus on specific actions that are most likely to result in incremental and appreciable improvements in glass container recycling. Described below are several actions the project team will take in FY 04 to address challenges to glass recycling.
Assess and Analyze the Current State of Municipal Glass Recycling Programs

To complete an assessment of municipal glass recycling programs, 15 key cities will be surveyed. The interviews will focus on current program design, innovations/best practices and adaptations that have increased glass recovery and reduced contaminants, quantitative data on the amount of glass recovered, and qualitative information on the future plans for the design of the program. The survey results will be analyzed to formulate an accurate snapshot of the current state-of-the-art in glass collection, and to identify cities that will benefit from additional technical assistance from the glass recycling team.

Form Glass Recycling Team for Training, Technical Assistance, and Quick Response

A glass recycling team will be formed consisting of 12 to 15 professionals with expertise on each segment of the glass recycling system. Team members will provide technical assistance to municipalities seeking to add glass to their recycling programs, provide training in workshops and sessions at state and national recycling events and conferences, and provide a quick response to cities contemplating downsizing recycling programs. To maximize the effectiveness and flexibility of the team, members of the team will be drawn for project work based upon the match of their specific expertise with the issues at hand.

Identify Sites/Dates for Workshops and Trainings

NRC will develop a prospectus for best practices and disseminate this information via workshops/training and via NRC’s affiliated state recycling organizations annual conferences. Based on this outreach, three state ROs wishing to host the training sessions, most likely in conjunction with state recycling conferences, will be identified.

Conduct Three Workshops and Trainings

Three workshops and trainings will be conducted by select team members at recycling conferences and related events in high-priority areas to instruct municipal recycling officials and others on best practices for operating an efficient and cost-effective glass container recycling program. In addition to the three workshops, a session on best practices in glass recycling will be held during the 2004 NRC Congress & Expo in San Francisco.

Provide Technical Assistance to Three Cities to Add Glass to Recycling Program

Cities not currently collecting glass within their recycling programs, including municipalities that have eliminated glass from their programs, will be identified throughout the country, and three cities with a high potential for increased recovery will be selected for hands-on education and technical assistance to assist with adding glass to the program. Meetings among select team members and city officials will be convened to provide technical assistance to the city to design and implement program to efficiently accommodate the addition or reintroduction of glass containers.

Deploy Glass Recycling Team to Provide Technical Assistance to Three Key Cities

Based in part of the survey of city recycling programs, three cities will be identified for intensive technical assistance. In each city, the glass recycling team will work with city recycling staff to identify and implement strategies to improve the cost-effectiveness and performance of the program. Strategies may be implemented in pilot phases, providing the opportunity to evaluate effectiveness of various approaches in reducing costs and contamination, and increasing recovery.

Design Glass Recycling Resource Website

A glass recycling resource website will be designed to document case studies of model programs for container recycling and the common design, technological, economic and contractual attributes that contribute to cost-effective recovery and recycling. In addition, the website will provide detailed analysis and reports documenting why several cities considering moving to single stream collection ultimately selected a sourced separated recycling program. An up-to-date fact sheet/brochure on the environmental and economic benefits of glass recycling will also be developed.
D. NRC-Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Partnership
Since its inception in 1993, Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program has recycled more than 13 million pairs of shoes into Nike Grind, a material donated to communities around the world for sports and playground surfaces. The program accepts all brands of athletic shoes, as long as they don’t contain any metal (e.g., eyelets or cleats).
In FY03, NRC and Nike brought the Reuse-A-Shoe Program to 32 recycling organizations across the nation. NRC and Nike supplied technical assistance in setting up the programs, as well as a kit of templates for posters and ads and CD footage of the recycling process to help publicize collection events. Nike also paid to ship the shoes to its recycling facility. Also, NRC and Nike selected the City of Thousand Oaks, California and Washington State University in Pullman, Washington to each receive a $25,000 grant from the NRC-Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program
Year Two of the NRC-Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Partnership is underway and will continue in FY04. NRC and Nike have expanded the partnership from the 32 original communities that participated in Year One to 80 communities in the 48 continental U.S. states. In November 2003, we sent letters to dozens of NRC member organizations, including local governments, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities, inviting their participation in the second year of the partnership. Year Two will also feature the first pilot project to collect shoes through a curbside recycling program operated by the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority in Northern California. Grants will again be a part of Year Two, with an RFP issued to participating NRC member collectors and awards announced in Spring 2005 around Earth Day.
E. Beverage Packaging Environmental Council
In a resolution adopted in December 2002, the NRC board of directors committed the Coalition to researching and devising strategies for increasing beverage container recycling. To implement this resolution, NRC staff began facilitating discussions among a group of leaders in the beverage industry. This group, which includes Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Nestle Waters, Pepsi-Cola, Miller Brewing and Coors, have formed the Beverage Packaging Environmental Council (BPEC), which NRC will continue to facilitate in 2004.
BPEC's mission is to increase beverage container recycling through innovative, comprehensive and collaborative policies and programs. Member companies have agreed to pool their knowledge and resources to explore what they can do to increase recycling, including working with their suppliers, and working with NRC members who collect their containers for recycling. They have also agreed to explore how they can work together to improve the way they communicate to consumers about recycling.
Key work in FY 04 will include baseline research on where containers end up at end of life, infrastructure best practices for away from home recycling, targeted pilot project development for away from home and marketing and communication efforts to increase consumer awareness of recycling benefits. BPEC’s work is led by leaders from each consumer product company and funded by the same. BPEC members will pay direct costs, additionally BPEC members have agreed to an unrestricted donation to NRC.



Influencing Policy and Advocating for Recycling

Since the NRC’s inception, the NRC board of directors has taken numerous policy positions, and NRC has advocated for these positions in a variety of forums. Both staff and NRC's Policy Workgroup (PWG) have played an integral role in developing these positions and related advocacy strategies. Through this advocacy, NRC has established itself as the national voice for recycling. In FY04, staff and the PWG will continue this role.

A. The Policy Workgroup

The PWG’s primary function is to conduct policy research and analysis, and based on the outcome of deliberations, make recommendations to the NRC Board on new areas of policy issues affecting recycling. NRC staff is responsible for analyzing PWG recommendations for the board’s review, implementing policy outreach strategies and executing advocacy initiatives approved by the NRC Board. Staff is also responsible for conducting outreach efforts to educate members, government officials and the public on the NRC’s policy advocacy positions.

Through a series of teleconferences and a face-to-face meeting in FY 03, the PWG identified three priority issues:

• Program Design
• Product Stewardship
• Organics Diversion

To focus efforts in these three areas, separate sub-groups of PWG members have been formed for each priority area. The initial charge for each sub-group will be to answer the following questions for each topic/issue:

• What is the status of the policy/issue within NRC, the recycling community and the greater policy arena?

• What specific actions should NRC take to address this issue?

• How will these actions further the organization’s mission?

• What is the process and timeline for taking these actions?

The PWG co-chairs will assemble regular presentations to the NRC board of directors on the progress and direction on the three policy priorities. Staff anticipates forwarding the board several proposed policy positions related to the PWG efforts in FY04 for potential approval. As part of each proposal to the board, the PWG will provide an analysis of and justifications for the position using appropriate background info, and the desired policy outcome resulting from the board’s approval of the position.

B. Government Affairs

NRC’s executive director will continue to participate in different advocacy efforts on the federal level that emphasize recycling. This includes participation in the Tax Exempt Bond working group, the ad hoc Capitol Hill recycling group and with different partners working with the EPA. Should additional policies be developed by PWG and adopted by the NRC board, the executive director will implement advocacy strategies to forward the policies at the appropriate levels and venues.


2. RELATE . . .

About the Goal

Building relationships within and between the various sectors in our coalition is an important component of our success. By opening dialogues and creating partnerships with various groups—recycling professionals, government decision makers, the business community, consumers, and the media—we capitalize on the strength of our coalition to advance recycling.

In FY 04, we will relate to these groups through several projects and methods:

A. Grassroots & Recycling Organizations Councils
B. Buy Recycled Business Alliance
C. Regular Communication with Members
D. Special Communication with Members
E. Responding to the Media
F. Rebranding Recycling
G. The Annual Congress & Expo

A. Grassroots Councils

NRC’s four grassroots councils and the affiliated recycling organization’s have been a key network for many of our members, bringing together niches that have specialized challenges and needs. These councils are the College and University Council, the Nonprofit Recyclers Council, the Rural Recycling Council, the Minorities Recycling Council, and the Recycling Organizations Council.

The key to the success of these councils has been two fold – leadership from within the council combined with NRC staff support. Unfortunately, over the past few years, staff cutbacks have prevented us from providing needed organizational support to the councils. At the same time, some of the councils have struggled with leadership challenges that prevented them from meeting their potential.

Staff have made the councils an internal priority for FY 04 and hope that once the new database software is online (see “Realize” section), staff time will be available to provide support to the four councils. Included in this year’s budget is limited funding to provide scholarships to each council for Congress & Expo registrations. We hope that by providing funds to offset registration costs, leaders from each council will be able to participate in annual council meetings. Minimal teleconference support and maintenance of the council list serves is also included in the budget. Design and printing of a comprehensive NRC Councils membership recruitment brochure is also budgeted.

In addition, an awards program for affiliated state organizations is planned for this fiscal year. The NRC board liaison for the ROC will lead this effort that will shine the spotlight on exemplary state organizations, those that show the strengths and vibrancy of our affiliated organizations.

B. Buy Recycled Business Alliance

A recent needs assessment has been conducted by Parker & Associates for the BRBA steering committee. Discussions on BRBA priorities and potential expansion of the BRBA mission will be critical to the ongoing viability of the Alliance. Key longtime members have provided needed guidance and support as BRBA has sought to secure the right path forward for the leadership and visionary companies that have led the effort to expand the knowledge of recycled content purchasing. At this time, staff time will be comprised of the executive director’s participation in the development of a new vision document and work plan development.

C. Regular Communication with Members

Monthly E-Newsletter

For the last few years, NRC has produced two members-only e-newsletters, the Newswire and the Recycling Policy Reporter, about ten times per year each issue. In FY 04, we will combine the content of these two newsletters under one new title, and release an issue every two to three weeks, for 20 issues total.

This will make our newsletters even timelier than they are now and will grant us more flexibility in communicating with our members. With the two separate newsletters, we often find ourselves holding content for one newsletter or another, rather than getting it out to members quickly. Combining the subject areas into one newsletter will solve the timeliness issue without reducing the amount or quality of information we provide our members.

Website

NRC will continue to maintain and expand the resources and online services available to our members and to the general public via our website. This includes adding e-commerce (e.g., online event registration and direct membership applications), creating special sections on our various partnerships, and revamping the Professional Services Directory.

Email Discussion Lists

NRC will continue to host several email discussion lists for our members, and continue the four Council member list serves that are targeted for specific networks.



D. Special Communication with Members

Member Resource Guides

In FY 04, NRC will produce two 8-page Member Resource Guides. These will take the place of The Connection, NRC’s quarterly print newsletter. Staff believes there is great value in providing members with some hard-copy information yet because we communicate so frequently with members via email, the news in the Connection is often dated. Print newsletters are expensive to produce and mail, which during tight cash flow has been a challenge to support.

By converting the Connection into a resource guide, we will provide members with “timeless” information and tools they are more likely to save and use in their own work, thus justifying the printing and mailing costs for NRC. NRC will solicit donations of recycled content paper from partners to utilize for the two guides, providing paper manufacturer(s) with a premier sponsorship opportunity to let NRC members know of their support for recycling.

Annual Report

To communicate our accomplishments to our members, partners, affiliates, sponsors, and others, NRC will produce an 8-12 page annual report covering FY 03 to be distributed at the NRC Congress & Expo in August 2004 and through direct mailing to members.


E. Responding to the Media

In FY 04, we will continue to respond quickly to all media requests for information and interviews as we seek to raise NRC’s profile as the national voice of recycling. Increased visibility as NRC rolls out grant programs to members will increase press attention, refining NRC’s messages on the benefits of recycling will be a major effort of the communications team.

It is expected that the Annual Congress & Expo in San Francisco will present multiple opportunities for media exposure, as national experts gather in a City well known for environmental efforts and significant recycling commitment. Congress sponsors will be incorporated into media events, with special attention to Leadership Council and project partner organizations.

NRC will continue to issue press releases as needed, to maintain the press section of our website, and to work with our partners to communicate our work to the trade and mainstream media.



F. Rebranding Recycling

“Rebranding” recycling will continue to be discussed amongst NRC staff and corporate partners. Drawing on the expertise DDB Bass & Howes’ Issues and Advocacy Team, NRC will present the rebranding challenge to the Leadership Council in May as part of the DC Capitol Hill event and directly to our partners’ marketing teams.

G. Annual Congress & Expo

The NRC Congress is the premiere opportunity for NRC members and others to reaffirm professional connections, exchange ideas and gain insights on cutting-edge developments in the recycling field. The Congress provides a national stage for NRC to strategically advance recycling and become the leading voice in recycling. As the single largest source of revenue for the organization, the Congress plays a vital role in NRC achievement of financial stability. The Congress also enables us to communicate directly with our membership through the annual meeting, as well as the educational sessions and social events at the Congress.

In FY04, NRC will hold the 23rd Annual Congress & Exposition in San Francisco, California from August 29 – September 1. We will work in conjunction with the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) and the City of San Francisco’s Department of Environment team to help promote the Congress and include CRRA events in conjunction with our Congress.

The theme for this year’s Congress is Recycling: Golden Gateway to Sustainability. The San Francisco Congress will offer over 35 educational concurrent sessions, along with plenary sessions, well over 100 exhibitors, and many networking and social opportunities for attendees. We will also present our Annual Awards to outstanding organizations in our field and present scholarships from the NRC’s Recycling Scholarship Trust Fund to college students. Never before have tours been such an integral and exciting part of the Annual Congress--this year’s array of sightseeing and educational tours were developed by the Department of Environment team and will be hosted and run by the CRRA.


3. REALIZE . . .

About the Goal

Economic recessions hit all of us hard, but they can be especially painful for nonprofit organizations like the NRC that rely on funding from private and public sector organizations whose own budgets are being cut. To diversify our sources of income, NRC is raising funds by integrating our development efforts into many of our innovative partnerships and programs.

A. Overall Administration
B. Membership Administration
C. The Leadership Council
D. The Annual Recycling Works DC Gala
E. The Business Issues Forum
F. Board of Directors Support


A. Overall Administration

Pared down in FY 02, NRC’s administrative overhead will continue to run lean in FY04. The major accounting conversion that took place in FY03 is now complete, with refinement of management reports taking place in early FY04. A ¾ time administrative assistant who will perform all administrative duties and provide support for the program staff and the executive director will provide administrative support.

Per the five-year lease with ISRI, space costs will increase 7.22%. Due to the smaller square footage of the offices, an offsite storage unit is maintained and houses signage, records and Congress materials.

New computer hardware and software is being provided by Dell. The antiquated systems in place now have constant downtime and have caused endless headaches and lost work hours for NRC staff. The onslaught of computer viruses that ravaged networks large and small shut down the NRC network twice in the past fiscal year. The new server and desktop systems should be in place by the end of April 2004. In early February 2004, five new printers were donated by Image Micro, an electronics recycler based in Austin, TX and Los Angeles, CA. The new printers will be installed when the new network hardware is in place.

B. Membership Administration

The NRC membership department is planning several major changes in FY 04, which includes an upgrade in database software to improve efficiency and lower costs. The online database will automatically update affiliate membership lists and allow individuals to join/renew NRC memberships online. This will drastically cut the staff time required to update and check each individual member and incorporate affiliate updates on a monthly basis. Staff will not have to manually update and renew the approximate 4,000 members. The new system will allow the NRC to register Congress attendees online, cutting back staff time prior to the fall conference and increasing accuracy of registration information.

The FY04 budget is based on the NRC using the online database. The NRC expects additional staff time will be required initially but will decrease over time as the NRC moves its records and membership procedures to the new database.

In addition to the online database, the NRC will integrate e-commerce for direct and corporate membership renewals and Congress registration. Quick forms will allow individuals to join/renew their direct membership to the NRC online. The integrated system will automatically enter individuals into the database and process the billing, minimizing the amount of staff time required for membership. This will free staff time for other membership services.
C. The Leadership Council
In FY 03 the NRC launched the “Leadership Council” as a means to reach out to corporate sponsors and secure their financial support for NRC work. The Council members are diverse and very engaged in the business of recycling. Their support has provided vital cash flow to the organization and has allowed the foundation of the organization to be rebuilt on a stronger base. An annual fund drive to renewing Leadership Council members, along with expanded outreach to others, will be a part of NRC fund development activities in FY 04.
D. The Annual Recycling Works DC Gala
The success of the Annual Recycling Works DC Gala in FY 03 was a key to balancing the budget – while allowing NRC to publicly honor companies and organizations that have shown true leadership in the area of recycling. The event is highly regarded and anticipated, and will be continued in FY04. Committee members need to be recruited earlier than previous years, with selection of winners and recruitment of sponsors taking place in August – October.
E. The Business Issues Forum
NRC will host its first-ever Business Issues Forum on May 11, 2004 - an exciting day on Capitol Hill. The forum's program will feature enlightening briefings and thoughtful discussions on topics critical to the continued success of the recycling industry. While not slated as a fundraiser, the Committee is developing sponsor opportunities to provide revenues to offset expenses of the event. If successful, the event will be held again in 2005.
F. Board of Directors Support
As the elected leaders of the organization, the board provides significant guidance, oversight and expertise. The board meets four times per year, and selects locations for two of those board meetings, with two being held at set locations (Fall at Congress and December in Washington DC). The expenses associated with staff support of board activities along with space and meal costs for board meetings are included in the board department budget. An additional budget item is included in the final draft budget, to continue the Leadership Development work that was started in fiscal year 2003. This investment has enabled NRC’s leaders to strengthen their skills while increasing positive and open communication during board activities.
NRC holds annual board member elections, with an appointed board member serving in the leadership position for the board development/slate selection process. Included in the budget are the costs associated with the slate selection and election expenses and the costs of a CPA firm to count and tally votes.
Limited support for travel costs for board members to attend board meetings is included in the budget. Should additional funds be needed, staff would search other departments to secure the needed support, as it is a vital aspect of a diverse board to ensure that all elected members can participate in meetings.