Strategic Planning Committee:
Gene Kramer
Julie Ketchum
Wayne Gjerde
Michael Gerdes
Marcus Zbinden
Ellen Telander

Current Mission Statement:

The Recycling Association of Minnesota is committed to promoting resource conservation through waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting, energy development and adopting purchasing practices using the most cost effective and environmentally sound methods available in Minnesota.

Vision Statement

The Recycling Association of Minnesota will provide the recycling and composting education, support and advocacy needed to lead the way in increasing recycling within the State of Minnesota.

Membership

In 1998, RAM’s membership stood at 100. During the formulation of the 2003-2007 strategic plan, RAM’s membership was 200. As of September 2007, the membership stood at 218. The composition of the membership is as follows.

Individual or Associate Memberships: 42

Small business: 43

Nonprofit: 19

Government: 92

Large Business: 22

There are 87 counties in Minnesota. As of 2007, there are about 100 Solid Waste Administrators working in Minnesota. Being that most are currently RAM members, the potential growth in the government sector is unlikely. RAM should focus on attracting businesses and nonprofit organizations such as schools and educational leaders.

Currently (in 2008), more and more businesses are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint and implementing green practices. . Another timely and relevant issue is electronic waste (e-waste). RAM should strive to be the primary e-waste recycling educator on this issue in Minnesota. RAM could prove to be a useful source of information and host e-waste events throughout the state.

Despite these potential areas for growth, it is highly unlikely that RAM will be able to double membership levels within five years (by 2012) as was stated in the last strategic plan. Instead, RAM should focus on maintaining membership levels through strong retention and slow growth in the membership. RAM’s focus should be to create a more financially sound organization and find secure funding sources. Government grants are not a viable option.

Major Promotional Tasks Completed in 2007:

RAM updated its membership brochure in 2007 and increased membership dues. Prior to this increase, the membership dues had not changed in five years.
RAM’s website was updated continuously throughout 2007. Several new educational tools were added to improve traffic.
RAM had a booth at the Living Green Expo, which provided great visibility. This environmental expo is the largest in Minnesota, with nearly 20,000 people attending.
The “RAM News” email that is sent weekly to the RAM membership was improved by creating it in an HTML format using Constant Contact, an email marketing company.
State of Recycling in Minnesota:
View MPCA MN Recycling Stats 2007 herein named “Exhibit A” (External Analysis).

2011 Strategic Plan:
To provide the recycling and composting education, support and advocacy needed to lead the way in increasing recycling within the State of Minnesota.

Outcome 1: Provide the recycling and composting education, support and advocacy needed to lead the way in increasing recycling within the State of Minnesota. 

Strategy 1.1: Help RAM members to communicate effectively with their local media.

1. Redo RAM website and complete by end of year.
   Task: New website is functional and used, number of hits.
   
2. B. Provide Media releases for new RAM programs and provide bins.
   Task: Number of media impressions.
3. PC. rovide ARD materials to SWA's and Members.
   Task: Number of ARD events.
   

Strategy 1.2: Find opportunities to work with Minnesota’s media outlets. 

1. Promote recycling: Target Hmong Community in 2011.
   Task: number of MIB media impressions, get on TPT show.
2. Recycle Your Holidays media releases and TV ads.
   Task: number of media impressions.
3. RB/CB media releases and TV ads.
   Task: number of media impressions.
4. ARD Media releases and newsletter articles.
   Task: number of media impressions.

Outcome 2: Raise the public profile of recycling and recycled products.

Strategy 2.1: Continue to develop buy-recycled and recycling resources for Minnesota consumers through outreach and regional/statewide events and recycling programs.

1. Host 3rd annual spring forum in St. Paul and five NEW recycling tours and forums throughout the year.
   Task: number of attendees per event, host first annual Leadership Forum, number of new members obtained and money raised.
2. Do MIB pilot to collect paper for recycling in St. Cloud.
   Task: Number of stores particpating, media impressions and tons collected.
3. Expand MIB to New Ulm, Hastings and Twin Cities, Grow Recycle Your Holidays to 500 locations statewide, Do 6 CB/RB sales, Begin Yogurt Cup Reuse Pilot.
   Task: Tons of material collected, number of locations participating.

Strategy 2.2: Submit press releases to the media - metro and greater Minnesota.

1. Write media releases and promote recycling for MIB, Recycle Your Holidays, Yogurt Cup Recycling Pilot Program, and CB/RB sale events.
   Task: number of media impressions.
2. Start Key to Recycle ™ statewide.
   Task: number of lbs collected, number of locations participating.
3. Strategy 2.3: Do Reseed the Earth Kit.
4. Approve $1000 budget for kits.
   Task: revenue created from kits.

Outcome 3: Increase RAM’s revenue and organizational strength.

Strategy 3.1: Increase membership. 

1. Promote membership at 6 forums: offer 1/2 price membership DAY OF forum only for NEW members (first yr of membership).
   Task: Number of new members.
2. Get list of sustainability coordinators (universities/businesses) and send them Membership info.
   Task: Number of new members.
3. Create a "Sierra Club" status to get public to join RAM.
   Task: Number of members that join as a result of website. Strategy 3.2: Diversify funding sources and explore funding sources through foundations.
4. MIB program developments, expand MIB to additional areas with MN Beverage Association support and C-stores.
   Task: Revenue from MIB programs and IITB programs.
5. Explore additional grant sources other than MPCA.
   Task: Write at least $200,000 worth of grant proposals.
6. Explore foundation revenue sources (Bremer bank).
   Task: Write at least 2 foundation grants.
7. Create a fundraising calendar.
   Task: Number of units sold, income generated.

Strategy 3.3: RAM to be self sufficient.

1. Do a break even year financially.
   Task: Number of "days worth of expenses".
   

Strategy 3.4: Assure administrative continuity.

1. Improve salary and benefits package.
   Task: Staff salary range and benefits offering.
   

Outcome 4: Be an educational resource to waste generators and recycling advocates on recycling topics for which there are few other sources and for underserved audiences.

Strategy 4.1: Boost recycling at major venues in the state and away-from-home locations.

1. Continue to expand MIB program and Recycle Your Holidays for special events.
   Task: Pounds of material recycled, revenue to RAM.
   

Strategy 4.2: Serve small businesses and schools with recycling information.

1. Offer 10 golden tickets to RURAL SCHOOLS for RAM Conference.  Have the students apply to ensure they are leaders in recycling.
   Task: Make the website kid friendly and offer a place for them to learn, have 10 high school students participate in conference of forums.
2. Create a small business toolkit with MWW.
   Task: Number of kits downloaded or mailed.

Outcome 5: Build a “big tent” for membership under which many diverse interests, including citizens, can meet and exchange dialogue for mutual benefit.

Strategy 5.1: Provide quality membership services.

1. Improve membership services and educational resources and update materials regularly.  Provide annual recycling bin grant!
   Task: Number of recycling kits mailed.  Number of recycling bins donated.

Strategy 5.2: Continue to convene an annual conference, but explore other conference or seminar opportunities.

1. Host recycling forums, partner with SWANA on recycling specific forums as well as other organizations.
   Task: Number of attendees and survey results.

Strategy 5.3: Improve member communication and networking opportunities.

1. RAM member page in Ram website
   Task: Feedback surveys.
2. Google map the members and recyclers in Minnesota.
   Task: Provide state map on website to show where recyclers are in MN.
   

Outcome 6: Provide a consistent and consensus-building approach to policy issues.

Strategy 6.1: Explore the need to regularly convene the policy committee. Explore the use of the policy committee as a forum discussion for membership and to provide updates to the RAM board on policy issues.

1. Create and distribute RAM eNEWS with legislative updates.
   Task: Send out weekly via Constant Contact.

Strategy 6.2: Maintain timely communication to and from members.

1. Maggie to answer both phone lines while in office and respond to VM accordingly.
   Task: N/A

Strategy 6.3: Present unbiased information to lawmakers when they are faced with issues that affect recycling and composting within the State.

1. As needed basis.
   Task: N/A

Specific Five-Year Work Plan

Outcome 1: Raise the public profile of recycling and recycled products.

Strategy 1.1: Help RAM members to communicate effectively with their local media .

Strategy 1.2: Find opportunities to work with Minnesota’s media outlets.

Strategy 1.3: Continue to develop buy-recycled and recycling resources for Minnesota consumers through outreach and regional/statewide events and recycling programs .

Strategy 1.4: Submit press releases to the media (metro and greater Minnesota).

Outcome 2: Increase RAM’s revenue and organizational strength.

Strategy 2.1: Activate the development committee with set achievement goals .

Committee would help the RAM Executive Director with fundraising, membership sales and grant writing. The committee will help create and procure an annual work plan.

Strategy 2.2: Increase membership.

Strategy 2.3: Diversify funding sources and explore funding sources through foundations.

Membership: RAM should focus on maintaining membership levels through strong retention and growth in the membership.

Recycling Programs: Recycling collection, processing and marketing programs are a way to provide funding to any association when markets are strong. It is also a way to actively promote and improve recycling efforts in Minnesota. Away-from-home recycling is a niche that no other environmental organization has successfully filled and there is a need for this type of education and program implementation in Minnesota. RAM could fill this niche and generate revenue. .

Strategy 2.4: Increase financial reserves to one year’s worth of expenses.

Strategy 2.5: Assure administrative continuity.

Outcome 3: Be an educational resource to waste generators and recycling advocates on recycling topics for which there are few other sources and for underserved audiences.

Strategy 3.1: Serve small businesses and schools with recycling information.

Strategy 3.2: Boost recycling at major venues in the state and away-from-home locations.

Outcome 4: Build a “big tent” for membership under which many diverse interests, including citizens, can meet and exchange dialogue for mutual benefit.

Strategy 4.1: Explore non-voting citizen membership with a limited number of member benefits.

Strategy 4.2: Provide quality membership services .

Strategy 4.3: Continue to convene an annual conference , but explore other conference or seminar opportunities.

Strategy 4.4: Improve member communication and networking opportunities through RAM eNEWS and consistent member training events and educational tours. Provide a feedback survey on each RAM eNEWS to improve member communications. Explore working jointly with other organizations on events.

Strategy 4.5: Provide monthly membership conference calls or “virtual brownbags” on a previously planned recycling topic.

Outcome 5: Provide a consistent and consensus-building approach to policy issues.

Strategy 5.1: Explore the need to regularly convene the policy committee . Explore the use of the policy committee as a forum discussion for membership and to provide updates to the RAM board on policy issues.

Strategy 5.2: Maintain timely communication to and from members .

Strategy 5.3: Present unbiased information to lawmakers when they are faced with issues that affect recycling and composting within the State.