Pursuing our Preferred Future

Beginning a New Year provides us with an opportunity to focus once again on our preferred future.  Thanks to a dialogue with the Board of Directors and many hours of staff time, here’s our list of shared goals that we believe should shape our actions in the coming twelve months.  Updating our Strategic Plan through 2015 will be the single most important initiative that will guide all our actions and decisions.  Elements of that Plan will include, but not be limited to:

• Continue Culture Change at the Health Services Center, Pitzer Lodge and all levels of our community.
• Keep our eye on the changing elements of health care delivery to better understand the implications for Pilgrim Place regarding the fragile balance between local hospitals – physicians, Medicare/MediCal and the regulatory environment in both Sacramento and Washington, DC.
• Explore additional models/levels in the continuum of care, i.e., memory support services while continuing to smooth transitions between levels of care.
• Be intentional about the exploration of partnerships/collaborations with organizations beyond our gates for shared mission opportunities. Determine what we want to do with the undeveloped lot on Harrison Avenue.
• Stimulate our Fund Raising Program through an institutional audit and a Feasibility Study to lay the foundation for a Capital Campaign celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Pilgrim Place in 2015.
• Work with Board, Resident and Staff leaders generally to clarify roles, expectations and accountabilities for big decisions and day to day issues.
• Continue to pursue strategies to ensure that Pilgrim Place will meet its bond covenants while keeping all our homes and apartments fully occupied.
• Pursue succession planning among senior staff while nurturing leadership potential at all levels of the organization.
• Hold informal, quarterly dialogues involving the CEO and Resident Board members to enhance dialogue and information sharing around key issues facing the residents and staff.
• Explore technologies to enhance our work, communication and vision for the future!

As always, I am very interested to learn what you think our priorities should be for 2012.  To help foster that kind of dialogue, I will once again schedule quarterly dialogue sessions for residents and staff to explore critical issues that will inform our mission and shape our vision for the future of Pilgrim Place. The first conversation will take place on Friday, January 20 at 3:30 pm in Napier Common Room.  Stay tuned and have a Happy New Year!     

                                                                                                                   -Bill Cunitz, President/CEO