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$ Questions for Discussing Long Term Vision

4 Questions for Discussing Long Term Vision

Aside from strategic planning, it’s rare for sport and recreation organizations to engage in discussing its long term vision. This article offers four specific questions to help sport organizations engage in these discussions.

The Spark Solutions Logo on the left and a greyscale photo of a boardroom table on the right.

Get to Know Spark Solutions

Get to know Spark Solutions, Lara, who we work with, how we work with our clients, and what you can expect when you work with us.

A man stands with his back to the camera on a path in the forest. The path Vs off in front of him, indicating two different paths. Clear is Kind. Spark Solutions.

Clear is Kind – A New Path Forward

I discuss how the philosophies of radical candour and clear is kind will create psychological safety on our teams to forage a new path forward.

A satisfaction scale with three measures - an unhappy face sitting on a fushia background, an ok face on a teal background, and then a happy face on a navy background. An arrow points to the happy face. Underneath, it says 'Treating Members as Clients'. Spark Solutions

How to Treat Members as Clients

This article identifies several ways we can treat members as clients to ensure that we deliver top customer service to keep our members satisfied.

Spark Solutions - #NVW2022 Let's All Celebrate Canada's Volunteers with the Volunteer Canada logo underneath, and a blue banner with National Volunteer Week, April 24-30, 2022 in white writing over top. To the right, there are two women in masks, who appear to be smiling and touching elbows. In a second photo, someone with shoulder length hair, sitting in a wheelchair with their back to the camera is taking a photo of someone sitting on a couch, out of focus.

#VolunteersBringHeart to Sport

This week is National Volunteer Week 2022 and we’re sharing 3 tips that you can use to appreciate your wonderful volunteers.

Three documents laying on a table covered in a table cloth. A strategic plan, a governance review, and table card that says "Lara Schroeder, Facilitator, Sheffe Consulting". Spark Solutions.

The Process of a Governance Review

This article details the process I take to conduct a governance review for sport organizations, so that they have what they need to make informed governance decisions.

Lara stands in front of a winter landscape, out of focus. Her hair is chin length, red, and slightly curled. She is wearing a black dress jacket and is holding a card that says Solution Focused.

3 Reasons Small Sport Organizations Hire Consultants

Small sport organizations often believe they cannot afford a sport management consultant or that they don’t have enough going on to hire one, but consultants can help. This article discusses 3 reasons small sport organizations hire consultants to support their work.

16 flip chart papers hanging on a wall. The flip charts are covered by colourful sticky notes. Quadrennial Debriefs. Spark Solutions.

What I Learned from Quadrennial Debriefs

This fall, I supported the facilitation of quadrennial debriefs, the process that Olympic and Paralympic sports go through to evaluate their plans and performance results. I share three things I learned from going through this process.

A dark black and blue chalkboard with Dream Big written on in chalk. Long-Term Vision. Spark Solutions.

Defining Your Organization’s Long-Term Vision

Defining your organization’s long-term vision can anchor the direction of your club and help you appropriately plan for the future. This article discusses why it’s important and how you can do it.

White text on a black background. The text says "People with disabilities are 15% of the world. #WeThe15". WeThe15. Spark Solutions.

WeThe15 and Sport

This week, we discuss the WeThe15 campaign, a campaign to build greater knowledge of the barriers and discrimination against persons with disabilities, and how sport organizations can start to expand sport programming for persons with disabilities.

A young male stands with his back to the camera, holding a camera. They are wearing a red shirt that says "Volunteer" on the back and a red hat. Converting Youth Athletes to Volunteers. Spark Solutions.

Converting Youth Athletes to Volunteers

Many sport clubs struggle to find enough volunteers but have an untapped resource in youth athletes. This article offers 4 tips for consideration when converting youth athletes to volunteers.

A profile of Lara and Spark Solutions, with the label "Official Woman Owned Business". Women Entrepreneurs. Spark Solutions.

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs

This week, I’m proudly celebrating Women Entrepreneurs Week (May 16-22) in Saskatchewan. As part of this celebration, I’m also thrilled

A soccer ball laying on a soccer field. The KidSport logo is at the top of the graphic, and a government certificate of recognition is overlaid over the right side of the screen. KidSport. Spark Solutions.

Celebrating KidSport

The Article Discusses What KidSport Is, Why Sport Is Important For Kids And What KidSport Does So All Kids Can Play.

A collection of blue and pink murals. A white circle lays overtop with the quote "The value of one. The power of many." Spark Solutions. Sport Volunteers.

A Dedication to Sport Volunteers

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, a few weeks ago, I write a dedication to sport volunteers for all that they’ve done over the past year.

A group of 8 women hold LEGO models up on a Zoom screen. The women are smiling. Team Building. Spark Solutions.

Team Building in a Virtual World

This article shares the details of the virtual team building sessions Spark Solutions offers, including the virtual team building parties that celebrated the holidays.

A team of trans athletes stand in a group on hockey ice. They wear blue and pink uniforms, helmets, and hockey equipment. Trans Athletes. Spark Solutions

Creating Better Sport Environments for Trans Athletes

Trans athletes often face exclusionary and discriminatory practices when participating in sport. This week we discuss some of the best practices sport organizations can implement to create more inclusive organizations for trans athletes.

A headline about Safe Sport. It says "National Sport Organization Safe Sport Working Group presents consensus statements on pan-Canadian Safe Sport as the prevention of abuse and harassment. Safe Sport. Spark Solutions.

What’s the Big Deal About Safe Sport

What’s the big deal about safe sport? This article digs into rampant concerns of abuse and hazing in sport and what the sport community is doing to create safe sport.

A drawing of a person standing on one side of a cliff. A flag pole with a flag flying stands on the other side of the cliff. Strategic Plan. Spark Solutions.

From Dream to Strategic Plan

A strategic plan helps sport organizations go from dreams to reality. If you’re struggling to take projects from discussion to reality, start here.

A person sits at a table typing on a blue laptop. They are wearing a watch and a navy shirt. Virtual Volunteers. Spark Solutions.

Using Virtual Volunteers

Consider using virtual volunteers to help achieve your organization’s goals, especially now!

A person swims the butterfly down the lane of a pool. Spectators watch in the background. Participant-Centred Decision Making. Spark Solutions.

Participant-Centred Decision Making

Participant-centred decision making is a values based approach to running a sport organization. Learn more about this philosophy and where to begin with implementing it.

Lara, as a child, and her dad in ice skates on a frozen lake. Parents in Sport. Spark Solutions.

Celebrating Parents in Sport Week!

This week is Parents in Sport Week (October 5-11), celebrated by the organization Active for Life. Where would I be in this world if I had not had the support of my parents in my pursuit of sport? Without a doubt, my life would have looked very different.

A board table with chairs, in front of a glass wall. Women on Boards. Spark Solutions.

Gender Equity in Sport – Women on Boards

Creating gender equity in sport. The article dives into the reasons why women are underrepresented on volunteer sport boards, and offers 6 ways to improve gender equity.

Lara holding a drawn sign with people of differing abilities, labelled "I #Choose to Include". Inclusion. Spark Solutions.

Building Inclusion in Sport

This week, I’m celebrating the Special Olympics Global Week of Inclusion and #ChooseToInclude people with disabilities in sport.

Racism in Sport

Racism in Sport

Many sport organizations are wondering how they should work to eliminate racism. This article discusses what to consider before engaging in anti-racism work, and how to comment about that work publicly.

A view of a stadium with "I'm Possible" colourfully hanging from the ceiling. Spark Solutions.

Spark Solutions: An Origin Story

From a tiny central Saskatchewan town to the Olympic stage in Sochi, Russia, I share some of the moments that have led to my desire to #sparkplay.

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