Summary
Dances of Universal Peace International has completed a 3-year reorganization process, largely implementing recommendations put forward by the Unity Council in 2009. We now want to reflect on what has been accomplished and ask ourselves where the Guidance Council and Board of Directors could best direct their energies in the next three to five years. In this process we are seeking input from key advisers, friends and constituents. The outcome will help us develop plans for a sustainable program, budget, structure and staffing. This document presents an overview of our current situation and questions about the future we are now considering. We encourage you to read on and then contemplate the questions at the end of the document. You may send your written responses to Munir Peter Reynolds (director@DancesofUniversalPeace.org) who will incorporate them into the decision-making process. Thank you for your participation!

This document is divided into the following sections:

I. Our Reorganizing Work since August, 2009
II. Current Picture
2012 Finances
III. Next Steps
Appendix. 2012 Goals and Activities and Progress to Date

I. Our Reorganization Work since August, 2009

A new board of directors and Executive Director came to DUP International in August 2009 at the same time that a working group known as the Unity Council put forward a series of recommendations for restructuring and streamlining the International Dance organization (then known as Peaceworks - INDUP). The new board adopted this document as a working prototype and began to implement its recommendations.

A quick reading of the Unity Council report (.pdf file) gives a flavor of the scope of the changes which were required and have since been implemented. Since August 2009, DUP International has:

• Clarified its mission: (DUP International’s Mission is threefold: 1) To support the work of the Guidance Council; 2) To provide resources and support for members of the Leaders Guild; and 3) To link the worldwide community of participants in the Dances.)
• Supported a complete rewriting of the Dance Leader and Mentoring Guidelines to emphasize spiritual transmission, clarity in language and streamlining the organizational structure;
• Rewritten and adopted revised documents including annual goals and activities, job descriptions, committee structure and various policies, including a regions policy;

• Shifted to a membership structure comprising only mentored Dance leaders (now collectively referred to as “members of the Leaders Guild”) and adopted a program of providing services and resources directly to the membership through the internet;
• Reconceptualized DUP International’s relationship with the Sufi Ruhaniat International to serve as a “ray” of the Sufi message with Dance Leaders drawn from all traditions and spiritual paths
• Closed the Seattle office and moved to a home office stance;
• Closed PeaceWorks Publications, ended publishing agreements and returned all book inventories to their authors or originators;
• Created a comprehensive, redesigned website for the Dances of Universal Peace with an enhanced content area for the Leaders Guild featuring a resource library, worldwide directory and other resources (http://dancesofuniversalpeace.org);
• Created on-line tools to reduce administrative burden such as the “My Info” screen where members can update their own contact information and mentors can track their mentees’ information. Automatic email notices for Leaders Guild fees will be in place by the end of 2012.
• Created quarterly electronic newsletters with articles on Dance transmission, sent in English, Spanish, German, and Russian
• Duplicated the international website in the Spanish and Russian languages, including log-in capability for leaders speaking these languages; translation of the website into German is underway in late 2012;
• Completed the “Leaders Guild Rejuvenation Project”, in which all members of the Leaders Guild became current with their $30 annual fees by June 30, 2012. Others were end-dated in our records. The Leaders Guild now comprises approximately 1,000 paid-up members world wide.

Perhaps most importantly for our future prospects, in 2011 DUP International raised $30,000 in a “Campaign for 2012” fundraising program of major gift solicitations and a grassroots campaign. The amount raised was 150% of the initial goal and included funds to support Leaders with financial hardship in paying their fees and to assist with translations.

II. Current Picture

2012 Finances

The following pie charts are based on our projected actual income and expense at the end of 2012:

Projected 2012 Sources of Funds - $50,635

Projected 2012 Uses of Funds - $50,635

Balance Sheet

We expect DUP International to end year 2012 with approximately $58,000 in net liquidity.

We therefore see that DUP International’s financial position is good. We have established a active Leaders Guild of 1,000 members which at $30/year gives a base income of $30,000. But DUP International has operated at about $50,000 in expenditures the last three years. This was a deliberate step to put programs and resources in place for the future, and to implement the Unity Council recommendations. We need to decide the scope of future operations, goals and the structure and secure the financial resources required to carry on sustainably.

III. Next Steps

As outlined above, we have completed substantial changes in our organization, programs and services. We can now begin to look at any areas that need development and/or change going forward.

Among the questions we ask now are:

Are the programs and services we now provide the right ones?

What should DUP International look like in three to five years time?

Given a Leaders Guild of 1,000 members, and at present no reliable data on whether that number is increasing or at what rate, what is an appropriate and sustainable staffing, budget and program for the future?

Should we undertake any new initiatives?

What is the scope of future fundraising that will be required to accomplish sustain the organization?

Will the Dance community continue to support this evolving mission and program? 

What do you think? Give us your feedback by writing to either:

Munir Peter Reynolds, Executive Director

or

Darvesha Victoria, President and Guidance Council Chair

We appreciate your reading this far, and we hope you'll let us know what you think.