Alliance Building Progress Report 7-02

1. Identify Potential Alliance Partners: aTLC identified approximately 60 organizations and individuals that appear to represent appropriate potential Affiliates for our alliance.
2. Construct a Database with Automated Listing Capabilities: Our webmaster modified our aTLC FileMaker Pro Contacts database to specifications worked out by Jack to capture information about Affiliates and automatically generate updated listings for the website. A temporary system was constructed in order to capture data entered by Affiliates through our website. Funding for more sophisticated software and hardware is needed to make this feature fully operational.
3. Compile Background and Contact Information: aTLC did background research on the 60 identified organizations and individuals by searching for their websites. Summaries of each organization, that will be entered into the newly created database were collected.
4. Dialog with Prospective Alliance Members: aTLC contacted the identified likely liaison person by email, supplemented by telephone contact. The Alliance and the Blueprint were introduced, and using the existing application criteria (attached) the advantages, disadvantages, benefits and positive outcomes of partnership were discussed. In addition, their ability and willingness to support us in developing and maintaining the Sections of the Blueprint (and their related resources) most directly connected with their areas of expertise were explored with the goal of more specific links being made as the Blueprint is refined.
5. .Additionally, as yet unidentified advantages, disadvantages, and benefits may result from the interview. To guide these discussions, the potential Affiliate will be shown a mockup section of the Blueprint that illustrates a set of possible resources. A structured interview guide for recording information was developed by the Alliance-Building and Outreach committee during the meeting, with input and critique from the Board.
6. End Result: The determination of the viability and worth of aTLC's projected Affiliates program. If viable, an additional group of Affiliates will be added to aTLC's roster.