Five-Year Strategic Plan, 2006-2010

ere we offer the broad Five-Year Plan for the Delaware Canal, which maps out the goals and supporting activities of the FODC. Much of the progress achieved by the previous five-year plan developed by the Pennsylvania DCNR for the 1997-2002 period was undone by multiple significant flooding events from 2004-2006 This led to the need for a more aggressive stance in tackling infrastructure problems that have become prevalent since then.

Statement Of Strategy
The Friends of the Delaware Canal accomplishes its goals through advocacy, partnerships, fundraising, volunteerism, and educational and recreational programs. The organization has recognized the need to implement additional strategies, complementing its current operations and programs, in order to be able to fulfill our stated mission. These strategies include:

1. Restore the canal to the state it was in before the devastating 2004/2005 storms. This is a shared strategy with the Pennsylvania DCNR, government agencies and other organizations, with the Friends taking a lead role in advocacy.
2. Strengthen the Friends’ financial position by significantly increasing both the number of individual and business memberships, and by seeking additional funding from earned income ventures and grants. These financial resources should allow adequate remuneration of the Executive Director and additional staff required to successfully manage and execute the various existing and new programs.
3. Strengthen the Board by attracting members with the skills and time to help implement the strategies. Each Board member must focus on and contribute to achieving Strategic Plan goals.
4. Increase promotion of the environmental, recreational and educational value of the Delaware Canal State Park and its economic impact on local communities and the Delaware Valley region.