Archive: 2008-09 Season

The Facts About OFSC Staffing

Posted: July 08, 2009

One of the greatest myths that crops up periodically concerns staffing at the OFSC corporate office in Barrie. It’s easy to spread misconceptions when you don’t know the facts, but doing so is very harmful to TEAM OFSC. So read on to learn the reality, and the next time you hear anyone who is misinformed, please take the time to correct them with the facts.

“Our OFSC Barrie staff has an outstanding track record for serving our clubs and for delivering the programs we ask for. I am very proud of their accomplishments. We get excellent value for our investment in them and I ask every club volunteer to join me in recognizing and supporting this key part of TEAM OFSC.” – Bruce Robinson, President
 

Myth: The OFSC has way too many office staff !

Fact: While personnel, positions and responsibilities may change from time to time, the OFSC office operates with the same size staff in 2009 as in 2003. The number of OFSC staff is program based, which means that the actual number of office staff is only what is required to effectively deliver the programs requested by our clubs. Since 2003, the number and complexity of these requested programs has grown considerably. The OFSC has been able to avoid increases by being very diligent in recruiting, organizing and training staff. Comparisons with other similar non-profit organizations clearly shows that the OFSC operates very effectively and efficiently, with the minimum staff required to do the job. The OFSC constantly monitors and continuously improves our staff and office organizational structure to achieve optimum return on investment for our clubs.
 

Myth: OFSC office staff costs us too many permit dollars!

Fact: Only 56% of staff cost is paid from permit dollars. The other 44% comes from a number of OFSC staff initiatives that generate significant non-permit revenue for the OFSC, such as print and web site advertising, corporate partnerships and investment income, and cost recovery programs like Driver Training. OFSC staff has saved many thousands of permit dollars over the years by taking on new workload and responsibility which 3rd parties were formerly paid to do, such as risk and claims management, graphic and web site design, and business systems and IT management. OFSC staff has also successfully administered various additional external funding programs, including TSS and TSI, which delivered much-needed new dollars to clubs. (Since 1993, OFSC staff has obtained substantial provincial funding to benefit OFSC clubs, much more than the total staff cost for this same period.)

Myth: OFSC office staff makes all the decisions and creates too much “red tape” for volunteers!

Fact: Major decisions within the OFSC are made by club delegates at the Annual General Meeting and by volunteer governors at regularly scheduled board meetings. After the decisions are made, our volunteer leaders direct OFSC corporate staff to implement them as provincial programs and services and to be accountable to the Board of Governors for their delivery. Sometimes it may appear as if staff are steering the ship, but they are actually more like the engineers who keep it going to the places decided by the owners. Much of the so-called “red tape” comes from legal and government requirements, not from OFSC staff . Mostly, OFSC staff is only the messenger, and as they say, don’t shoot the messenger! Governors are always available to receive club suggestions on their decisions and what programs and services are required. OFSC staff is always available to receive club suggestions on how to improve the delivery of programs and services approved by the Board.

Source: MainTrail, June 2009
 

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