The task of the Steering Committee is to plan, co-ordinate and execute all project related activities up until the establishment of the Local Partnership at the "Leadership Convention" (LEADERSHIP CONVENTION PATH). The Steering Committee dissolves into the Partnership, once the Local Partnership has been formalised.

The Steering Committee Members' first job is to clarify the precise need for the partnership within their city/town - e.g. is the need that of a particular community, an industry, a specific sector or region? Once identified, that need is usually best expressed via an agreed slogan, such as: "A winning town by 2010", or "Full employment by 2000". In performing their task, committee members will need to find answers to many questions, questions like these:

Q: Which partnership approach will be the most appropriate for our need?
Q: In terms of stake holder interests, what exactly does each member of the Steering Committee represent?
Q: Are there any other potential stake holders, yet to be identified?
Q: What are the sources for the various bits of information we will need?
Q: Who do we need to influence and how do we go about it?
Q: If they are not already involved on the Steering Committee, how are we going to ensure the involvement and shared ownership of this project by our Local Government? For without that the future sustainability of the Partnership will be seriously threatened.

Answers to these and hundreds more questions will guide the Steering Committee. Help them foresee and avoid possible pitfalls. Help them capitalise on opportunities. Help them gradually structure and then flesh out the unique nature of your town's Partnership, and determine whom should be invited to attend the Leadership Convention.

Other responsibilities for the Steering Committee include securing Project Sponsor/s to cover the costs of the Leadership Convention and then providing those attending with a list of potential names for the Local Partnership. The top three of which will be forwarded to the Registrar of Companies with the Local Partnerships application for legal registration (INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH).

A good way of involving the broader community from the start is to run a competition calling for name suggestions for the Local Partnership, with small prizes for the top three selected at the Leadership Convention and an extra prize for the eventual winning name - that one accepted by the Registrar of Companies.