The Stewardship Network: New England Meeting Notes ... · The Stewardship Network: New England has...

MeetingNotes&Comments–11/17/16Meeting,UniversityofNHCooperativeExtension

TheStewardshipNetwork:NewEnglandMeetingNotes:

FosteringaCultureofStewardship:CanweLeveragetheStewardshipNetworkModelBeyondNewHampshire?

CompiledComments

November172016

Compiledby:UniversityofNewHampshireCooperativeExtensionMalinClyde,ExtensionSpecialistandProjectManager

603-862-2166,[email protected]


AbouttheMeetingThefollowingannouncementwassenttostewardshipandcitizenscienceorganizationsinMaine,Massachusetts,andVermontinSeptember,2016:

WouldyouliketoseeamorevibrantcultureofenvironmentalstewardshipinNewEngland?Areyoulookingforwaystobetteridentify,recruit,train,ormanagevolunteers?Ifso,weinviteyoutoparticipateinameetingtolearnaboutTheStewardshipNetwork:NewEngland,aninitiativepilotedin2013inNewHampshirebytheUniversityofNewHampshireCooperativeExtension.Don’tknowabouttheNetwork?LearnMoreHere

AsamemberoftheconservationcommunityinNewEngland,youareinvitedtoattendaspecialmeeting:“FosteringaCultureofStewardship:CanweLeveragetheStewardshipNetworkModelBeyondNewHampshire?"

Thursday,November17,20161:00–4:00pmUniversityofNewHampshire,MemorialUnionBuilding,Room338Hostedby:UNHCooperativeExtension,withassistancefromtheCarseySchoolofPublicPolicy

MeetingObjective:ForNewEnglandconservationpartnerstoexploretwoquestionsabouttheStewardshipNetwork:NewEnglandmodel:

1. ShouldtheNetworkexpanditsfocusbeyondNewHampshiretootherNewEnglandstates?2. IftheNetworkexpands,whattypesofserviceswouldyoufindmostvaluable?3. IftheNetworkexpands,whomightbeinvolvedtohelp?

TheStewardshipNetwork:NewEnglandhasbeenworkingtofosteracultureofstewardshipinNewHampshiresinceourlaunchin2013(readmoreabouttheNetwork).Sincethen,organizationsbeyondNewHampshirehaveapproachedusaboutexpandingtheNetworkintoMaine,Massachusetts,andVermont.TheaimofthismeetingistoidentifywhethertheNetworkcouldbeofvalueinotherNewEnglandstates,andifso,howmightitexpand.

WhoShouldAttend?Wearelookingforadiversemixofparticipantsfromconservation,stewardship,andcitizenscienceorganizationsinNewEnglandstatesbeyondNewHampshire.

WhoWillHosttheMeeting?

• StewardshipNetwork:NewEnglandstaffteam:MalinClyde,EmilyLord,HaleyAndreozzi,EmmaTutein,AlysonEberhardt

• CharlieFrench,UNHCooperativeExtensionCommunityandEconomicDevelopmentProgramTeam,withexpertiseinmeetingfacilitationandcommunitycollaboration.

• MichaelSwack,UNHCarseySchoolofPublicPolicywithexpertiseinfinancialandgovernancestructurestobuildscaleinthenonprofitcommunitysector,includinganalyzinganddesigningsuccessfulnetworks.


WhoAttended?Themeetingsawparticipationby23attendees,representing21organizationsincluding:

1. EmeraldNecklaceConservancy2. SilvioO.ConteNationalFishandWildlifeRefuge3. OceansideConservationCollaborative4. SouthernMaineConservationCollaborative5. TheNatureConservancy–MaineChapter6. MaineCoastHeritageTrust7. NewEnglandForestryFoundation8. FranklinLandTrust9. TheNatureConservancy–VermontChapter10. GulfofMaineResearchInstitute11. TheNatureConservancy–MassachusettsChapter12. DartmouthNaturalResourcesTrust13. SudburyValleyTrustees14. GreenwaysCenter/WaldoCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict15. ArnoldArboretum16. PolatinEcologicalServices17. MassachusettsAudubon18. MaineIslandTrailAssociation19. VermontWoodlandsAssociation20. NewEnglandWildflowerSociety21. BroadBrookCoalition

AfterintroductionsandashortpresentationabouttheStewardshipNetwork:NewEngland’seffortsinNewHampshire,themeetingmovedintofacilitatedsessionsfocusedongatheringinputfromallparticipants.AllcommentscollectedQuestion#1:Whatareyourchallengesrelatedtostewardship,citizenscience,orworkingwithvolunteers?

• recruitingandkeepingvolunteers• specialtrainingforNEWFSprojects• Fundingvolunteeropportunities• gettingreliabledatafromvolunteers• Key:gettingyoungervolunteers• agingout• Gettingthenextgenerationinvolved• matchingvolunteerswithappropriateopportunitiesandvisa-versa;understandingthe

differencebetweendifferentvolunteers—the“rightfit”• Haveacrowdofeducatorsandstudentsreadyforopportunities,butarechallenged

withfindingenoughscientistswithmarineresearchopportunities.


• expandinginNH• fundingfromcommunityprettywell–biggestproblemisgettingvolunteers,small

fractionofpeopleonlistcometoevents,howtomakeitmoreattractive• governanceandcommitteesaregood• howtointeractwithvolunteers• howtomakethemfeelappreciated• howtoprovideNaturalResourceeducation• trainingforvolunteermanagers• marketingevents,managingandmaintainingvolunteers• technologylimits• howtogaugevolunteerinterestandwhatgoalscanvolunteershelpwith• volunteerstoleadevents–whatpoliciesapply–backgroundchecks?• coordination• manpower• establishinganetwork• publicperception–Welackthestewardshipculturetoinformpublicperceptionofthe

landscape.Ex.Forestryandthewoodsaregoodbutcuttingtreesisbad.• havingvolunteercoordinatorsoimportant• howtomanageeffectively(nowhave35–40)• wantlandstewardslong-term• wantthemtofeelincluded• rangeofcommunicationmethodsanddifference• lackofunderstandingonpartofmanagementaboutvolunteeropportunitiesand

keepingthemengaged• beforeyoulookforvolunteers,knowwhatyouwantthemtodoandwhy-purpose• nottheirland• rightandhumanpowertoaddressinfestations• agingvolunteers….• accesstoboatstomovewillingvolunteers• processingandtrackingvolunteers• moretraining(monitoring)• supervision/oversight,timelyopportunities,management• scheduling–linktogroupsschedule• trackingfollowup–processingjob• SMCC=Hubtoleveragememberorganizations• Howcantheydothiseffectively?• Howcantheadmin/ownershipquestionsbeanswered?• Everyonecomestothetablewithequalfooting.• OrganizationalDefense


• Weallneedfunding.• Weallneedtoreporttodonors.• Howdowefundinvolvement?• lackofstaffcapacitytomaintainandrecruitvolunteers,runtrainings• limitedresources,example:tools,#jobstodo• lackofinstitutionalrecognitionofvolunteersandthebenefitsitcanbring• biggestproblem–nosinglededicatedstaffpersonforvolunteers• capacityproblemrecruitingandmaintaining–staffpersontoobusytoworkonground• nocurrentnewsletter• Citizenscientistpluscitizennaturalistarehowtohavegoodscientificdataandtrain

volunteersonhowtocollectthatdata.• Isitworththetimetotrainvolunteerstocollectstandardizeddata• nopaidstaff–nobudget• continuityofvolunteerstomaintainqualityofdata(needgood-trainedvolunteers.)• howdoweengageallages:children,family,teenagers• framingitdifferentlytoattractamixofpeopleculturally,etc.• makingvolunteeringexciting,achallenge• bringingvolunteerstothesmallscaleprojects,landtrusts,etc.toaccomplishbigthings

(strategiccollaboration)• funding• Weworkinlandstewardshipinmanydifferentways–weareafor-profitcompany

(withao non-profitheart)–butworkwithnon-profits(invasiveplantmanagement-tree

planting)• howtobuildasustainableprogramandinstillcultureoflandstewardship(teach,train,

inspire)(hardtogetitstarted)• forthem,everypropertyisstartingatgrass-rootslevel(wanttoconnecttoa“higher

org.”)• landowneroutreach• volunteerforeststewards,only150-20%time• 140communityforests• donatedCEtomonitor• maintainengagementovertime,communication,capacityforoutreach• backgroundchecks• trainingonline• findingqualityvolunteersthatcomeback—makeacommitmentlongerterm• findingweekdayvolunteers!• staffcapacitytooverseelargegroups(smallstaff–in-housestaff)

a)onweekdays


• maintainingrelationshipwithagroupofsinglevolunteer–wedon’tgetmanyreturnees• gettingthelocalresidentswhocouldbethemostdirectlyimpacted• volunteer“ownership”• administrationlegal/waiver• poaching/camping• IncreasedvolunteerapplicationsbutnothinginBoston• HowcanTNCbeahubforwatershedwideopportunitieswithoutanypropertyincity• Urbanprogrammingisyoung• Flood• lookingforpartnersandrolerelatedtoprograming• competition• staffcapacitytomanageevents• difficultylinkingupwithquality,dependable,independentvolunteers• howtomakeconnections/reachouttovolunteers–wheretofindthem• findingpeoplewhocanmakelong-termcommitment

Withtheseresultswrittenonindexcards,eachparticipantsharedatopneed,whichwerethengroupedaccordingtobroadercategories.Thisexerciseresultedinthefollowinggroupsofneeds:volunteerengagement,professionaldevelopment,organizationalcapacity,buildingacultureofstewardship,citizensciencecapacity,andvolunteermanagement.


Question#2:IftheNetworkexpands,whatkindsofservicescoulditofferorfunctionscoulditprovide?

• Startingfromscratchversusbuildingonexistingnetworkstostrengthen/expandthem.(Example:MELandTrustNetwork);Lookintomission&servicesofothernetworks

• Sharingvolunteers• Sharingtrainingofvolunteers• Fundingtosupportvolunteers• Collaborativefundingforstewardshipprofessionals• Sharedvolunteercoordinator• Sharedcommunication• FundingforNetworkstructureitself• Sharedinternsacrossorganization• Convertingvolunteersintodonors(butthisrequiresinfrastructure)• Recruitingnewvolunteers(especiallynewretirees)–young,local,etc.• Clearinghouseforvolunteeropportunities• Supplywell-trainedvolunteers(builtskillsovertime)• Advocacyanddrawingattentiontostewardshipexcellence• Tensionbetweenstewardship&landprotection• ConnectwithRCP’sandAcademics(willhaveinternsonboard)forlandprotection.• Thereareregionaleffortsaroundlandprotection—anetworkfocusedaround

stewardshipcouldmakeconnections/partnerships• Imagineanetworkofopportunitiesacrossthelargerregion(needamapforevents)• Sharedinformationontrendsacrossorganizations—sharingitbacktotheNetwork• Bewareofbeingeverythingtoeveryoneatalltimes• Gettingpeopletogether-inperson-isvaluable–inspirational–greattofeelconnected• Citizenscienceandstewardshiptogetheriskey—providingcitizenssciencetoolsand

technologyexpertise• Potentialforbringingstewardshiporganizationsandpeopletogetherinaconference—

aroundatheme(notjustatypeoforganization)• Possibleuseconferenceasawaytoreachvolunteersandthepublic• Publicprivatepartnerships—weareconnectedacrossthelandscape• Usingconferencemodeltotrainandeducatevolunteers(beyondwhatwecando

alone)• Connectingsmallgroupstolargertools—curatedcollectionofresources• Presenceatconferencetofocusonvolunteerism/stewardship-track(timingoftrails

conferenceinMA)• Problem–basedinformationatconferences(howto,science,detail—oriented

informationregardingstewardship)


-Skilldevelopment(thisisrareatconference)Webinars?Midwestdoesagoodjob.

• Staffwantprofessionaldevelopment(beyondthebasics)• Understandingvolunteers,businesses,etc.(notjustpartners)• ChrisFuertatWellsReserve

-Surveylookingatopinionsregardingconservation—lookatherdata!-Needtounderstandwhypeoplevolunteer

• *Shareallthesenotes!• Recognition—connectiontovolunteerleaderboard,scores,healthycompetition

- Keepingtrackofvolunteeraction• “BostonCares”–clearinghouse–leaders,volunteerrecognitionevents(checkitout)

TopPriorities–afterthisbrainstormingactivity,thegroupcollectivelylistedafewpriorities(innoparticularorder):

• Volunteertraining(citizenscienceespecially)• Sharedteamthatcouldhelpusworkwithvolunteers(technicalassistance,volunteer

sharedleaders)• Pooledfundingforvalueacrossorganizations• Shareddata–volunteerdatatracking• Communicationnetworkamongpartners–closedsectionofwebsite?• Sharedinitiatives(example:GarlicMustardChallenge)peopleliketothinktheyare

connectedtosomethingbigger.• Conference

-staffworkday-volunteersweekend

• Lookingatotherlarge/regionalpartnershipstopartnerwiththem

Concerns–inthefinalminutesofthemeeting,participantslistedquestionstheywouldwantansweredastheirparticipationintheprocessofexpandinganetworkcontinues.Concernsincluded:

• Staffcapacity?Howmuchtimewillittake?• Howwillitwork?• Equitableacrosssize—everyonehasvalue→universitiescansafelydothis→notcompeting• Who’snothere?

-stateandfederalagencies-townconservationcommissions-chambersofcommerce-environmentaleducators-watershedorganizations-businesses


-employeecommunityservice-AMC-allCooperativeExtensions-universities(openandinclusive,veryrefreshing)-privatelandownersorganizations(needvolunteersandarevolunteers)-environmentaljusticegoups-placesofworship(particularlyforurbanevents)-Highlands-WoodlandsandWildlands-SouthernMaineConservationCollaborative—smallerscalebuttheyaredoingit—interestedinconnecting→

NextSteps–Lastly,thegroupagreedthattherewasconsensusandbroadinterestinexploringanexpandedStewardshipNetworkinMaine,MassachusettsandVermont.Commentsincluded:

• Needsummaryanddistillation• Comebacktogether–meeting?survey?• TSNNEshouldshareresultsfrom2016partnersurvey• Createreportofthismeetingtoforwardtoothergroupswithanelevatorspeech• Shouldwemeetinotherstates?

Togetstateagencypeople?• Needtohavenextactionsmeeting

• Nextmeeting—scope,structure

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