ISC Meeting & Workshop, July 11-13, 2012
The Interim Steering Committee met in Blacksburg, VA to develop the Cooperative’s key goals, formulate guiding principles, and define next steps for incorporation into the LCC's first Work Plan.
A key component of the meeting was to begin to develop a 5 year work plan that identifies the role and contribution of the various Cooperative members and distributes work and resources to effectively achieve the Cooperative’s mission. The work plan will reflect the Cooperative’s conservation priorities, identify key conservation targets to measure achievement, and identify opportunities for collaborative conservation efforts. Below is a summary of the discussions held and work covered during the three day workshop along with materials presented during each session.
Day 1
Welcome and Introductions: Interim Steering Committee Chair David Whitehurst
Overview of Workshop and Products to come out of Meeting
“Think Different” Landscape-level Conservation Planning: Framework and Model
- Conceptual Framework with LCC Planning Model
- AppLCC Base Map Showing States
- AppLCC Base Map Showing Ecoregions
Discussion: What types of questions do decision-makers need to answer? What is their timeframe?
- Landscape-scale Conservation Presentation, by Dr. Rob Baldwin
- Process Model of Conservation Planning, by Dr. Rob Baldwin
Mission Statement Review and Refinement
- Purpose: Revisit the mission statement to make sure it is holding up. Gather perspectives about the mission statement and get feedback on what is missing and what can be done to add clarity.
- AppLCC Vision and Mission Statements
- Partners Vision and Mission Statements
Scope of the AppLCC 5 Year Work Plan
- Review survey data and analyze major themes and feedback
- Select key messages from the survey our plan must address
- Capture the 3-5 strategic themes that define the necessary scope of the Appalachian LCC. The starting outline for this information will come from background documents, interviews, survey responses, and analyses of conservation planning documents. The ISC will refine and select these themes and develop them into goals and objectives during the session
- Phone Interview Summary
- Phone Interview Questions
- Interview Requested List
- Webinar on Review of Phone Interview Responses; given to ISC on June 28
- Webinar Participant List; from June 28
- 103-Report: Summary of over 100 Key Planning Documents of the many Conservation & Resource Management Organizations across the Appalachian Region. Used as background information for the Work Plan
- 103 Synthesis Report
Continue scope of Appalachian LCC Work Plan discussion
- Clearly define Appalachian LCC’s unique role
- Reach closure on major planning elements
- Starting Strategic Concepts: 3 Column Framework "What, Why, How", presented by Group Solutions
- Sample Placemat, presented by Group Solutions
Develop Principles for Directing the Plan
- Purpose: Partnering values represent the components that will define the Appalachian LCC roadmap for success. Partnering values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile and represent an organization’s highest priorities. A strong organization needs to establish values that it lives by. Present ISC with a number of resource materials related to landscape-level planning and national efforts to help in developing these values
Landscape-level Planning Efforts
- Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Surrogate Species Introduction
- The Nature Conservancy Climate Change Resilience Fact Sheet
- Conservation Targets FAQ
- Appalachian LCC Video Resource Materials
National Efforts
- National LCC Network – Science-based Response
- Landscape Conservation Cooperative FAQ
- Map of Department of Interior Climate Science Centers
- American Great Outdoors Initiative - Public Lands Fact Sheet
- American Great Outdoors Initiative - Private Lands Fact Sheet
- National Resources Conservation Service Working Lands for Wildlife
- Working Lands for Wildlife Summary on Golden-winged Warbler
Develop Guiding PrinciplesDevelop the AppLCC Strategic Plan
- Guiding Principles are the strategic elements that help organizations decide how to achieve the mission and make choices. These principles should enable the ISC and staff to make the right call consistently and transparently
- Generate the 5 to 8 key goals
- Define the scope of each goal
- Define timeline to accomplish each goal
- Brainstorm potential objectives for each goal
Additional Resources Presented to Workshop Participants During Work Plan Discussion
Day 2
Develop Objectives for Implementing each Goal
- Modify products as indicated
- Note options, choices, and elements requiring further investigation
- Central Hardwoods Joint Venture Ecological Model Example, presented by CHJV Coordinator Jane Fitzgerald
Build List of Actions, Products, Processes, and Services
- Prioritize products and services that the Appalachian LCC will accomplish
- Prioritize service offerings & data and information requests
Collect Input and Preferences on Tactics, Target Dates, Resources, and Measures for each GoalDiscuss and Develop Key Business Processes needed to Effectively Operate the Appalachian LCCNext Steps
- Review session, products, and next steps
- Document final insights from each ISC member
- Closing survey to provide feedback on the workshop
Day 3
Last Review of the Draft Work Plan
Discussion on Sharing Work with Broader Community
- Use of Webinar for ISC Leadership Roll Out and Listening Session
Facilitated Webinar on Workshop Recommendations
- Present findings on what we decided to do as a team
- Deliver timeline for draft work plan
- Solicit feedback from a larger audience
ISC Business Meeting with Executive Sub-Committee
