Building Local Conservation Leadership
This series of 4 workshops for Upper Valley Conservation Commissioners was presented by the Upper Valley Land Trust and the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission during the winter and spring of 2004. Partial funding for the program was provided by the Upper Valley Community Foundation.
Through these workshops, UVLT and UVLSRPC sought to strengthen the effectiveness of Conservation Commissions throughout the Upper Valley region by presenting tools and strategies for broadening their bases of support through stronger civic connections, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and project selection.
To help Conservation Commissioners assess their work in the context of broader town goals and from the point of view of other town leaders, UVLT also undertook an informal survey of Upper Valley Selectboard and Planning Board/Planning Commission members. The findings of these interviews are summarized here.
Click here for a list of workshop attendees.
For workshop materials, follow the links below.
Workshop 1
Beyond “Tree-Huggers”: Working Effectively with Town Government
Improving communication among town boards; identifying shared goals and needs; positioning your conservation commission as a partner and a resource for other town boards.
Presenter Biography
Workshop Summary and Outline
Breakout Group Scenarios and Reports
Workshop 2
Friendraising: Cultivating Broader Support within your Community
Reaching out to a wider audience; listening to what people care about; identifying the different constituencies within your town and understanding their interests; using this foundation to increase involvement, volunteerism, and support for conservation initiatives.
Presenter Biographies
Workshop Summary and Outline
Handout: Four Personalities of Change-Makers
Handout: Eight Stages of the Process of Social Movement Success
Handout: Green Decade Coalition Volunteer Opportunities
Workshop 3
Fundraising: Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Campaign
Understanding why people give; assessing your fundraising potential; planning a campaign; identifying donor prospects.
Presenter Biographies
Workshop Summary and Outline
Handout: Anne Peyton Workshop Materials
Handout: Bradford Conservation Fund Fundraising Activities
Handouts: Bradford Conservation Fund Bylaws
Workshop 4
Project Selection: Keys to Success
Thinking strategically about project selection; deciding what matters; choosing projects that build visibility, credibility, and support; approaching landowners.
Presenter Biographies
Workshop Summary and Outline
Roleplay instructions
Orange County Headwaters Project Brochure
Lyme Conservation Commission Evaluation Form for Proposed Conservation Land
