PARTNERSHIPS: EXPERIENCE WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

PARTNERSHIPS: EXPERIENCE WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
GLENN EUGSTER NOVEMBER 3, 2005

BROADLY

PARTNERSHIPS: VOLUNTARY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH WHICH EACH MEMBER OF THE RELATIONSHIPS ADVANCES ITS OWN MISSION BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHERS TO ACHIEVE CONGRUENT OBJECTIVES.

DW MEINING WROTE: “THE BEHOLDING EYE: TEN VERSIONS OF THE SAME SCENE”.

TEN VIEWS OF PARTNERSHIPS:

PARTNERSHIPS SECURE OR LEVERAGE FUNDING, RESOURCES, AND ATTENTION. PARTNERSHIPS CAN GIVE YOUR EFFORT A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

PARTNERSHIPS IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SHARING. THEY CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE OF THE PLACE YOU ARE WORKING IN.

PARTNERSHIPS SHARE COSTS AND REDUCE SPENDING

PARTNERSHIPS SHARE EXPERTISE

PARTNERSHIPS CAN BUILD CONSENSUS AGREEMENTS FOR ACTION.

PARTNERSHIPS SOLVE PROBLEMS

PARTNERSHIPS EMPOWER PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS

PARTNERSHIPS CAN IMPROVE QUALITY

PARTNERSHIPS CAN SPAN BOUNDARIES OR JURISDICTIONS

PARTNERSHIPS CAN ACHIEVE EQUITY AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

11. OTHERS?


GREATER WASHINGTON NATIONAL PARKS: PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE

‘TO FIND WAYS TO USE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PARK AND PROGRAM MANAGERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITHIN THE POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED AND METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON REGION”.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTNERSHIPS

THEY ARE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR BOTH.

THEY ARE CALLED ALL KINDS OF THINGS—CARTELS; KEIRSTU; ALLIANCES; NETWORKED ORGANIZATIONS; ETC.

THEY ARE A TECHNIQUE, NOT A PROGRAM OR AN OFFICE.

THEY ARE A WAY WE DO BUSINESS, NOT A BOX ON THE ORGANIZATION CHART.

THEY CAN BE A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP OR A LOOSE COLLABORATION.

THEY ARE RIGHT FOR SOME SITUATIONS, AND NOT APPROPRIATE FOR OTHERS.

THEY REQUIRE CARE AND FEEDING

THEY INCLUDE OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES TO MEMBERS, AS WELL AS COSTS THAT ARE NOT AS OBVIOUS.

THEY HAVE A LIFE CYCLE----1) INITIATION; 2) IMPLEMENTATION; AND 3) CLOSURE OR REGENERATION.

THEY CAN PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND THE CAPACITY FOR REGIONAL CONCERNS.

THEY COME FROM OUTSIDE AND AREA (DESIGNED) AND FROM WITHIN AN AREA (DISCOVERED)

THEY REQUIRE DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR DEPENDING UPON YOUR ROLE


SPECIFIC EXAMPLES:


VERMONT RIVERS STUDY
GOAL: ID IMPORTANT RIVERS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSERVATION
PARTNERS: STATE GOVERNMENT—AEC
GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTS HELP WITH DATA GATHERING AND EVALUATION.
APPROACH: FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
ACTIONS; STATE RIVERS ASSESSMENT; POLICY INPUT; CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

DELMARVA PENINSULA
GOAL: PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE GROUPS FOR LAND, GROWTH AND STEWARDSHIP OBJECTIVES
PARTNERS: DELMARVA ADVISORY COUNCIL; COUNTY TOURISM OFFICES; STATE
70-90 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS IN 3 STATES
APPROACH; NETWORKED ORGANIZATION
ACTIONS; HERITAGE PLANS; WETLANDS PROTECTED; 2,500 MILE BIKE TRAIL; HISTORIC BUILDINGS SAVED, CIVIC ENEGAGEMENT; SOLE SOURCE AQUIFIERS DESIGNATED; EXCHANGES; ETC.

NPS PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
GOAL: PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND INPUT TO NPS LEADERSHIP ON
PARTNERSHIP POLICY, ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION; PROVIDE PARK AND REGION INPUT INTO POLICY DECISIONS.
PARTNERS: 7 REGINAL OFICES; 7 PARK REPS; 7 NATIONAL PROGRAM
OFFICES; 3 SERVICE CENTERS; NPF; NUMEROUS LIAISONS.
APPROACH; FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARTER
ACTION: INPUT INTO POLICY; CONSENSUS-BASED DECISION-MAKING; MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD; BETTER TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

GREATER WASHINGTON NATIONAL PARKS FUND
GOAL: IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC WE SERVE AND RAISE FRIENDS AND FUNDS.
PARTNERS: 14 PARK SUPERINTENDENTS
APPROACH; FORMAL PARTNERSHIP
ACTION: IMPROVED MESSAGING AND ICONS; $175,000 DONATIONS; UNIFIED EFFORT TO COMPETE; IMPROVED PUBLIC SERVICES.

HEALTHY PARKS-HEALTHY LIVING
GOAL: HEALTHY PARKS-HEALTHY LIVING/ TRAILS FOREVER—ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THE PARK HIKE, BIKE, HORSE AND WATER TRAILS TO MAKE THE PUBLIC MORE AWARE OF THE PARKS; ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERISM, SECURE DONATIONS; MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE HEALTH; AND DO PROJECTS.
PARTNERS NPF; UNILEVER/ LIPTON TEA; 14 NPS PARK MANAGERS
APPROACH; FORMAL PROJECT AGREEMENT
ACTIONS; CREATION OF A TRAILS FUND; TRAILS FOREVER CAMPAIGN; TRAIL PROJECTS; TRAIL GUIDES; ACCESS TO OTHER PRIVATE ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES.


NECESSARY SKILL SETS:

ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS, ASPIRATIONS, OPINIONS AND BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS. SEE HUMAN ECOLOGY OR CULTURAL ANTHROPOLGY
SENSE OF PROCESS AND CONSENSUS-BUILDING
ABILITY TO LISTEN AND ENSURE THAT EVERY OTHER VOICE IS HEARD
GOOD WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICAITON SKILLS.
DEPENDABILITY AND FOLLOW-THROUGH
NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS FOR AGREEMENTS AND GETTING TO YES.
ABILITY TO WORK IN A INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM AND USE AND INTEGRATED APPROACH
CAN-DO ATTITUDE



SOURCES OF INFORMATION

POWER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIPS, MIEB, MATTHEW ARNOLD AND LONG
HUMAN ECOLOGY AND THE REGIONAL PLAN BY JON BERGER AND DAN ROSE; OR
EARTH, WATER AND FIRE, JON BERGER AND DAVID STINTON
MOVIES: MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR; A MAN WENT UP THE HILL AND CAME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
SOCIAL SYSTEM COMPLEXITY; NEW FORMS OF US FEDERAL AGENCY INVOLVEMENT, DURNEY, WILLSON AND EUGSTER
ARE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION PROJECTS DESIGNED OR DISCOVERED? FRANCES SEYMOUR
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS MESSAGING PAPER AND ICON DEVELOPMENT.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON PARTNERSHIP SUCCESS FACTORS.

CLOSING:
PARTNERSHIPS ARE AN IMPORTANT APPROACH TO HAVE IN YOUR
TOOL-KIT.
NOT FOR EVERYONE OR EVERY SITUATION.
WHEN THEY WORK THEY ARE VERY PRODUCTIVE AND ENJOYABLE.

QUESTIONS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.