Class2008Oct24

Class Assignments and Agenda for Week 9, 2008 Oct 24
Class meets from 9:10 - 11:55A in 3214 Jordan Hall on the NCSU Campus. You are free to bring food and drink to this classroom.


 * Panel discussion** today runs from 9:30-11:30, but class will meet for the full period to allow setup and debrief time.


 * Panel Session Objectives**

To consider various perspectives of success from conservation organizations. In particular, we'd like to hear panelist perspectives on what a successful organization is and how to measure success. We are particularly interested in how land trusts might address the question "Is our land meeting the conservation goals for which it was protected?”


 * Panelists**
 * Kevin Brice, President, Triangle Land Conservancy
 * Bill Flournoy, Triangle Greenways Council
 * Kalen Kingsbury, Associate Director and General Counsel, Piedmont Land Conservancy
 * Jeff Masten, Director of Conservation Strategies, Triangle Land Conservancy
 * Dannette Sharpley, Interim Executive Director, Black Family Land Trust
 * Larry Tombaugh, Board of Directors, Triangle Land Conservancy; Co-chair, Conservation Strategies

Maybe:
 * Klugh Jordan, Director of Land Protection, Eno River Association

Moved to end of page so panelists can get right to questions.
 * Things to do [for students, not panelists] before our meeting - please read all items, regardless of team**


 * Agenda for class session**

9.10 **Preliminaries** (Hess) - Note taker = Debbie (Thanks, Debbie, for doing this unasked) - Time keeper = george

9.15 **Panelists arrive**, gather refreshments, and get settled Kathryn Reis will join by speakerphone 919.513.2523 as 9:30 approaches

9.30 **Panel Session Begins**


 * Opening statements** (Hess)

We have been exploring approaches that land trusts might use to answer the question, “Is our land meeting the conservation goals for which it was protected?” We expect that different measures will be needed for different conservation goals. We are looking for things that can be measured with a reasonable expenditure of resources by the organization or by volunteer monitoring teams. Ideally, the methodology could also be used to evaluate prospective land projects.

Today, we'd like to hear your thoughts on what a successful organization is and how you think about measuring that success.

We have some questions to ask that are listed below in order of priority for us. We'd like to hear your response to each of these questions. Our plan is to ask the questions sequentially and hear from each representative before moving on to the next question. We will, however, be flexible to allow expansion and additional questions as interesting points are raised.

Unless someone objects, we are audio-recording this session so that we can go back and revisit points if needed. Use of the recording will be limited to students in this course, and it will be destroyed at the end of the semester. Would anyone prefer that we not do this?

Finally, our practice is to post notes - not transcripts, but summaries - from class on an open web site. If any of you prefer we not do so for this session, please let me know now or privately later.


 * Brief** introductions of panelists and students (led by Hess)
 * Name
 * Organization
 * Three words, with no embellishment or explanation, that come to mind when you think of protecting land


 * Questions** (moderated by Alexander & Hess)

In 2-3 sentences, can you please articulate why your organization was founded?

Again, in a few sentences, can you tell us how your organization serves the local community and the State of North Carolina? What are the benefits provided?

What is success for your organization?
 * Imagine someone talking about your organization. How would you want them to finish this thought ... "TLC / PLT / BFLT is a great organization. They have been ... "

What do you tell current and prospective members/donors to convince them that you have been successful?
 * Imagine trying to convince a potential donor that your organization is effective and successful. What kinds of things would you tell them?

What do you believe your organization's land conservation role will be in 2030?

If your organization is successful, what will the landscape in your region look like in 100 years?
 * What will be different about the landscape because of your organization's work?
 * How will you know you are making progress toward realizing that 100-year vision?

What public benefits does the work of your organization provide or support?
 * How do you know that your work is actually providing or supporting these public benefits?
 * If asked to provide evidence of public benefits, what would you produce?

When you protect a piece of property, we assume that you have some conservation goal for that property.
 * First, is that a fair assumption?
 * Second, do you decide on this goal before you protect the property? How specific are those goals?
 * Third, how do you determine if that goal is being met?
 * Fourth, do you believe that determining if the goal is being met is an important thing to do?
 * Fifth, do you have a sense of how much effort you'd be willing to put into making this determination?

How concerned are you with addressing the question "Is our land meeting the conservation goals for which it was protected?”
 * Do you think this an important question?
 * Is anyone asking?
 * How much effort would you be willing to put into answering it?

11.30 **Panel Session Ends**

11.55 **Adjourn**


 * Things to do [for students, not panelists] before our meeting - please read all items, regardless of team**


 * Item 1:** Review websites for [|Piedmont Land Conservancy], the [|Black Family Land Trust], and [|Triangle Land Conservancy] . We should walk into the room with a good idea of what each organization does. What are their missions? What kind of land does each protect? What are conservation goals for that land? How do those goals compare to those we've been working with for Triangle Land Conservancy?


 * Item 2:** Can I get volunteers to create a 1-page brief for each of these organizations by Tuesday?
 * Sign up here.
 * Piedmont: Kathryn Reis [|PiedmontLandConservancy.pdf]
 * Triangle:
 * Black Family: Steve Allen [|BlackFamilyLandTrust.pdf]


 * Item 3:** Please review the panelist questions below and make comments by Monday 5PM so that I can forward to panelists. Make your comments immediately below the question. The order listed is the order I propose they be asked - so there's an implicit priority. Please indicate any changes in order as well.


 * Item 4:** Hess will organize coffee and juice for our guests. Students should bring their own beverages. Does anyone want to make muffins or such? This is not critical, so please feel free to decline.
 * Please indicate your intentions / wishes here ...
 * Julia can bring muffins or bread!!
 * Debbie will bring brownies.


 * Item 5:** Alexander should bring the audio recording unit.


 * Item 6:** I (george) propose a table setup similar to what we've been using, only slightly larger, with panelist sprinkled throughout rather than all together (I'll pre-set tent cards so that this happens). I believe this fosters an atmosphere of partnership rather the us/them setup of panelists all together at the front of the room.


 * Item 7:** Jeff and I have created some guidance on the information you might want to evaluate as you work on your properties. Please review [|InformationGathering.doc]. You should feel absolutely free to confer with your TLC point-person to help gather this information - we don't expect you to find it all on your own. The "main events" are the narrative questions at the top of the page, which can be address in prose with supporting Miradi documents as appropriate. The rest of the information is suggestions for places to look when conducting your situation analysis. As we discussed on 17 Oct, do not get hung up on deep details - document your assumptions, note places where TLC needs to do more thinking, and move forward. If you have questions, please email me (george) with a copy to Jeff. We will discuss this in class on 31 Oct.


 * Item 8:** If you have not submitted your mid-term peer evaluation, please get that to me (george) ASAP. [|MidPeerEvaluation.doc]