When you read about successfully founding an environmental advocacy organization you might find some good advice in the literature, http://timberlanduk.timberlandoutletonlines.net - timberland uk . Yet the ongoing actual management of such advocacy groups is another topic. Thus many environmental advocacy groups labor to effectively manage, http://timberlandoutlet.timberlandoutletonlines.net - timberland outlet . This article shares several insights from the field.
Collaborate with other environmental advocacy organizations
The State of New York alone has over 400 environmental advocacy organizations listed by the Environmental Conservation Department of Environmental Conservation. And in the last five years, http://timberlandoutlets.timberlandoutletonlines.net - timberland outlets , there has been increasing levels of coordination between geographically diverse environmental advocacy groups, http://www.cofradiasgastronomicas.com/foro/forum_posts.asp?TID=135321&PID=145367#145367 - http://www.cofradiasgastronomicas.com/foro/forum_posts.asp?TID=135321&PID=145367#145367 , http://timberlandboots.timberlandoutletonlines.net - timberland boots .
One driver of this trend has been reduced flight travel costs – a trend that may now be reversing with skyrocketing fuel costs. A separate driver is the ubiquity of services such as Rondee.
All of thesepanies work on the same underlying principle: they provide you a personal access number and a toll number to dial, http://timberlandshoes.timberlandoutletonlines.net - timberland shoes . If all participants dial the same number and enter the same PIN code, they are put into a group call.
Involve academic professionals
A frequent erroneous conception is that academic curricula is too far removed from the realities of environmental politics to be significant. However, programs such as that offered by New England School of Law provide graduate level training in environmental advocacy as wells as organizing. Indeed, they train students for careers as advocates andmunity organizers.
Students at these programs are great candidates to be recruited as volunteers or leaders for your organization. Also consider seeking the involvement of a faculty or staff member who can provide guidance and advice to your group. While students arrive and depart as the years pass by; faculty tend to remain.
Stay well focused
The most effectively managed environmental organizations are ones that stay tightly focused on their mission and do not allow members or leaders to get enmeshed in peripheral goals. Virtually all environmental advocacy organizations operate under serious time limitations, http://englishclub.nikandishan.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=17639&PID=20077#20077 - http://englishclub.nikandishan.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=17639&PID=20077#20077 .mitting to three goals with 100% effort will generally yield superior resultspared to tackling nine goals at 33% effort.
Develop your network
The most successful advocacy organizations create networks of supporters who share their philosophy and goals. While the word networking frequently gets a bad connotation, the fact is these networks can provide substantial assistance and members can stay in touch more effectively through systems. Indeed, they provide the emotional support which is so critical to maintaining enthusiasm among group officers and members, http://www.n26.net.cn/bbs/forum_posts.asp?TID=0&PID=0#0 - http://www.n26.net.cn/bbs/forum_posts.asp?TID=0&PID=0#0 .
Use web technology more strategically
Some environmental advocacy groups have far flung leadership teams, and it is difficult to have in person meetings. One solution is to use a desktop sharing system
Whether its sharing a PowerPoint presentation showing the groups fundraising initiatives or a spreadsheet showing the tracking of performance, desktop sharing can be quite useful for not a few advocacy groups.
The silver lining in all this is that these suggestions are not costly. Environmental advocacy groups can improve their performance through these ideas.
Environmental advocacy is a remarkably diverse area. It involves both safeguarding the public from environmental hazards and protecting the resources of nature. As successes have been secured at the local, state and national level, there is a growing understanding in the field that further successes will be contingent on developing the same professional capacities as private and government organizations that typify best management practices.
|