2007 Annual Partnership Meeing
As part of an ongoing effort to increase partnerships and collaboration, the Forest Service partnership network met recently in Washington DC to explore and expand the roles partners play in maintaining public lands. The annual meeting was held May 15-17, 2007 and was hosted by the National Partnership Office. Working under the umbrella of ‘gracious space’ (an environment in which creative thinking, open-mindedness, and safe discussions take place), approximately 25 Forest Service partnership coordinators and program-area contacts gathered to discuss the roles of partnership/collaboration in agency initiatives and new avenues for sharing information and energies.
The decision to host this year’s event in DC was partially based upon an expressed desire of the network to interact with current leadership and discuss the future roles of partnerships in the agency. Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief of the National Forest Systems, made this sentiment clear in his opening remarks. He stated: “We need to begin better balancing our needs, with those of our partners… nurturing these important relationships, while promoting creativity, overcoming constraints and exploring new opportunities.”
Participants were also afforded an opportunity to hear from various program leaders on national-level agency initiatives, including: stewardship contracting, biomass utilization, ecosystem services, open space, new policies and models. These first-hand accounts of program goals and challenges provided the group with a better understanding of how partnerships fit within efforts and ways in which they can become more fully engaged.
 The final two days were held at an historic home in Arlington, Virginia, providing a retreat-like setting for the important discussions of network theory and internal practice. The National Forest Foundation provided a kick-off discussion, highlighting their current programs and identifying ways in which the network can be involved. The remaining time together was spent sharing information from the National Partnership Office, a formal presentation on network theory, an analysis of our network, and ways in which network members can better nurture and foster improved communication and innovation with the Agency and amongst themselves.
“Social networks drive performance and learning… they are where true knowledge resides.” noted conference participant Sally Colella,of Colella Associates.
Key action items that emerged during the meeting included:
- Performing network analysis at a regional or forest level to determine existing structures and resulting information flow;
- Pursuing a closer coordination with national grants and agreements efforts, particularly as they relate to government-wide initiatives on business processes that affect partnerships; and
- Expanding and streamlining communication within our network membership.
Though a great deal of information was shared in three short-days, the bulk of success for this meeting was built upon individual interaction—providing a foundation for new relationships and reinvigorating older connections within a new context. If you would like to learn more about the annual partnership meeting, click here for copies of the proceedings [PDF] or contact Andrea Loucks at 202-205-8336.
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PARTNERING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE
