STRATEGIC GOALS
Strategic Goals and Results: 2018
- GOAL 1: Provide resources for conservation district employees via the NCDEA website, webinars, and other avenues
- GOAL 2: Develop a process to improve and coordinate the core partner’s contact databases
- GOAL 3: Increase the number of state district employee associations
- GOAL 4: Expand and improve networks and communication
- GOAL 5: Encourage and promote professionalism of district employees
- GOAL 6: Maintain and build representation and partnerships
- GOAL 7: Work towards every state and territory building a fully functioning partnership (in concert with other National Conservation Partnership members)
- GOAL 8: Build board capacity and maintain effective operations
GOAL 1: Provide resources for conservation district employees via the NCDEA website, webinars, and other avenues
Goals
- Provide website and social media updates
- Solicit feedback from employees on their individual and state association needs
- Promote partners’ webinars
- Provide 3 training and informational links on NCDEA website
- Promote NCDEA website via monthly state success stories
- Provide examples of training curriculum online
- Represent partners on USDA-NRCS National Employee Development Board
Results
- New website developed to focus on core functions of NCDEA
- Social media accounts active throughout the year
- Board members solicited feedback from conservation district professionals across the country
- Partner webinars and training events promoted
- Partners represented on the National Employee Development Board
GOAL 2: Develop a process to improve and coordinate the core partner’s contact databases
Goals
- Request partner EDs to meet @ staff level to plan and coordinate
- Develop a draft MOU with core partners to coordinate efforts to populate district database
Results
- Little progress in 2018 on Goal 2.
GOAL 3: Increase the number of state district employee associations
Goals
- No quantifiable goals were established for Goal 3.
Results
- In the Pacific Region, substantial time was invested in California.
- New contacts made in Alaska.
GOAL 4: Expand and improve networks and communication
Goals
- Develop a clear communication plan
- Develop and accelerate public relations/marketing, including NCDEA branding
- Make regular contact with State Presidents
- Encourage state leaders to share information
- Provide assistance to states to improve their communication networks
- Establish relationships and reach out to national partners, maintaining two-way communication
Results
- Redeveloping a communications plan was superseded by the need to revise NCDEA’s website
- Branding saw progress through the adoption of G Suite for all board members
- Logo revision was explored and we expect to see progress in 2019
- Regional directors increased engaged with state presidents
- Establishment of the NCDEA Network service will increase the sharing of information
- Regional directors refocused efforts to build and nurture key relationships with partners
GOAL 5: Encourage and promote professionalism of district employees
Goals
- Provide assistance/guidance to states on training
- Develop an NCDEA training policy and messaging that helps express the professionalism of District Employees
- Commit to acknowledging professionalism through increased participation in NCDEA training, Scholarship, and Awards Programs
- Provide templates and or examples of tools used such as skills assessment, professional development plans, training plans, etc.
- Distribute training opportunities including on-line examples
Results
- Regional directors increased participation with state associations, including providing training
- The need for clearer messaging moved forward but the new website took precedence
- NCDEA awards saw more competition in 2018 than in several years
GOAL 6: Maintain and build representation and partnerships
Goals
- Maintain and enhance NCDEA membership in National Conservation Partnership (NCP) with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), and National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC)
- Build and continue professional relationships with districts, state associations of conservation districts, and state conservation agencies
- Build and continue professional relationships with USDA NRCS, USFWS, FSA, and other federal conservation agencies
- Provide leadership for including underrepresented partners, working across boundaries, + adapting to changing partnership dynamics
- Provide support for the Envirothon
Results
- Substantial time was invested in the National Conservation Partnership
- Regional directors increased engagement with districts, state associations, and state conservation agences
- Relationships with federal partners were maintained or expanded in 2018
- Tribal conservation district employees were added to the NCDEA bylaws to help increase conservation capacity across boundaries
- Envirothon received significant support from NCDEA
GOAL 7: Work towards every state and territory building a fully functioning partnership (in concert with other National Conservation Partnership members)
Goals
- Collaborate with partners to assist in developing and strengthening state partnerships
- Provide mentoring opportunities between and among states
- Address special situations with a team approach to resolving/advancing specific state partnerships
- Share success stories
Results
- Regional directors worked directly with state partnerships in 2018
- Key opportunities and challenges were assessed throughout the year by the NCDEA board
- The new website and the NCDEA Network will provide better opportunities to share success stories
GOAL 8: Build board capacity and maintain effective operations
Goals
- Develop and maintain effective policy and procedures
- Continue to build NCDEA financial capacity
- Continue to ensure that NCDEA representatives serve and participate on NACD committees
Results
- Substantial work was completed on NCDEA’s procedure manual
- Revenue from state association dues increased in 2018
- All regions are now represented by regional directors, including some alternates
- Board members participate on NACD Foundation Committees
Highlights
In 2018, NCDEA increased coverage in regions and focused more energy on connecting with members.
More:
- All regions are now represented by regional directors.
- NCDEA bylaws were changed to be more explicitly inclusive.
- Capacity surveys by NCDEA prove the fundamental strength of the conservation delivery system.
- Regional directors increased their engagement in all regions.
- The number of dues-paying state associations increased.
- A new website was developed for an early 2019 launch.
- A new service — the NCDEA Network — will help connect conservation district professionals across the country.
- NCDEA board members are now on the same domain for better branding and knowledge transfer.