Network of Oregon Watershed Councils-Fall 2009 Update
In this issue:
· Gathering Registration Closes on October 21st- Sign up now!
· New Executive Director at the Gathering
· Update on Capacity Building
o OWEB Grant Application Assistance
o The New Coordinator Handbook, 2nd Printing
o Councils Receive Scholarships to Fundraising Training
· Upcoming Workshops for Councils
· New Network Addresses
o Mailing: P.O. Box 10027, Eugene, OR 97440
o Office: 99 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401
· Donate to Support the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils
2009 Gathering: Registration Closes on October 21st (this Wednesday)
Don’t forget to register for the 2009 Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls. We have a terrific lineup of workshops, speakers, field trips, and networking opportunities on tap from October 27-30. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 21st, so don’t miss this opportunity to join councils and our partners for a valuable week of learning and connecting. Many thanks to our principal conference sponsors: the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Clean Water Services, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Lottery, U.S. Forest Service, ICF/Jones & Stokes, Watershed Professionals Network, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Nature Conservancy, FCA, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of State Lands.
And now for some 2009 Gathering “good news/bad news”: First, the bad news—unfortunately, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior Will Shafroth had to cancel his appearance as our keynote speaker on Wednesday evening, October 28th. The pull of Washington, DC, responsibilities made a late schedule change unavoidable. We will miss having Mr. Shafroth with us in Klamath Falls. Now the good news: We will be joined for our keynote by Todd Graham, President of Aeroscene Land Logic and former chair of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition based in Bozeman, Montana. Todd has built his career working with ranchers and farmers in the Northern Rockies developing land management practices that provide economic, ecological, and social benefits. Todd has graciously offered to share some of his experience and is a perfect voice for our conference theme of Sustaining Oregon’s Ecosystems and Local Communities. We hope you’ll join us for Todd’s remarks and all of the 2009 Gathering activities.
New Executive Director Hired at the Network
The Network of Oregon Watershed Councils is thrilled to announce that Tom O’Brien will join our team as the new Executive Director on November 1, 2009. Tom will actually arrive in time to participate in the Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls, October 27-30. With the culmination of a transition process that began last April, we are happy to welcome Tom to the Network from his previous position as the Executive Director of the Watershed Agricultural Council of the New York City Watersheds, Inc. With a career built to date in Massachusetts and New York State, Tom comes to Oregon with a tremendous background in watershed restoration, facilitation of natural resource issues, and nonprofit management. Join us in welcoming Tom to the Network during the reception prior to the 2009 Gathering Banquet, October 28th, at 6:00 pm.
Update on Capacity Building
· OWEB Grant Application Assistance
In September, the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils facilitated a series of conference calls to provide assistance to coordinators working on Restoration and Technical Assistance grant applications for Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) funding. The first call was staffed by OWEB personnel with the purpose of reviewing changes to the applications and procedures that have occurred since the last grant application cycle. That call was recorded, and is available for download at http://www.oregonwatersheds.org/resourcesforcouncils/grantassistancerecording. The second call featured experienced and successful past council applicants offering advice and answering questions regarding the Technical Assistance grant application. Similarly, the final call followed the format of the second, with the focus this time on the OWEB Restoration grant application. Q & A documents from the second and third calls are available via our website at: http://www.oregonwatersheds.org/resourcesforcouncils/owebgrants.
· The New Coordinator Handbook: A reference for Oregon’s watershed council coordinators; 2nd Printing!
Building on an idea first proposed by several coordinators, and bolstered by the lessons learned at this year’s and previous years’ New Coordinator Workshops, the Network partnered with OSU Sea Grant Extension to develop a reference book for new watershed council coordinators. The New Coordinator Handbook was printed in July and distributed to councils across the state in August. Following a round of edits, the Handbook is in for a second printing and will be available again at the 2009 Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls or by contacting Alethea Gallman, Education and Training Coordinator at the Network.
· Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times: Network provides scholarships for councils to attend TACS training
In October, the Network of Oregon Watershed councils provided scholarships, including full registration costs and a travel stipend, for watershed council coordinators and board members to attend a TACS training presented by internationally acclaimed fundraising trainer and consultant Kim Klein. Eleven councils took advantage of the opportunity to attend the Portland workshop. Focusing on the ins and outs of how to develop and implement fundraising programs in the face of economic downturn and instability, Ms. Klein discussed “what needs to be in place to weather almost all circumstances; how to set up and maintain a disciplined and systematic fundraising program that is predictable and manageable; how to ask for money in person; and how to find new donors without spending a fortune.” The Network would like to thank TACS for their generosity in working with the Network to make this opportunity available to watershed councils across Oregon, as well as the Meyer Memorial Trust for their financial support.
Upcoming Workshops, Fall 2009 and Winter 2010
The Network will be taking advantage of the relatively slow winter work season for to offer workshops and seminars designed specifically for watershed council members, staff, and volunteers. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with any of these events, please contact Network Education and Training Coordinator Alethea Gallman, or call (541) 682-8481.
· Outreach for Councils and Partners- December 2009: Built around the upcoming re-examination of Oregon’s Measure 66 initiative, this workshop will walk councils through the process of developing and implementing a plan to conduct public outreach, taking into account the unique situations of councils as volunteer-led stakeholder organizations operating in a variety of physical and social environments.
· Leadership Development events- February 2010: Aimed at council leaders and staff, these events integrate time for participants to network and share successes with a facilitated conversation about effective council leadership.
· Mapping for Councils workshops- March 2010: Workshops developed to help council staff and members develop proficiency in the use of no-cost web-based mapping utilities to create purpose-driven maps for such activities as applying for grant funds, examining basic watershed geographies, and writing grant reports.
· New Coordinator Workshop- April 2010
· (2) QuickBooks for Councils- May 2010: These workshops will also offer opportunities for one-on-one expert follow up.
1. Setting up and maintaining QuickBooks so it works for you (or your accountant)
2. Exploring advanced QuickBooks skills and system customizations
New Network Addresses
The Network has a new office address and a new mailing address in Eugene:
Office:
99 East Broadway, Suite 400
Eugene, OR 97401
Mailing:
P.O. Box 10027
Eugene, OR 97440
Our phone numbers and email addresses have not changed.
Support the Network Online
Now, it’s as easy as a click of the mouse to donate to the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils! Please visit our website to learn more about watershed councils and consider making a secure, tax deductible contribution to help us support their efforts. We envision strong, resilient watershed councils throughout Oregon sustaining healthy land, water, and economies. Oregon watershed councils are the pride of our local communities and a model for our country and the world. Oregon is unique in its commitment to community-based restoration of our natural systems and local economies. Join our effort to maintain and expand this extraordinary model. Thank you.
May you enjoy the bounty of the harvest!
John Moriarty
Executive Director
Network of Oregon Watershed Councils
PO Box 10027
Eugene, OR 97440
V: (541) 682-8323
F: (541) 682-6410
2009 Watershed Council Gathering
Water in a Changing World: Sustaining Oregon's Ecosystems & Local Communities
October 27-30, Klamath Falls, Oregon
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