NCDEA Strategic Plan

An updated NCDEA Strategic Plan is currently under development.

Please scroll below to see the 2017-2020 Plan

NCDEA

Strategic Plan

2017-2020

Vision

The nationally recognized network of professionals dedicated to the delivery of conservation.

Mission

To strengthen conservation district employee professional capacity and influence national conservation policy by providing leadership and proficiency.

Objectives

To educate, inform, and support Conservation District employees and partners
To promote and inspire the professional development of Conservation District employees
Serve as the voice of 7000+ conservation district employees
Encourage members to be involved on state, regional, and national levels
Proactively demonstrate the value of locally-led conservation
Recognize excellence in conservation delivery
Maintain open communication with conservation district employees and partners
Maintain financial and organizational sustainability

Goal #1:	Provide resources for conservation district employees via the NCDEA website, webinars, and other avenues Provide website and social media updates Who: NCDEA President and designated officers Pathway: Updates to NCDEA Executive Director (ED) who will forward to Webmaster (WM) When: Monthly Solicit feedback from employees on their individual and state association needs Who: NCDEA Regional Representatives (RRs) Pathway: Via e-mail or personal contacts, reports made at NCDEA meetings When: Semi-annually Promote partners’ webinars Who: ED Pathway: RRs to ED to Board email list for sharing When: Monthly, or more frequently as needed Provide 3 training and informational links on NCDEA website Who: Chair of Professional Development Committee Pathway: Solicitation of examples from Board members, submitted to ED and forwarded to WM When: Quarterly Promote NCDEA website via monthly state success stories Who: RRs Pathway: Request from state contacts, sent to ED, forwarded to WM When: Continuous, target goal of 2/year/region Provide examples of training curriculum online Who: RRs Pathway: solicit from state contacts, forward to ED to WM and links provided to RRs When: Continuous, target seven or more annually Represent partners on USDA-NRCS National Employee Development Board Who: NCDEA President Designee Pathway: Designee provides updates semi-annually to NCDEA Board When: Four times/year
Goal #2:	Develop a process to improve and coordinate the core partner’s contact databases Request partner EDs to meet @ staff level to plan and coordinate Who: ED Pathway: ED will schedule and coordinate meetings When: By January 1, 2017 Develop a draft MOU with core partners to coordinate efforts to populate district database Who: ED Pathway: Submitted to Board for review and comment When: February 2017 NCDEA Board Meeting
Goal #3:	Increase number of state district employee associations Who: NCDEA Executive Board Pathway: Identify need, create implementation and prioritization plan with input from appropriate RRs. Target 2 new associations/year When: February 2017 NCDEA Board Meeting
Goal #4:	Expand & Improve Networks and Communication (Internal and External) Develop a clear communication plan Who: Communications Committee Pathway: Recommendation report When: February 2017 NCDEA Board Meeting Develop & Accelerate Public Relations/Marketing, including NCDEA branding Who: Communication Committee Pathway: Recommendation report When: February 2017 NCDEA Board Meeting Make regular contact with State Presidents Who: NCDEA President and RRs Pathway: Personal contact and e-mail When: Quarterly Encourage state leaders to share information Who: RRs Pathway: Personal contact and e-mail When: Quarterly Provide assistance to states to improve their communication networks Who: RRs Pathway: Provide website link updates to contacts When: Continuously Establish relationships and reach out to national partners, maintaining two way communication Who: NCDEA President and designees Pathway: Report information and feedback at NCDEA Board Meetings with goal of two new contacts/year When: Semi-annually
Goal #5:	Encourage & Promote Professionalism of District Employees Provide assistance/guidance to states on training Pathway: refer to Goal #1 Develop a NCDEA training policy and messaging that helps express the professionalism of District Employees Who: Professional Development Committee Pathway: Recommendation report When: February 2017 NCDEA Board meeting Commit to acknowledging professionalism through increased participation in NCDEA training, Scholarship, and Awards Programs Who: NCDEA Professional Development, Scholarship and Awards Committees Pathway: Committees work with RRs to promote with goal of two regional applications per program per year When: February 2017 Provide templates and or examples of tools used such as skills assessment, professional development plans, training plans, etc. Who: All NCDEA Board Members and partners, Pathway: via request from ED, information to WM and links back to RRs and partners to share with contacts When: continuously, progress report at February 2017 NCDEA Board Meeting Distribute training opportunities including on-line examples Pathway: Please refer to Goal #1
Goal #6:	Maintain & Build Representation and Partnerships 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) Who: NCDEA President, ED Pathway: Regular Communications; minimum of quarterly NCP Leaders Meetings When: Continuously Build and continue professional relationships with districts, state associations of conservation districts,and state conservation agencies Who: All NCDEA Board Members Pathway: Personal and electronic contacts When: Continuously, review status with NCDEA Board semi-annually Build and continue professional relationships with USDA NRCS, USFWS, FSA, and other federal conservation agencies Who: All NCDEA Board Members Pathway: Personal contact electronic contacts When: Continuously, review status with NCDEA Board semi-annually Provide leadership for including underrepresented partners, working across boundaries, + adapting to changing partnership dynamics Who: Professional Development Committee Pathway: Breakout session at NACD Annual Meeting When: February 2017 Provide support for the Envirothon Who: NCDEA Board Pathway: Provide continued financial support as budget allows, ED to send survey to districts to collect information on involvement, success stories posted on NCDEA website When: Provide progress report semi-annually
Goal #7:	Work towards every state and territory building a fully functioning partnership (In concert with other National Conservation Partnership members) Collaborate with partners to assist in developing and strengthening state partnerships Who: NCDEA President Pathway: Regular communication When: As appropriate, with reports at NCDEA Board meetings Provide mentoring opportunities between and among states Who: NCDEA Board Pathway: Share successful processes to build Board member capacity When: Report at NCDEA Board meetings Address special situations with a team approach to resolving/advancing specific state partnerships Who: NCDEA President Pathway: Communication with NCP signatory partners When: As needed Share success stories Who: RRs Pathway: Submit to ED who will forward to WM with links provided back to NCDEA Board to forward to contacts When: As opportunities arise
Goal #8:	Build Board Capacity and Maintain Effective Operations Develop and maintain effective policy and procedures Who: NCDEA Board Pathway: Review and possible amendments of policies and procedures When: Annually at June NCDEA Board meeting Continue to build NCDEA financial capacity Who: NCDEA Board, ED Pathway: Increase dues paying states by two/year. Increase grant levels When: Annually, report on progress at June NCDEA Board meeting Continue to ensure that NCDEA representatives serve and participate on NACD committees Who: NCDEA President, ED Pathway: Designation as appropriate When: Report updates semi-annually at NCDEA Board meetings