(Editing
changes made
This Strategic Plan
represents a vision for the next five (5) to ten (10) years for the Virginia
Audubon Virginia Society.
It is meant as a living document to be reviewed and, evaluated on a regular
basis, based on past performance and current situations. Since bird populations
are a sensitive indicator of ecological and environmental health and Audubon
has a unique history of identifying bird habitats and populations, the
Virginia Audubon Virginia Society will use the combination of
scientific information, environmentally educated grass roots members and
chapters, and proven educational programs to accomplish its mission.
The mission of the
Virginia Audubon Virginia Society is to conserve, restore and
sustain the natural ecosystems of Virginia, focusing on birds, other wildlife,
and their habitats to benefit Earth’s biological diversity.
GOAL I: Identify, protect and restore habitats necessary
to sustain Virginia’s bird life using the best scientific information
available.
Objective
I.1: Develop a plan for protecting important bird
habitats based on solid scientific information.
Activity
I.1.1: Identify important types of habitats and species
to protect.
Task
I.1.1.1: Develop criteria for identifying important bird
species and habitats and develop list.
Task
I.1.1.2: Develop internal capacity to manage, generate
and distribute the dynamic Virginia lands use and habitat data in Geographic
Information System (GIS) format.
Task
I.1.1.3: Identify highest priority for important species
and habitats by region, with annual priorities being identified in successive
years.
Activity
I.1.2: Develop a repository of information on these
important areas, and the resource people who know them, by collaborating with
existing land, habitat and conservation programs and Virginia colleges and
universities.
Task
I.1.2.1: Incorporate Virginia-determined habitat areas
into Audubon’s Important Bird Area program as they are identified and where
appropriate.
Activity
I.1.3: Identify the specific geographic areas needed to
protect the habitats.
Activity
I.1.4: Develop a list of priorities with regard to
important areas to protect.
Objective I.2:
Develop strategies to protect priority areas.
Activity
I.2.1: With focus provided by our concentration on
bird conservation, formulate Chapter and Virginia Audubon Virginia
Society advocacy positions across the broad spectrum of land use, growth
and natural resource issues.
Task
I.2.1.1: Develop and promote annual legislative agenda
in support of bird and habitat conservation.
Task
I.2.1.2: Develop basic capacity for technical/scientific
information storage, analysis and retrieval to service advocacy needs of
chapters and other partners.
Activity
I.2.2: Develop a mechanism for acquiring conservation
easements and other legal interests in identified tracts of land in Virginia.
Task
I.2.2.1: Explore working with existing land trusts where
feasible or developing an Audubon land trust, if needed.
Activity
I.2.3: Develop creative approaches to encourage
protection of private lands for bird habitat by collaborating with existing
land, habitat and conservation programs.
Task
I.2.3.1: Convene annual workshops to encourage research
partner collaboration and publicity for protection and enhancement of habitat
on private land.
Activity
I.2.4: Identify and acquire sanctuaries when
appropriate.
Objective
I.3: Assemble a knowledge base of habitat management
and restoration techniques necessary to sustain Virginia’s bird life.
Activity
I.3.1: Identify habitat types in need of restoration, and develop the
management information and expertise to restore them, based on solid scientific
information.
Activity
I.3.2: Use knowledge base to support chapters and
individual volunteers in restoration projects on either public or private land.
Task
I.3.2.1: Coordinate and publicize “bird-friendly
management” projects.
Task
I.3.2.2: Coordinate and publicize habitat restoration
workshop for landowners.
Activity
I.3.3: Manage Virginia Audubon Virginia Society
properties, and other suitable sites, as research and demonstration areas for
restoration and best management practices of bird habitat.
GOAL II: Develop educational programs for
children, youth, adults, professionals and government officials to promote the
mission of the Virginia Audubon Virginia Society through
collaboration with chapters and other Audubon entities.
Objective
II.1: Expand and support efforts to provide
environmental education for adults and families.
Activity
II.1.1: Improve implementation of Audubon Adventures in
Virginia classrooms by promoting sharing of successful strategies among
chapters and adapting the national materials to the priorities of the Virginia
Standards of Learning.
Task
II.1.1.1: Coordinate annual workshops for Chapter Audubon
Adventures representatives.
Task
II.1.1.2: Coordinate development of annual Virginia
supplements to complement yearly Audubon Adventures packages.
Activity
II.1.2: Conduct teacher training to encourage inclusion
of bird conservation and environmental education in a variety of school classes
in grades K-12.
Activity
II.1.3: Promote use of Audubon-controlled and
affiliated properties for school field trips and as locations for student
service projects.
Activity
II.1.4: Provide professional staff and trained
volunteers to assist with school programs.
Task II.1.4.1: Train volunteers.
Objective
II.2: Develop material, using appropriate scientific
and other data, for presentations to government officials, and other land use
decision-makers.
Objective
II.3: Develop and enhance Audubon environmental
education centers and sanctuaries as appropriate and as opportunities occur,
and help existing centers, both Audubon and non-Audubon, to become Audubon
Centers as appropriate.
GOAL III: Develop strong and
effective constituencies by building and strengthening local Audubon chapters
and other entities throughout Virginia.
Objective
III.1: Develop communication systems for external and internal audiences.
Activity
III.1.1: Develop World-Wide Web pages for information to
all audiences; include individual chapter information as well as statewide
issues.
Activity
III.1.2: Develop a state Internet list server.
Activity
III.1.3: Develop a statewide newsletter, including space
for local chapter information.
Activity
III.1.4: Acquire an 800 number for chapter information
from the State Office.
Activity
III.1.5: Develop a public relations strategy for
statewide Audubon issues.
Activity
III.1.6: Develop a marketing strategy for membership
that can be used by existing chapters and by the State Office in areas where
there are no current chapters.
Objective III.2:
Develop technological and scientific assistance to chapters.
Activity
III.2.1: Develop a resource base of scientific and
technical experts, consultants and materials.
Activity
III.2.2: Help chapters form computer/electronic
connections among themselves and with the State Office.
Objective
III.3: Assist existing Audubon chapters with
membership recruitment, retention and management.
Activity
III.3.1: Conduct one annual workshop on membership
recruitment with chapter leaders.
Activity
III.3.2: Develop a membership density map by Zip code in
GIS format.
Activity
III.3.3: Provide membership database management support.
Objective III.4:
Assist chapters with program needs.
Activity
III.4.1: Develop a list of speakers for use among
chapters.
Objective III.5:
Assist chapters with training needs.
Activity
III.5.1: Provide trainers for fund raising, grant
writing, leadership, financial/business planning, public relations, marketing, etc.
Objective III.6:
Assist chapters with their chapter strategic planning.
Activity
III.6.1: Conduct one workshop a year for chapters.
Objective
III.7: Organize Audubon chapters in areas of Virginia
where there are no chapters.
Activity
III.7.1: Identify potential areas for new chapters.
Activity
III.7.2: Identify Audubon members and others in those
areas who could become leadership candidates to organize chapters.
Objective
III.8: Serve as a resource to chapters with regard to
administrative, professional and legal issues; e.g. bonding, liability, tax status, or auditing.
GOAL IV: Expand and reorganize the Virginia
Audubon Council into the Virginia Establish Audubon Society
Virginia as a corporate entity distinct from the Virginia Audubon
Council, to implement the mission and goals as adopted in this Strategic
Plan.
Objective IV.I:
Develop the Corporate structure for the Virginia Audubon Virginia
Society.
Activity
IV.1.1: Obtain chapter approval for a Strategic Plan
and proposed amended bylaws.
Activity
IV.1.2: Amend the current Virginia Audubon Council
Establish Bylaws to become the for Virginia Audubon
Virginia Society.
Activity
IV.1.3: Amend the Establish Articles of
Incorporation.
Activity
IV.1.4: Amend Establish 501(c)(3) status.
Objective
IV.2: Develop the Board of the Virginia
Audubon Virginia Society as soon as the Virginia Audubon Council
approves the establishment of Audubon Virginia. restructuring
Activity
IV.2.1: Hold election.
Task
IV.2.1.1: Develop Board job descriptions and expectations
by 21 May 1999.
Task
IV.2.1.2: Recruit Standing Committees by 15 October 1999.
Task
IV.2.1.3: Recruit a Nominating Committee by 10 April
1999.
Objective IV.3: Establish a State Office for
Virginia Audubon Society.
Activity
IV.3.1: Develop a plan to present to National Audubon
Society.
Task IV.3.1.1: Develop a budget.
Activity
IV.3.2: Select a site for the office.
Objective
IV.4: Hire an Executive Director to help carry out
the goals and objectives of Virginia Audubon Virginia Society
by 30 September 2000.
Activity
IV.4.1: Hire a Development Director by 15 December
2000.
Activity
IV.4.2: Hire an administrative assistant by 30 October
2000.
Activity
IV.4.3: Hire additional program staff as needed.
Objective IV.5:
Raise sufficient funds to support the State Office and its programs.
Activity
IV.5.1: Adopt the Development Plan presented by the
Development Committee.
Task
IV.5.2.1: Raise $300,000 by 30 June 2000 to staff and
open an office by 15 October 2000.
Approved 24
April 1999