Fundamental Ideas To Increase The Effectiveness Of Your Environmental Advocacy Group

Environmental advocacy is a diverse field. It encompasses both protecting the public from environmental harms and shielding the resources of nature. As gains have been garnered at the local, state and federal level, there is a growing understanding in the community that further gains will be contingent on developing the same professional capacities as private and government organizations that encapsulate best managerial practices. When you read about successfully launching an environmental advocacy group you might find some good advice in the literature. Yet the ongoing actual management of such advocacy groups is another topic. Thus many environmental advocacy groups struggle to effectively manage. This article reviews several insights from the trenches. Collaborate with other environmental advocacy groupsnnNew York State alone has over 400 environmental advocacy organizations listed by the Environmental Conservation Department of Environmental Conservation. And in the last five years, there has been increasing levels of collaboration between geographically diverse environmental advocacy groups. One underlying reason for this trend has been lower flight travel costs – a trend that may now be going the opposite direction with skyrocketing fuel costs. Another cause is the ubiquity of free conference calling services such as Rondee.com. All of these services work on the same basic principle: they provide you a personal access number and a toll number to dial. If all participants dial the same toll number and enter the same PIN code, they are put into the call together. Involve academic experts A frequent erroneous conception is that campus curricula is too far removed from the realities of environmental politics to be meaningful. However, programs such as that offered by Antioch University provide graduate level training in environmental advocacy and organizing. Indeed, such programs train young campus leaders for careers as advocates and community organizers. Students at these programs are outstanding candidates to be recruited as volunteers or leaders for your group. Also consider seeking the involvement of a faculty or staff member who can offer guidance and advice to your group. While students arrive and depart as the years pass by; faculty generally remain. Keep tightly focusednnThe most effectively managed environmental groups are ones that stay tightly focused on their mission and do not allow members or leaders to get sidetracked by peripheral goals. Virtually all environmental advocacy groups operate under significant time constraints. Committing to three goals with 100% effort will generally yield superior results compared to going after nine goals at one third effort. Increase your networknnThe most successful advocacy groups create networks of supporters who share their values and mission. While the term networking often gets a bad connotation, the fact is these networks can provide substantial assistance and members can stay connected more easily through conference calling technology. Indeed, they provide the emotional support which is so critical to maintaining enthusiasm amongst group officers as well as members. Use web technology strategicallynnSome environmental advocacy groups have far flung leadership teams, and it is difficult to expect face-to-face meetings. One solution is to use a desktop sharing application Whether it's sharing a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the group's fundraising plan or a spreadsheet showing the tracking of performance, desktop sharing can be very useful for not a few advocacy groups. The silver lining in all this is that these methods are not expensive. Environmental advocacy groups can improve their performance through these ideas.nnn----------n