The regional planning team would like to extend an invitation to you to participate in a round table discussion to help explore the issues around the development of state and regional conservation training programs.
This event will be held on March 13-14, 2008 in the Chicago area. This meeting is a direct result of comments and suggestions that came from conference calls and/or meetings that were held in June and July of 2007 with representatives from NRCS, SWCD and Extension offices in each state. The comments made during those calls included the desire to learn about what other states were doing in developing conservation training programs, and to begin exploring ways to share information and resources. Other suggestions from the calls that are being implemented are the development of a web based regional needs assessment to give us valuable information about what the training needs are of conservation professionals in each state and a regional web based tracking system for course registration and program information.
During this roundtable, we will be exploring ways to create a regional training program that empowers a more competent workforce, leverages training resources and increases implementation of conservation. Your participation in this meeting will help in developing the strategies and objectives that will ultimately lead to effective regional programming. Some of the outcomes might include:
Registration: We are currently building a web site to manage course registrations. Visit this site to register for the Round Table. Please note that the site is under development. Thank you for your patience. Register Now.
If you encounter any difficulties while registering, please send your contact information to Daul_AM@co.brown.wi.us.
Lodging: Please contact Illinois Beach Resort directly to make reservations. Web: http://www.ilresorts.com Phone: 1-866-ILBEACH. Refer to the group name Conservation Professional Training Round Table. The cost of food and lodging is being absorbed by a generous grant from the CSREES Great Lakes Regional Water Quality Team.
Special Accommodations or Meal Requests:
Travel:
Example routes: O'Hare - CTA Blue Line from O'Hare to Union + short walk
Midway - CTA Orange Line train + short walk
Scholarship or travel assistance requested: a limited amount of dollars are available for those needing travel assistance. Please let your state contact know if you will assistance with the cost of travel.
Your state's regional team coordinator will be contacting you directly to discuss your states needs and objectives prior to the March meeting and to help them develop a state program summary and overview that will be shared with the other states. For additional information about the Regional Conservation Training Initiative please contact Ingrid West, Regional Conservation Training Coordinator at iwest@wisc.edu or at 608-265-3727.
Thank you for your continued interest and willingness to participate in this ongoing process.