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Volunteerism and Governments: Action from the Bottom-up and Top-down Sara Davis Dan Staley

Volunteerism and Governments: Action from the Bottom-up and Top-down Sara Davis Dan Staley November 19, 2008. Finding the Balance. Sustainability and environmental-ecological goals require:. Community participation Increased partnerships More flexibility New ways of doing things.

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Volunteerism and Governments: Action from the Bottom-up and Top-down Sara Davis Dan Staley

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  1. Volunteerism and Governments: Action from the Bottom-up and Top-down Sara Davis Dan Staley November 19, 2008 Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  2. Finding the Balance Sustainability and environmental-ecological goals require: • Community participation • Increased partnerships • More flexibility • New ways of doing things Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  3. Finding the Balance • Governmental bodies across the county are rolling out mandates to plant mass numbers of trees • non-profits have been doing the work for years • How can the top-down mandates and the bottom-up social initiatives meet in the middle to accomplish more? Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  4. Introduction Tools and perspectives to build new relationships and partnerships between governments and nonprofits • Three Categories of Focus: • Expectations • Communication • Aligned goals • Leads to viable strategy for projects and/or relationships Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  5. Background What are the stereotypical barriers to working with governments? • Moves slowly • Bureaucratic • Cheap • Controls all the power What are the stereotypical barriers to working with non-profits? • Disorganized and unfocused • Instigate barriers to implementation • Overly emotionally invested • Unaligned with others goals Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  6. Background What are the benefits to working with governments? • Staff and equipment recourses • Power and decision making • Fat Rolodexes • Access to land • Controls funding for projects and programs • Accountable to citizens What are the benefits to working with non-profits? • Community buy in and involvement • Volunteer energy • Flexibility • Freer financial system • Accountable to a board and community Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  7. Key Themes • Expectations • Communication • Aligned Goals Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  8. Key Themes • Expectations • Different • Not compatible • Expressed and measured differently • Accountability Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  9. Key Themes • Communication • Different ‘languages’ • Jargon and framing • Hearing different things • Government: What, why • Non-profit: Why, who, how Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  10. Key Themes • Aligned goals • Some goals are similar • Trees, canopy, UHI reduction, AQ goals • What about volunteer hours, community building, social justice vs politicians? • Are your goals clear to the other partner? Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  11. Public Works CAP & SAP goals Execute by Q4 PROW No overtime for staff is budgeted Non-profit Social justice Engage core volunteers on weekend projects Fulfill special community request Multi-generational buy in Scenario Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  12. What do you think is the outcome of this scenario? Expectations not aligned Public Works Non-profit Poor communication Goals not aligned? Scenario Outcome Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  13. Expectations not aligned Public Works’ expectations The “plan” will be completed by going through the City process of doing things Rules will be followed Non-profit can execute plan within budget constraints Non-profits can work during office hours of Public Works Non-Profits expectations City property will be available Engage volunteers on City projects Own project protocols will be applicable while working on City projects Scenario - Expectations Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  14. Expectations • Communicate expectations upfront • Flexibility • Willingness to seek common solution • Ability to compromise • Permissions to make compromises obtained before hand or clear process to obtain permission is communicated up front Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  15. Poor communication Public Works Jargon used heavily with no check of understanding Unwelcoming presentation of information Intent of meeting not clearly communicated Attendees not “who needed to be at the table” Non-profit Jargon used heavily with no check of understanding Unwelcoming presentation of information Intent of meeting not clearly communicated Attendees not “who needed to be at the table” Scenario - Communication Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  16. Eliminate jargon and specialty language until common terms are established as the relationship progresses Open initial conversations with an elevator speech to provide a frame of reference Bring an interpreter/bridge to meetings to help ensure understanding Appropriate players at the table for the point of the conversation Communication Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  17. Goals not aligned? Public Works Didn’t say they want to plant trees! Meet CAP & SAP goals Increase canopy in the PROW for multiple reasons aligning with plans Implement plan without added budget impacts Non-profit Didn’t say they want to plant trees! Meet goals of engaging volunteers and building community Increase canopy for multiple reasons aligning with strategic plan Scenario - Align Goals Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  18. Each group will have their own set of goals that may or may not overlap Identify goals in common Identify and acknowledge individual goals that can be achieved in addition to the common goals Align Goals Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  19. Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  20. Recap • Strategy is to work together to plant trees • Expectations are to: • Communicate expectations up front • Flexibility • Find commonality Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  21. Recap • Strategy is to work together to plant trees • Communication is: • Clear and jargonless • Initiated with an elevator speech to provide a frame of reference • Facilitated by interpreter/bridge • Delivered to appropriate players Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  22. Recap • Strategy is to work together to plant trees • Goals are: • Aligned for clarity of other party • Expected to differ in some respects but always to plant trees • Individual goals can be achieved in addition to the common goals – that’s OK Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  23. Public Works CAP & SAP goals Execute by Q4 PROW No overtime for staff is budgeted Non-profit Social justice Engage core volunteers on weekend projects Fulfill special community request Multi-generational buy in Initial Scenario Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  24. Public Works Tree planting goals to meet various plans Deadline Budget –staffing constraints that we need help to overcome Non-profit Motivated volunteers that want to plant trees Strategic plan goals to fulfill – increase partnerships Varied volunteers with multiple considerations Scenario Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  25. Conclusion • Expectation • Government – processes will be followed • Non-profit – missions will be upheld • Communication - people don’t try to be poor communicators on purpose • Aligned goals – break goals down to the least common denominators and the rest will follow Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

  26. Q & A Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

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