Work Groups: A Step Toward Action

What is the purpose of the work group?

Partners have focused on activities in sub-regions and will now re-look at the landscape through a different prism. Specialists in each group category will focus in on the essence of what threatens the resources of South Mountain and where are the opportunities for growth and collaboration. From these work groups the following results may follow:

• Short and long term goals are set
• Actions are defined using the goals as their guideline
• Actions are spliced into a realistic timeline
• Goals are shared with the rest of the group, and the common goals become the "nexus" or the priority for the whole group

This work groups will make sure that their is a vision that encompasses the landscape, once we decide that vision and goals we can choose whatever group configuration works best. More to come on that...

March 12th Partnership Meeting

Here is some of the work done at the partnership meeting:

The Low Hanging Fruit Excercise

Partners used the "sticky dot method" to rate what priorities are the most important and will be the most easy to pursue. The following is the results of this ranking (from most votes to least):

25- Build more capacity w/local officials so that they understand their actions directly affect South Mountain
17- South Mountain “Cradle of Conservation”
16- Land Acquisition
12- Communication – Need fact sheets, harvest celebration, web site, etc.
11- Gateway Communities into South Mountain– Mt. Holly Springs
10- Agricultural sustainability & Ag. heritage tourism
9- Partnerships with local recreation and state agencies
8- Engaging youth at both the local school district and college/university level
6- Need to create identity through marketing and branding
5- Collaborative work with water shed organizations
5- Institutionalize education program targeted at current and incoming/newly elected municipal officials
5- Land Conservation at the heart of the CLI Nexus
4- Interpretation of geologic features
3- Packaging of programs – Bike, Bite & Battle
3- Tourism is also at the heart of the CLI Nexus
2- Help Business
2- Talk to Colleges and Universities – Land Use Planning and Leadership Program for Students
2- University Connection – Student research and recreation opportunities
1- Build amenities w/responsible practices
1- Check out movie called Route 30…Link to Lincoln Highway Heritage Area
1- High Tech – High Income population coming w/Ft. Ritchie project
1- Media Outlet – need to connect with youth through You Tube, FaceBook, Pod Casts, etc.
1- Meet with all Presidents of Colleges and Universities located within South Mountain
1- Need to create opportunities for new local outfitters…bikes, canoes, kayak, etc.
1- Partner w/Public Health Agencies
1- Public transportation issues need to be addressed
1- World renowned fisheries
0- Build Network for small young farmers
0- Michaux – Dark Skies & Big Foot Conference
0- Use of today’s technologies