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Sustainable Organizations

Workshop Description:

This program helps leadership teams build sustainable organizations and proactively manage change, engage people with diverse perspectives and create strategic impact. Teams of three board members and staff will strengthen their ability to lead, assess, plan and implement successful organizational growth and transitions.

ICL’s Sustainable Organizations Program will help you build a sustainable organization with:

• Effective organizational systems and practices
• Increased membership and stronger partnerships
• A sound resource base
• Clear board roles and commitment
• A dynamic vision and direction

By the end of the workshop you and your team will have:

• An organizational assessment with priorities
• A plan to engage others and guide growth and change
• A stronger, unified  team  
• Increased your confidence and communication skills

The session had a great balance between personal leadership and organizational strategic work.  I felt like I grew as a person and that we came up with a specific action plan for our organization.   What more could I ask for? Crissie McMullan, Grow, MT

When and Where

November 16 – 19, 2008

Sunday afternoon to Wednesday for lunch

Maumee Bay Resort and Conference Center in Oregon, OH.
Be sure to read about the recreational options and pack accordingly.

The workshop gave us the time and framework to discuss as a group an action plan for the next year. The process helped us identify goals and prioritize our steps. It also created some difficulties for us as a group that helped to elucidate communication issues and our different styles of approaching group work. In the end, working through some difficult conversations gave us insight and understanding that we didn't have before attending the workshop. Susan Nordbye, Preventing Harm, MN

About the Program

The Program Includes:

• A three-day intensive workshop for teams
• The Sustainable Organizations Workbook: tools, tips and practices for guiding change
• ICL’s Benchmarking for Success assessment and planning tool for use on-line or on-site
• 8 hours of follow-up coaching and consulting over six months

Participation is limited to 8 organizations.  A team of three leaders from each organization is required.  Your team will ideally consist of the executive director, a current strong board member and an emerging leader.

Tuition

The tuition is $5,500 for your team of three and includes the full program and lodging.  Applicants may be able to bring a larger team – contact ICL to discuss this option. Each team is responsible for travel costs to the workshop location.

Who Should Attend?

Sustaining your organization means embracing change.   This program is designed help organizations facing the following types of changes:

• Going through a transition of leadership;
• Experiencing rapid growth, or decline;
• Responding to shifting external challenges and strategic needs, and
• Seeking the next level of effectiveness.

This program is for leaders who like an interactive and practical workshop, want to share experiences with other organizations, gain new insights on systems change, and apply new skills and knowledge to their situation.  

Since 2001, ICL’s Sustainable Organizations Program, originally known as Shared Leadership, has served 68 organizations and 225 leaders.

How do I apply?

Complete the application form and submit the $150 Early Bird application fee by August 22, 2008.

Final applications are due by September 8, 2008, the fee is $250.00.

Program Team

Barbara Rusmore is a Senior Program Associate with the Institute for Conservation Leadership. She has a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems and over 25 years working in conservation and sustainable agriculture organizations and consulting on nonprofit program leadership and management.

Dr. Peter Bloome is an Agricultural Engineer who recently retired as Associate Director of the Oregon State University Extension Service. His 37-year career included 14 years in Oklahoma, 13 in Illinois and numerous international work experiences. Peter served as the first director of, and then as an advisor to, the CAST Conversations of Change Program.

Pam Mavrolas, has staffed, directed and/or been a consultant to a variety of community-based non-profits dealing with agricultural, natural resource, and environmental issues for over 28 years. Her consulting firm, Mavrolas and Associates works primarily with sustainable agriculture, environmental and arts and cultural nonprofits.

For More Information

Contact Barbara Rusmore at Barbara[at]icl.org or 406-582-1838 x2