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The first step in establishing a successful Coastal Training Program (CTP) was to conduct a Needs Assessment of decision-maker audiences likely to be targeted by the CTP in effort to determine the knowledge, skills, training delivery preferences and attitudes relevant to proposed issues and topics. Additionally, a Market Analysis was carried out to help identify the target audiences of and opportunities provided by other training organizations within the Narragansett Bay Watershed.
The results of the Needs Assessment indicated that the following categories and respective topics are of primary importance to decision-maker audiences:
- Valued Community Assets:
- Rural character
- Amount of open space in communities
- Scientific:
- Wetlands ecology
- Invasive species
- Endangered species
- Economic Development/Growth:
- Planning town-wide greenways
- Integrating affordable housing
- Recreation/tourism development
- Planning/Management:
- Analyzing natural features to protect
- How to incorporate water quality and supply issues into the planning process
- Knowing what to ask to make sure designs fit into neighborhoods and surrounding landscape
Also based on the results, it was agreed upon by the CTP Coordinator and the CTP Advisory Committee that the CTP’s initial primary audience would consist of municipal staff and volunteers. These include:
- Town planners
- Town council members
- Planning board members
- Zoning board members
- Tax assessors
- Town solicitors
However, the CTP continually implements and assesses informal evaluations to allow for the flexibility to include other audiences and training programs.
The next steps in creating a successful CTP were to use the results and assessments of the Needs Assessment and Market Analysis to develop a Strategic Plan (PDF link) and a Marketing Plan (PDF link) for the program. The Strategic Plan outlines the goals, objectives and approach for the CTP over a three- to five-year period (an updated Plan will be posted in July 2007). The Marketing Plan discusses how the CTP will be promoted and marketed throughout the Narragansett Bay watershed.
The CTP maintains an Advisory Committee whose members help evaluate CTP target audiences and priority issues, training methods and potential partners and other opportunities for collaboration, as well as review CTP documents and provide recommendations. Members represent a diversity of stakeholder groups, each of them offering unique perspectives.
The current CTP Advisory Committee consists of the following members:
- Dr. Pete August, Director, Coastal Institute, University of Rhode Island
- Sheila Brush, Director of Programs, Grow Smart Rhode Island
- Gina DeMarco, District Manager/Education & Outreach Coordinator, Northern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Tina Dolen, Executive Director, Aquidneck Island Planning Commission
- Rupert Friday, Director, Rhode Island Land Trust Council
- Lorraine Joubert, Director, Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials, University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
- Meg Kerr, Watersheds and Community Projects Coordinator, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
- Alicia Lehrer, District Manager, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Scott Millar, Chief, Sustainable Watersheds Office, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Margherita Pryor, Non-Point Source Program Coordinator, Performance Partnership Agreement, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP), Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy, USEPA Region 1
- Jonathan Reiner, Director of Planning and Development, Town of North Kingstown, RI
- Richard Ribb, Program Director, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
- Mike Rice, Rhode Island Association of Conservation Commissions and Professor of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, URI
- Derry Riding, Principal Planner, RI Statewide Planning Program
- Pamela Rubinoff, Coastal Management Extension Specialist, Rhode Island Sea Grant, University of Rhode Island
- Scott Ruhren, Senior Director of Conservation, Audubon Society of Rhode Island
- Dr. Tim Scott, Director, Center for Economic and Environmental Development, Roger Williams University
- Bob Stankelis, Reserve Manager, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Jeff Willis, Deputy Director, Coastal Resources Management Council
Calendar
1/17/08 – Conservation Development Workshop
1/24/08 – Conservation Design DVD Workshop
Community Connection RI
Calendar
of events in related topics by Grow Smart RI and the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve
Some files on this site are in Acrobat and Powerpoint formats.
Download free readers at right.
