Editor: Laura M. Bies
LI Newsletter Subcommittee Chair: Allison Fowler

2010 Participants Announced

We recently released the names of the 15 early-career wildlife professionals selected to participate in this year’s Leadership Institute. Please welcome:

• Elizabeth Ball, Missouri Department of Conservation
• Jami Belt, National Park Service (Glacier National Park), Montana
• Kristina Boyd, U.S. Forest Service/Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
• Bridget Collins, USGS Contractor/Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
• Kent Fricke, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas
• Martin Grenier, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• Elizabeth Johnson, Alabama Wildlife Federation
• Rickey Jones, Kleinfelder West, Inc.
• Emily Just, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Shauna Marquardt, Missouri Department of Conservation
• Margaret Pepper, USDA-Wildlife Services, Delaware
• Annaliese Scoggin, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
• Mackenzie Shardlow-Jeffress, University of Idaho/National Park Service (Upper Columbia Basin Inventory and Monitoring Network)
• Lindsay Smythe, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (Kofa National Wildlife Refuge), Arizona
• Walter Veselka, West Virginia University

This year the National Wildlife Refuge System, a part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, is again providing funding for TWS to expand the number of Leadership
Institute participants up to 15, allowing more of the wildlife professions’ top young leaders to capitalize upon the training offered by this unique event.

The program has been popular and growing since its introduction. Past participants can attest to its popularity: according to a recent graduate of the program, “Few opportunities exist for young professionals to enhance their experiences for career development, and more specifically, for becoming active leaders within their professional realms. Therefore, this was a unique opportunity indeed.”

Alumni News

Read about promotions, awards, and leadership positions recently attained by LI alums.

LeAnne Bonner, LI Class of 2008, took a position with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a State Wildlife Grants Coordinator. Previously, LeAnne worked for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Daniel McDonald, LI Class of 2009, recently gave a presentation on seasonal forage use of pronghorn in north-central Arizona to the 24th Biennial Pronghorn Workshop in Laramie, WY.

Sarah Bucklin, LI Class of 2009, recently returned from Spain where she gave a presentation on the Iberian Lynx, a critically endangered species native to Spain and one of the most imperiled felines in the world.

Leadership Training Opportunities

The USDA Graduate School offers a variety of leadership training opportunities to federal employees and others. Some courses are classroom-based, while others are virtual. Their leadership-related offerings include a self-directed Leadership Effectiveness Inventory, a classroom-based New Leaders Program for federal employees at the GS-7-11 levels, and a virtual class on Leadership for Non-Supervisors. Check out their online catalog and find something that fits your schedule and needs!

Where are they now?

Read about what an LI alum is up to now and what they’ve achieved since they participated.

Nick Kaczor, LI class of 2009, recently left his previous position as a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management and has now started a new position as a land acquisition specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Lakewood, Colorado. His job is based in the office of division planning, which is a subset of the Refuge System. In this position, he leads the planning effort in land acquisition fee title and conservation easements; for example, he recently took part in a flyover of the Missouri River in North Dakota where he helped to identify land for acquisition. Nick notes that one of the great aspects of his job is that it allows him to “go home at night and say that you helped grow the refuge system.”

Nick is also currently a board member of the renewable energy working group, an outgrowth of his participation in the Leadership Institute. The new group was just approved in March and has already hit the ground running; it is currently organizing a symposium on solar energy and its impacts on wildlife for the 2010 TWS annual meeting. The next step for the group is to do some recruiting, get a webpage up and running, and developing a proposal for a new TWS technical review on solar energy.

Book Review: Artful Persuasion, by Harry Mills

Jenna Jadin, TWS Assistant Director of Government Affairs

Whether you’re trying to interview for that university job, describe your scientific findings to the press, or convince your legislator to support adaptation legislation, Artful Persuasion is sure to have tips to help you achieve that goal.

Published in 2000, Artful Persuasion: How to command attention, change minds, and influence people, has become a classic for anyone who depends on their influence skills for their livelihood. In its 287 pages, author Harry Mills details the tricks of successful, and unsuccessful persuaders, all the while illustrating his points using real-life examples from historical figures, famous ads, and politicians.

Each chapter is organized around a particular principle (for example, how to structure your message, how to target different groups, and the art of image management), is broken down by each rule within the chapter, and finishes with a summarized list of pointers. One section, for example, deals with how to avoid jargon and use metaphors to explain complex subjects—good tips for any scientist trying to explain research results. Another section details how to use mirroring language, pacing, and vocal control to ensure the maximum impact of your message—useful for any agency representative speaking to the public about conservation actions. Yet another section explains how to use contrast techniques and visual aids to secure budget increases—undoubtedly valuable information for administrators talking to their Congressional representatives.

Artful Persuasion is a fast, clear, easy read that is sure to help you communicate with whomever you are talking to, be it other scientists, politicians, or the public, and is a recommended read for anyone who needs to sell successfully their politics, ideas, or findings.

Guest Editorial

Erin Patrick, LI Class 2006

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

In a world where it is easy to get overwhelmed by the status quo and “red tape” there is something so refreshing and hopeful about the notion that it only takes a few committed people working towards a common goal to change the world. While we may not be changing the world in our TWS chapters and sections, we do have the opportunity to make positive impacts on local attitudes and policies regarding wildlife ecology and management. As with any organization or group, the membership and drive of each TWS chapter ebbs and flows. The Kentucky Chapter of The Wildlife Society (KYCTWS) has experienced the typical highs and lows of membership. However, recently the chapter went from averaging 25 members attending the annual meeting to averaging 125 members at the meeting. A 400% increase in meeting attendance is something to be proud of and I can attest that there were and are thoughtful, committed members that made this happen, many of whom were working on this issue diligently before I moved to KY. I wanted to give an overview of some things that we have found helpful as we continue trying to increase and revamp the KYCTWS.

Logistically, the KYCTWS tweaked some things to make it easier for the majority of the members to attend. The chapter meetings used to rotate locations geographically from eastern to western KY. While this was helpful in some regards, it was also difficult for the members on the opposite side of the state. The annual meeting is now only held in central KY so that everyone can more easily access it, every year. Costs are kept down by having our meetings during the off season at parks. Because people are often scheduled so far in advance we try to have the meeting the same week every year so our members can plan accordingly.

Historically, the majority of the members and officers were from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). This makes sense because the majority of wildlife professionals in the state work for the KDFWR. However, it was recognized that the wildlife professionals from other agencies, non-profit organizations, consulting firms, and universities need the opportunity to participate and have their voices heard. People from a variety of wildlife jobs and agencies were solicited to run for offices, be on committees, and generally become involved. Effort was made at the annual meeting to make everyone feel included by hosting a social and auction in the meeting room in the evening as opposed to having people divide off in groups and socialize on their own.

The program at the annual meeting was revamped and diversified. The Executive Board started bringing in a keynote speaker that was of interest to a wide variety of members. In 2009 then TWS President Elect Dr. Bruce Leopold provided the keynote address and in 2010, KYCTWS welcomed TWS CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Michael Hutchins, as the keynote speaker. The Executive Board also specifically asked wildlife professionals working for the military, federal agencies, non-profit agencies, consulting firms, and universities to give presentations at the meeting. Additionally, we attempted to have talks representing as many aspects of wildlife as possible including nongame, human dimensions, and wildlife diseases.

Last but not least the KYCTWS secretary from 2006-2008 and 2006 LI alum, Jordona Kirby, and now myself as the current secretary blast members with emails, invitations and reminders on a regular basis. While it might annoy the membership, it does seem to be effective. We also maintain a webpage with current information and have a Facebook page so we can connect with the membership and specifically target students.

Increasing membership activity has been a multifaceted and constantly evolving task for the KYCTWS. Fortunately, it does appear to be working. At our last meeting we had over 125 wildlife professionals and students in attendance representing five colleges and universities and twelve state, federal, and private entities. Additionally, it has been a great experience for me personally to see the positive impacts of our labor and to have the opportunity to collaborate with thoughtful, committed wildlife professionals working towards a common goal.