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

The Changing Leadership Institute

Since its inception in 2006, the Leadership Institute has undergone many changes. Originally led by a small committee of TWS members interested in leadership development, the Institute now benefits from a committee of about three dozen members, many of whom graduated from the program over the past five years. From 2006 until 2008, we had classes of 10 participants each year. In 2009 and 2010, a generous donation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge System allowed us to expand to 15 participants each year.

We have also increased the mentoring opportunities provided to participants. Each year, the participants have taken part in the student mentoring activities at the Annual Conference. Starting in 2007, they were each assigned a mentor from TWS Council, an experience that all participants ranked as valuable in their survey. Then, in 2008, participants were each matched with graduate of the program, to provide guidance on the assignments and what to expect during the conference.

The pre-conference curriculum has also changed – from three assignments in 2006 to five in 2010, as well as an optional assignment. Some of the additions since the first year include an initial conference call that provides an opportunity for participants to begin to get to know each other and an exercise that requires participants to work together in small groups to write an essay and prepare a presentation for Council.

In 2010, we provided both a required and recommended reading list, allowing us to point interested participants towards additional resources we did not have time to include in the regular curriculum. The same year the new option assignment was also debuted, for which participants were asked to write a piece for their Chapter or Section newsletter about the experience, or give a presentation about it at an upcoming Chapter or Section meeting. Many applicants apply because they have heard about an alum’s experiences with the program, so this seemed like a good way to spread the word. And it worked – for the 2011 class we received over 50 applications!

Alumni News

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

Liz Ball, LI Class of 2010, was selected to participate in a two-year intensive training course “Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders”. Participants in the course receive training in successful wildlife campaigning and leadership skills by top conservationists.

Bridgette Flanders-Wanner, LI Class of 2006, recently accepted the position of USFWS Assistant Regional Refuge Biologist for the Pacific Region (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Hawaii), based out of Vancouver, WA. Bridgette also served as the TWS Symposia Chair for the 2011 Conference in Hawaii.

Jennifer Garrett Herrera, LI Class of 2007, started a new position as the Program Director at Bowie Nature Park in Fairview, Tennessee. Previously, Jenny worked as a Staff Naturalist at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Houston, Texas.

Michael Larson, LI Class of 2006, is now the president of the Minnesota Chapter of TWS.

Katlin Miller, LI Class of 2009, recently participated in a 2-week Students on Ice Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula. The university expedition included over 70 students, staff, and scientists, from more than 25 countries around the world. Participants learned about polar ecology, tourism, glaciology, geology, oceanography, and Antarctic wildlife through hands-on learning, sampling, lectures, and workshops. 

Erin Patrick, LI Class of 2006, was re-elected as secretary of the Kentucky Chapter of TWS for the next 2-year term.

Mindy Rice, LI Class of 2009, has been elected to serve as President of the Colorado Chapter of TWS

Raquel Wertsbaugh, LI Class of 2006, is now serving as secretary on the Colorado Chapter of TWS executive board.

Leadership Training Opportunities

The National Conservation Leadership Institute: This great program offers more advanced leadership training to a select group of Fellows identified by their nominating organizations as having high leadership potential. Learn more at conservationleadership.org. Applications will be accepted until 30 April 2011.

Where are they now?

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

Bridgette Flanders-Wanner (Leadership Institute Class of 2006) has been employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for almost 11 years, and recently began a new position as the Assistant Regional Refuge Biologist for the Pacific Region. In this position, she provides biological support to USFWS staff on National Wildlife Refuges throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii. Bridgette was drawn to this position because it allowed her to encourage cross-refuge and cross-program collaboration towards more efficient wildlife conservation.

Bridgette is a member of the Central Mountains and Plains Section and South Dakota chapter of TWS, and this year served as Chair of the 2011 Symposia Committee. She is also a participating member of the TWS Jim McDonough Awards Committee, the Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group, and is treasurer for the Biometrics Working Group.

Being a part of the Leadership Institute has helped Bridgette find a voice for active participation in TWS and has given her the, “confidence and TWS savvy to become an engaged member of [her] professional society.” To Bridgette, the most enjoyable aspect of the LI experience has been the opportunity to meet other dedicated professionals in all stages of their careers and build connections with them. And, for her, “seeing those people again at the TWS conferences is like seeing a family of conservation professionals.” She has also enjoyed her continued involvement with LI and being able to moderate LI discussions at the national conference. Since being a part of LI, Bridgette has been president of her TWS state chapter, held many roles in TWS working groups, and been involved at the national level in a variety of ways whether  providing a quote for a Wildlife Professional article, participating on an awards committee, or contributing to conference development by chairing a committee.

Guest Editorial

Mindy Rice (2009)

I entered into my current position 3 years ago at the beginning of the economic turndown. Since then, I have experienced periodic furloughs, increased employee contributions to retirement funds, elimination of raises, and cuts to base budgets. In the scheme of things, Colorado has experienced minor discomfort compared to other states. As a self-funded agency with no tax money contributions, we have still participated in all legislative cutbacks. With the constant barrage of negative fiscal news coming from state and federal governments, I find myself trying to figure out how to be an effective leader.

There seem to be new changes every month and legislative decisions that constantly adapt to budget crises that affect natural resources. Although this is not a new challenge in the natural resource world, I believe that many of us in the Leadership Institute are experiencing it for the first time. Is there a way to shine as a leader when so much is out of our control? I would like to think that real leadership is expressed during harder times and I believe that we can refer back to some of natural resources’ great leaders for inspiration. I think Aldo Leopold said it best with “I believe that many of the economic forces inside the modern body-politic are pathogenic in respect to harmony with land”. So how can we excel during these harder times in natural resource management? 

Perhaps the most important thing that we can excel in is developing innovative ways of reducing the costs of how we manage wildlife while still obtaining the information necessary to sustain populations. John Muir has a great quote of “the power of imagination makes us infinite” and I truly believe that our imaginations become better during times when the easy answer is often the most costly. When funds are in abundance, we often find that the newest technology is appealing and equipment is bought without really thinking of the questions that are to be answered. I think the more powerful side of wildlife management is how we manage a population in the absence of technology. It was done for many years and I sometimes wonder if we know our animal populations quite like Aldo Leopold knew his landscape. I think the best quote to summarize this comes not from a scientist, but a great woman that lived during the American Revolution. Abigail Adams once said, “These are hard times in which a genius would wish to live. Great necessities call for the great leaders”. Wildlife management has always been a changing field, but as leaders, we should embrace the challenge of hard times in resources by increasing the creativity in budgeting and management practices. 

One thing I find when I come into the office each morning is the level of negativity that seems to permeate natural resources right now. It seems there is just never good news and everyone around us seems to be unhappy at the changes. I think leaders are the best way to curb this negativity as contributing to it can only create a work environment that is poisonous. I find that this is my biggest challenge as it is so easy to fall into the doom and gloom of news coming out of the state and country. Aldo Leopold, who went through his fair share of natural resource battles quoted “that the situation appears hopeless should not prevent us from doing our best.” What a powerful quote for those days when things seem bleak. I think we’ve all had those days during this economic time when we wonder if we are doing any good for the natural resources we manage. We have the power as leaders to turn negativity into a driving force for focusing our efforts on the small and significant issues in natural resource management.

Finally, I don’t think that any leader has ever shied away from politics. In fact, I thought when I entered the natural resource field that I was going away from the political world, but in reality, our field is completely tied to politics. As leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure that natural resources and wildlife are defended in our political arena. There are many changes occurring at the state and federal levels right now and there is no reason that our voice should not be part of that change. “The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future” (Gilford Pinchot). This quote came from the leader who not only advocated for forestry management, but also befriended and guided the president at a national level. Although befriending the president is rather daunting in this time, there are still small steps we can take to ensure the future of wildlife in our communities and states.

I don’t think anyone can really predict how economics and politics in the present time will affect how we do our jobs now or in the future. But I do believe that as leaders, we can certainly help shape the future as well keep things focused on minor victories in natural resources. All we have to do is look back to the advice of our great wildlife and conservation leaders for inspiration.