DCR Park Stewards Conference

On March 10, 2007 at Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, DCR hosted the DCR Park Stewards conference for its friends groups. More than 70 representatives from over 40 different groups attended to hear presentations from DCR staff about a variety of topics, participate in a Q&A with DCR’s senior management team, exchange ideas with each other and DCR staff in roundtable discussions, and attend workshops designed to enable participants to learn from other friends groups leaders about how increase the effectiveness of their work. Attendees generally reported in their evaluations that they were pleased with the opportunity to network with other friends groups and to learn more about DCR from key staff.

Presentations [pdfs]:

• Introduction to DCR, Acting Commissioner Priscilla Geigis

• DCR’s Budget, Deputy Commissioner for Administration & Finance Marianne Fleckner

• DCR Park Permits, Director of Bureau of Special Services and Events Mike Testa

• Putting on a Successful Volunteer Trail Care Event, New England Mountain Bike Association Executive Director Philip Keyes

• Building and Maintaining a Successful Organization, Esplanade Association Executive Director Patrice Todisco

• Building and Maintaining a Successful Board of Directors, DCR Director of Partnerships Margie Lynch

• Creating Effective Tools for Promoting Your Organization and Park, Island Alliance Vice President Strategic Development Sue Lonergan