Winter Training 2010

Announcing Winter Training 2010

When: December 6th – 8th
Where: Waynesboro, PA (about 1.5hrs from BWI & Dulles Airports)

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Track A: Training for Trainers in Organizational Development
Track B: Warming Watersheds, Water and Energy

Who Should Come? You Should!

The Winter Training is organized by River Network and many allied organizations. The purpose of the event is to help you develop the skills you need -- as a trainer, leader and organizer -- to help grassroots groups and communities. The Winter Training will use a “cross-training” format so that individuals from a variety of backgrounds can come together, develop our skills and share experiences. Participants will primarily include organizers and trainers working with local and regional nonprofit organizations and municipalities across the country.

The Winter Training is not a basic course in watershed protection. For a broader overview of these topics please join us at the National River Rally in June of 2011.

Program Details - Participants attend one of two tracks.

Track A: Training for Trainers to Watershed Organizations and Leaders
This track is for participants in the Watershed Support Network and others working directly with grassroots river and watershed protection groups to build stronger organizations.

Promoting and Supporting Self-Care in Our Leaders– Times are tough for many of the watershed organizations we work with. Many of our grassroots leaders are feeling the burden of trying to maintain their organization’s programs with reduced or uncertain resources. How can we prevent our leaders from burning out and quitting? This session – co-led by Institute for Conservation Leadership staff and Marc Alston of Resource Conservation Coaching – will provide you with tools and techniques to help local leaders juggle the demands on their time, identify the sources of their stress and lessen their impacts and take the necessary steps to regain balance in their work.

Leading Organizations through Strategic Planning – In this portion of the training, led by River Network staff, we will share our experiences and learn from one another about what works – and what doesn’t – as we consult with organizations on Strategic Planning. We will cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Selling organization on the value of Strategic Planning
• Assessing a group’s need: is it Strategic Planning? Or are there underlying issues that need to be addressed first?
• Demystifying the language of planning
• The various Phases and Approaches to Strategic Planning
• The “Consultant’s Perspective”: Lessons we’ve learned along the way

Track B: Warming Watersheds, Water and Energy
This in-depth training is designed for individuals and watershed group leaders working with grassroots communities to reduce water consumption, carbon emissions and the impacts of energy development. Trainers will address national initiatives for water and energy conservation, incentives and funding for community-based conservation, efficiency, reuse and Low Impact Development activities. Participants will learn about climate impacts to watersheds, calculators and audit tools to help communities reduce waste, and adaptation planning processes. Attendees will be asked to showcase their current work in this area and participate in future peer learning networks.

Monday – Dec. 6

Session #1: Climate Change Impacts on Watersheds – What we know
Global climate change will reveal itself through water by altering hydrologic cycles and increasing the likelihood of more extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and hot spells. However, the specific changes experienced in a community will vary from place to place. This presentation will give an overview of how climate change will impact water supplies throughout the United States and explore different types of adaptation strategies to address these changes and how climate change can be incorporated into planning.

Presenters: TBD

Session # 2: Equity, Community Engagement: Impacts of Climate Change on People
Building an agenda for climate justice, engaging people in climate issues and working with diverse communities.

Debbie Davis, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water

Session #3: Climate Plans and Adaptation
What are communities doing in the area of climate adaptation planning? What are the key principals that can make it successful?

Presenter: Gwen Griffith, Cumberland River Compact

Session #4: Working with Water Utilities to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Water
Pumping, treating and heating water in the United States requires at least 520 billion kilowatt hours per year – equivalent to 13% of U.S. electricity consumption with a carbon footprint of over 290 million metric tons, which means that there is huge potential to reduce the impacts of global warming by saving water. How can local groups work with utilities to promote water conservation policies and get answers to questions about energy use? What results are we seeing with current water conservation pilot projects and related energy conservation programs? How can you reduce water use in your community?

Presenters: Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency; Jennison Kipp, Program for Resource Efficient Communities at University of Florida; Reinhard Sturm, Water Systems Optimization

Session #5: Potential for Cooperative Nation-wide Water and Energy Agenda
Review proposed Campaign for Sustainable Water and Energy goals/ objectives.

Wendy Wilson and Todd Ambs, River Network

Tuesday – Dec. 7

Session #6 : Panel: Water Impacts of Energy Development
In 2005, power plants in the United States withdrew 201 billion gallons of water – more than twice the flow of the Nile River – and accounted for 1 out of every 4 gallons of non-agricultural water consumption. As the U.S. strives to meet its goals of energy independence and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, the choices we make today will have a profound impact on our water supplies. To help watershed groups reduce the impacts of energy development, this session will explore: How is energy development and production impacting our water resources? How are local groups addressing these problems? Are key strategies such as the CWA permits, license renewals and water rights proceedings helping us get better technology, closed loop cooling systems, improve drilling, mining and or processing operations? How should River Network and UCS information be used?

Bevan Griffiths-Sattenspiel, River Network: Nadia Madden, Union of Concerned Scientists and Partners who are addressing these issues

Session #7 Community Preparation and Response
How are agencies responding to flooding, (local, state, FEMA, ACE, USGS) Do State and Local Climate Response plans work? Are our local water utilities and units of government getting enough information about these issues?

Margo Fransworth, Cumberland River Compact/Lipscomb University and Wendy Smith, World Wildlife Federation

Session #8 Creating a Coast to Coast Leadership Network on the Impacts of Climate Change in Local Watersheds
Summarize the opportunities for watershed groups working across the country to create a new River Network led program that brings climate change impacts and mitigation actions to the local level. How can we build a network of leaders and resources to teach people about the intersection of rivers and climate change, as well as engage leaders in proactive strategies for what they can do about the impacts.

Zach Frankel, Utah Rivers Council; Beth Stewart, Cahaba River Society; Brianna Randall, Clark Fork Coallition

• Collaborative Working Groups and Community Education Case study and discussion based on a values-based approach for taking action on water and energy, in ways that are local, accessible, positive, and collaborative. * Beth Stewart, Cahaba River Society & Eleanor DelBene,*

• Developing and Implementing Climate Action Reports Brianna Randall, Clark Fork Coallition & Zach Frankel, Utah Rivers Council

• Worksheets and Discussion at tables

• Building a network of leaders (wrap-up) Full group discussion about resource and coordination needs to make this happen across the country. Wendy Wilson, River Network

Wednesday – Dec. 8

Session #9 Next Steps: Nation-wide water & energy initiatives
View from D.C. Where are we post-election? How might we influence U.S. EPA rulemaking processes on regulating greenhouse gases and other current issues. Are there opportunities with the Department of Energy or other federal partners?

Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency, Vicki Deisner, National Wildlife Federation; Jenny Hoffner, American Rivers (invited)

Session #11: Peer Groups Meetings / Action Plans
Follow up from yesterday’s discussions in small groups
Wendy Wilson, River Network

Where/When

Winter Training will be held at the Capital Retreat Center in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Capital Retreat Center is within close proximity to major metropolitan cities (Gettysburg, PA – 10miles/ Harrisburg, PA 60miles/Baltimore, MD 70 miles/ Washington DC, 75miles). This is the perfect place for an easy trip out to the stunning Catoctin Mountain of Pennsylvania. From the moment you step foot on the 270 acre campus you are immersed in a unique and nurturing environment.
For more information, visit www.capitalretreat.org.

Sunday December 5th, will be our travel day. We will begin the training sessions on Monday morning following breakfast and will conclude by mid-day on Wednesday. We will try to assist you in arranging shuttles from the airport on Sunday afternoon and returning to the airport on Wednesday afternoon and early evening. However, we encourage participants to coordinate among themselves for best traveling options.

Want to carpool to and from the event? Join the River Network Winter Training rideshare website to contact and coordinate with other Winter Training attendees to share rides to and from the event. Save money on gas and help limit our carbon emissions! group name: "River Network Winter Training;" password: "winter training"

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