Saturday, January 19, 2013

Our Founding Principles


Happy New Year. Yes, its a little bit late, and we realize its been a while since we have posted on our blog and we do apologize.  It hasn’t been because nothing has been happening, but rather, because so much has been happening that it been hard to put thoughts to the keyboard.   

In fact, since our last post, we became an official  501 (c) (3) organization, we hosted a Visioning Session with 12 members of our advisory committee, we refined our mission, values, and vision statements, and we have produced a 2013 CDNST Calendar.  In addition we began to formally engage with our agency partners and develop our CDT Community.  Even more important is we are working on our strategy for our Advocacy efforts as part of the Partnership for the National Trail System Annual Hike the Hill event in February, and finalizing our 2013 work plan.  And, we promise more posts to come on these wonderful happenings around CDTC's growth and development. But this post is specifically to recognize the contributions of a great partner and friend to the entire National Trail System, Pamela Underhill.

In the most current Appalachian Trail Journey’s Magazine (January –February 2013), the "Overlook" section reflected on the retirement of Pamela Underhill, Superintendent of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Park Office (ATPO).  Pamela worked for the ATPO for 33 years (37 years total for the National Park Service). During her tenure, she oversaw the development of consistent trail wide management direction for the A.T., the acquisition of hundreds of land parcels that protected the A.T. Corridor, and helped establish an extremely successful Cooperative Management System that is not only the cornerstone for the success of the efforts to manage, protect and promote the A.T., but THE model for how a private-public partnership should operate on behalf of a National Scenic Trail.  It also happens to be how the culture of the A.T. Community has operated for over 90 years. 

While reading this article, it was a reminder of Pamela’s amazing leadership and fundamental philosophy. And, we found ourselves recognizing the same principles as the foundations on which we formed and have been growing CDTC to cultivate the same culture and community for the CDNST that exists around the A.T. 

These are the principles under which Pamela Underhill led with and inspires us to employ on behalf of all units of the National Trail System and on behalf of all the people who love them.

(Excerpt from AT Journeys Magazine, January- February2013)
Pamela Underhill's Factors for Cooperative Management:

Ensure Mutual Respect: Practice the Golden Rule. You must be a good partner in order to have good partners.

      Instill a Sense of Ownership: people should feel that they are a part of something great- something that makes the world a better place- something they expect to pass on to their children and grandchildren.

      Communicate: Communication has to be ongoing and constant.

      Nurture: Partnerships require investments of time, effort and nurturing.

      Recognize Limitations: Take the good with the bad. There are times when volunteers and partners might do work that is [at a different pace], of [different] standard, or a slightly different direction than agency professionals.  But there are times when they do more, do it better, or head in a better direction that the agency would on its own.

Use Each other’s Strengths: We’ve had repeated success in dealing with both external and internal threat issues by presenting a unified front using different tactics but with the shared and targeted goal: [The Trail.]

      Grow Personal Relationships: Partnerships are about relationships, and relationships are about people.

      Remember the Resource: Get together with your partners out on the Trail. A common focus will result in decisions and actions with the best interest of the resource in mind.

Leverage: Leveraging combined federal, private, and other public resources can accomplish an exponential number of projects and programs that otherwise would be prohibitively expensive or bureaucratically complex.

Believe in Consensus Building: You have to believe you can make it work and that it’s worth the extra time and effort it takes to achieve consensus.

Satisfaction and Fun: People need to derive a sense of satisfaction from their participation in the partnership. And, people can take on a lot if they get to have fun at least part of the time.

As reported in the AT Journeys, in her retirement announcement, and at her retirement dinner, of which CDTC attended, Pamela said “I feel plain lucky that I got to be part of this extraordinary era of protection for the Trail. The A.T. seems to have this uncanny ability to attract just the right people when it needs them. I like to think that I was one of the group of ”right” people who came along when land conservation was the name of the game- the A.T. needed its ‘body’ secured- and we got to do that.  I’m grateful also to have found a place in the Appalachian Trail community…the most wonderful people dwell in Appalachian Trail land”

Truer words could not have written.  What is even more amazing is that Pamela’s influence spans not only on the A.T. and ATC, but here on the CDT too, where we are now embarking upon a journey to protect the ‘body’ of the CDT.  In the same way the A.T. calls us to action, the CDT is also calling all of us to be the “right” people at the time it needs us most, so that we may successfully complete land conservation efforts to protect the CDT corridor.  The result and test of our work will be the continued interest and participation in volunteer stewardship to build and maintain this Trail for generations to come and recognition that not only do the most wonderful people dwell in Appalachian Trail land, they dwell in Continental Divide Trail land too!  

To Pamela, we can only say Thank You for all you have done on behalf of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and for sharing your wisdom and passion for the A.T. and inspiring generations to follow the path you unselfishly and righteously helped design, build and yourself walk.  But, there is something we can DO to show you how much you have impacted us with your work. And, to that end,  we promise to work with the same passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to continue your great legacy of leadership and bringing wonderful people together to do more great things on behalf of not only the CDT, but our entire National Trails System. Thanks again Pamela- we couldn't be here without you!