Wi-CAN!-The Winnipesaukee Conservation Action Network,

An idea proposed by the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association

What is the need?

The Winnipesaukee Watershed contains 16 towns with municipal boards and commissions, as well as, dozens of conservation and preservation groups and organizations all of which share a mission for the conservation of natural resources.  These groups also share the single most important natural resource in the State of New Hampshire , Lake Winnipesaukee .

While the amount of dedication, volunteerism and actual conservation work taking place in the Winnipesaukee Watershed is immense, there is still so much more that could be accomplished with better communication, coordination and cooperation.   That is the purpose of the Winnipesaukee Conservation Action Network.  Wi-CAN!, for short.

How would Wi-CAN! operate?

Such an effort should begin with a set of principles, that would establish expectations by which and through which participants in the Network would interact.  Let us propose:

Ø  Wi-CAN! exists to conserve, sustain and protect the land, water and air resources of the Winnipesaukee Watershed.

Ø  Every community, organization and individual is invited and encouraged to be involved.

Ø  Another organization will not be created to operate Wi-CAN!

Ø  Wi-CAN! will serve as a forum, venue and clearinghouse for participants to bring their ideas, issues, successes and challenges for the purpose of expanding communication, coordination and cooperation that leads to Action.

Ø  No idea or issue is excluded from presentation or consideration as an action as long as it can be documented that the action would conserve, sustain or protect land, water or air resources of the Winnipesaukee Watershed.

Ø  Attendance at Wi-CAN! meetings is totally voluntary.  Those that choose to attend will dictate what gets discussed and accomplished.

Ø  Wi-CAN! will meet in locations throughout the Winnipesaukee Watershed to improve accessibility.

Ø  Action will be initiated by those that choose to become involved in any given idea, or issue that is presented before Wi-CAN!  It will be the responsibility of an Action Group formed through the Wi-CAN! process to keep the Network appraised of the status of the Action. A minimum number of 2 people can consistute an Action Group

Ø  If an Action is not moved forward by an Action Group or if Wi-CAN! Participants are not apprised of the action’s status, the activity will end as a sanctioned Wi-CAN! activity.

  Let us also propose a set of operating procedures, by which Wi-CAN! would function:

Ø  Wi-CAN! will meet 4 times per year, once in each season for a maximum of 2.5 hours per meeting.

Ø  The first year of meetings will be organized, publicized and administered by the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association.

Ø  After the first year of meetings, a determination will be made by the participants,  how to continue the operation of meetings, if at all.

Ø  Two months prior to a scheduled meeting of Wi-CAN! a notice will be posted in the local papers and on the various websites, including the website of the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association (www.winnipesaukee.org) .  The notice will invite presentations for consideration at the upcoming meeting.

Ø  Activities related to Wi-CAN! as well as presentations proposed for the next meeting and dialogue related to current activities (a blog?) will be posted on the website of the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association.

Ø  Presentations will be limited to 10 minutes, and follow-up discussion to 15 minutes for a maximum of 25 minutes.

Ø  Agendas will be created by limiting presentations to 3 per meeting,  always leaving 45 minutes for updates on current actions.

Ø  Wi-CAN! will operate on a consensus basis, not Robert s Rules of Order.

Ø  A register of actions taken at each meeting will be created and posted on the website of the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association within 1 week of the meeting.

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