Navigating the politics of advanced volunteer stewardship

How to get things done using volunteersValerie (Price) McClannahan

A little about me

• Urban and Community Forestry Volunteer and Program Coordinator with Department of Forest Resources at the UMN• M.Ed. with a focus on Adult

Education (ABD)• B.S. in Horticulture with a Minor in

Urban Forestry

Defining advanced volunteer stewardship

1. Task requests that require over four hours of education to complete

2. Include repeat requests for volunteer time, not a one time event

3. (Optional) Requires extra training in safety standards

• Example: Master Gardeners

Stems are sexy

Planting trees is great, but our urban forest requires more than planted trees to maintain health and stability.

Stratified Tree Surveys

Minnesota Citizen Pruner

Pushback

• Legal• Privatization• Skills and education

Pushback

• Legal• There was worry about liability.• Most of our communities use union workers to do much

of their urban forestry work, especially for pruning.

Legal• Unions are a valid and important part of

community forestry• Make sure they are at the planning table and get

their input• Listen to their concerns

Most of our communities use union workers to do much of their urban forestry work, especially for pruning.

Pushback

• Legal• Privatization• Communities should be hiring private companies to do

this work. Volunteers could be taking jobs from private companies.

Privatization• Some communities cannot afford the full cost

Communities should be hiring private companies to do this work. Volunteers could be taking jobs from private companies.

Privatization• Some communities cannot afford the full cost• It’s not an “either/or”

Communities should be hiring private companies to do this work. Volunteers could be taking jobs from private companies.

Privatization• Some communities cannot afford the full cost• It’s not an “either/or”• Educated volunteers become advocates for better

urban forestry practices which has lead to more funding

Communities should be hiring private companies to do this work. Volunteers could be taking jobs from private companies.

Pushback

• Legal• Privatization• Skills and education• Volunteers aren’t capable of…(insert anything here).

Volunteers don’t have the knowledge or skills.

Skills and education• Accuracy• What level of accuracy is acceptable? Do you always need

them to be 100% accurate in what they do? Are trained professionals always that 100% accurate?

Volunteers aren’t capable of…(insert anything here). Volunteers don’t have the knowledge or skills.

Skills and education• Accuracy• What level of accuracy is acceptable? Do you always need

them to be 100% accurate in what they do? Are trained professionals always that 100% accurate?

• How much training do they need to reach that accuracy level?• And what kind of training?

Volunteers aren’t capable of…(insert anything here). Volunteers don’t have the knowledge or skills.

Skills and education• Accuracy• What level of accuracy is acceptable? Do you always need

them to be 100% accurate in what they do? Are trained professionals always that 100% accurate?

• How much training do they need to reach that accuracy level?• And what kind of training?

• How much support will they need after the training?

Volunteers aren’t capable of…(insert anything here). Volunteers don’t have the knowledge or skills.

Share success

This is how you quell fears.

The success of Ely, MN• The city had completely stopped any urban forestry management besides the

removal of hazardous trees in 2012. • The U of M was contacted by a citizen about the tree survey project. The city was

apprehensive.• Ely’s citizens surveyed 2,340 trees finding that 60% of the public trees were

maples. They built a gravel bed. Raised money by asking neighbors and local businesses. Planted trees by in front of houses that agreed to water, with an extra tree planting class request. Started a Tree Board, and non-profit for trees in community, began Minnesota Citizen Pruner, and now have voted to fund two part-time tree consultants for the city and the city now buys water bags and mulch for all trees planted by citizens.

Thanks!

Contact info:Valerie (Price) McClannahan

vmcc@umn.edu