Natural Resources Leadership Development Program

PREVIOUS FELLOWS, PROJECT SUMMARIES, & NRLA

• NRLI Fellows and Project Summaries
• Natural Resources Leadership Association

2008 NRLI APPLICATION

The 2008 NRLI Application Packet is formatted in both PDF and WORD for user preference.

• 2008 NRLI Admission Application| PDF Document ( print and complete separately; return completed application by fax or mail)
  
  
• To access file, a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed. A free copy of the Reader is available by accessing this link: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• 2008 NRLI Admission Application| (save and complete as a Word Document on your desktop; return completed application by email)

2008 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & SCHEDULE

People often disagree over how land, air, and water resources should be used and managed. Disputes arise over such issues as endangered species, private property rights, wetlands, timber management, and water quality. People with a stake in these issues tend to focus on their disagreements, rather than build on their common interests. What often follows is policy gridlock, as decision-making moves from the meeting room to the courtroom.

Our Goal - Gridlock is not necessary. People involved in these disputes can reach mutually acceptable solutions by communicating in a more meaningful and effective way, opening the debate to include all stakeholders, and negotiating to settle disagreements. The goal of the North Carolina Natural Resources Leadership Institute is to develop leaders who can build consensus around contentious issues and move beyond conflict to find solutions. By applying the skills learned in the program, Institute graduates can become more effective in working with other people in their jobs, organizations, and communities

The Participants - The strength of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute lies in the diversity of our participants. Men and women representing a geographic cross-section of the state reflect the diversity of those who have a stake in the sustainability of our natural resources. The institute seeks participants from a wide range of groups, communities, and organizations, including:

Federal & state natural resource management agencies Resource-based industries and firms Environmental & conservation organizations Local government Private landowners & managers Educational institutions Elected office Professions involved in natural resource policy and development Community organizations Concerned citizens Affiliates in other states

The Program - Professionals from North Carolina State University (the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Natural Resources, and Cooperative Extension) and from the Institute of Government's Public Dispute Resolution Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill guide the program. The program leaders draw on their own as well as the participant's expertise, and that of other dispute resolution practitioners, faculty, natural resources professionals, the NRLI Advisory Board, and the NRLI Fellows-to lead the sessions. Theoretical, historical, and experiential learning are emphasized. Participants are active in their own leadership development through self-directed learning and relationship-building activities, case studies, and field trips. In tandem with other North Carolina leaders during session discussions and in mentored leadership projects, the participants develop their leadership abilities and those of fellow participants. Workshop topics include:

Leadership development Communication Skills Conflict management Interest-based & multi-party negotiation Public policy & decision-making Interpersonal skill development Collaborative problem solving Critical thinking Facilitation & facilitative leadership Working with the media

The Schedule - The program is structured around six 3 day workshops that are held at various locations in North Carolina and includes one session in Washington, D.C. The Washington session spans four days, which includes travel time, and offers participants the opportunity to discuss natural resources policy with congressional representatives, lobbyists, and leaders of nongovernmental organizations in the field of environmental decision-making. Each session typically begins with lunch on the first day and ends in mid-afternoon of the third day. The Institute also includes two 1-day review sessions, a leadership practicum, and a graduation ceremony.

Session 1	Building Working Relationships & Communicating for Agreement I	Jan.16-18, 2008 Wed-Fri	NC University Club Raleigh, NC
Session 2	Collaborative Problem Solving and Small Group Facilitation	Feb 20-22, 2008 Wed-Fri	Trinity Center Salter Path, NC
Session 3	Public Policy Negotiation I & Communicating for Agreement II	March 12-14, 2008 Wed-Fri	YMCA Blue Ridge Black Mountain, NC
Session 4	Conflict in Public Policy and Public Policy Negotiation II	April 16-18, 2008 Wed-Fri	The Summit, Brown Summit, NC
Session 5	Washington D.C. Field Trip on Federal Environmental Policy	May 27-30, 2008 Tue-Fri	Hotel Washington Washington, DC
Session 6	Communicating with the Media and  Collaborative Leadership	June 18-20, 2008 Wed-Fri	Blue Jay Point County Park,Raleigh, NC
Practicum Review Session #1		Oct 3, 2008 Fri	Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh, NC
Practicum Review Session #2		Feb 6, 2009 Fri	Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh, NC
Graduation Celebration for NRLI 2007 Fellows		June, 2008	TBA Raleigh, NC
Graduation Celebration for NRLI 2008 Fellows		June,  2009	TBA Raleigh, NC

The Program Costs - the Institute tuition is $1,200 (which covers some of the costs associated with workshop instruction, educational materials, assessment instruments, some facility fees, and other session amenities). Tuition must be paid in full at the start of the January session. In addition, participants are responsible for travel costs to and from sessions (carpooling often offsets these costs) and session registration fees (which cover workshop meals and/or lodging).

In order to accommodate the financial needs of our participants, we separate meal and lodging costs to provide flexibility in payment options. Participants may choose to pay the entire program cost upfront (tuition plus all session fees), or to pay tuition in January and the session fees before each session. Here are the session options:

• Commuter or "meals only" rate: (covers meals except the Washington DC trip; and covers the lunch meals at the January and June session. Lodging is the responsibility of the participant).
• Double occupancy rate: covers lodging (except January and June session) and meals (except the Washington DC trip; and covers the lunch meals at the January and June session).
• Single occupancy rate: covers lodging (except January and June session) and meals (except the Washington DC trip; and covers the lunch meals at the January and June session).

For more information about the Natural Resources Leadership Development Program, contact Mary Lou Addor.