SUMMARY OF SESSIONS:
Leadership
Thursday, Sept 14
L-01 -- Why Americans Deserve to Know How the National Park Service Spends Its Money -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 180; Summary: House Committee reports criticize how we do business and are thus viewed as a threat to our management. How can we make performance management more relevant to our future and to the decisions Congress makes about us?
L-03 -- Accountability in the National Park Service: Perception vs. Reality -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 216; Summary: A discussion lead by Regional Directors to pose the question -- "Is it possible for the National Park Service to become the premier federal agency in terms of our mission and our accountability?"
L-04a -- What is the Conservation Ethic Today? And What is it in the Future? How Does the NPS Fit In? -- (Continues to Session L-04b); Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 75; Summary: The strengths and weaknesses of the NPS conservation ethic are examined to understand our role in a new century of globally interconnected conservation efforts.
L-04b -- Coping With the Success of Others in Leadership -- (Continued from Session L-04a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 75; Summary: The NPS has been considered the "keeper" of the conservation/preservation ethic among federal and state agencies. How are we coping now that other organizations are becoming keepers of the "monuments" and resources commonly associated with the NPS?
L-05 -- Systems Thinking: What is It? Why is it Important? Why Should We Care? -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 75; Summary: Keynote Speaker Dr. Peter Senge provides a definition for systems thinking and provokes discovery and understanding of the organizational nature of systems.
L-06a -- Bringing Our Best Qualities Forward: An Alternative Approach to Problem-solving -- (Continues to Session L-06b); Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 40; Summary: This dialogue session uses a process called "Appreciative Inquiry" to uncover existing best practices and to challenge the organization to make these practices routine rather than exceptional.
L-06b -- Bringing Our Best Qualities Forward: An Alternative Approach to Problem-solving -- (Continued from Session L-06a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 40; Summary: This dialogue session uses a process called "Appreciative Inquiry" to uncover existing best practices and to challenge the organization to make these practices routine rather than exceptional.
L-07 -- Dream Makers: Vision and Leadership -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 100; Summary: The idea of a compelling vision and purpose has propelled many organizations to extraordinary accomplishments. Engage in a discussion on how to more deeply involve employees in the mission of the National Park Service.
L-08 -- Park Development as a Means of Park Preservation: Tradition -- or Rationalization? -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 75; Summary: Park development is often seen as a means of managing and preserving park resources. Managers who "build" are often considered successful superintendents. What are the ethics of building in parks, and how is decision-making affected by fundraising?
L-09 -- Park Development and Future Park Preservation: Alternative Transportation Planning and Gateway Communities -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 75; Summary: Many presume that the message project will bring increased visitation to the National Park System. If this assumption is true, how do we get ahead of the curve in satisfying visitor access and needs while preserving resources?
L-10 -- Philanthropy and the National Parks -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 280; Summary: What is the future of philanthropy in the National Parks? What are the factors that create successful fundraising? What support do NPS fundraising partners need?
L-11a -- Anticipating and Preparing for Change: Leadership Roles in Tomorrows Reality -- (Continues to Session L-11b); Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 110; Summary: Like many organizations, the NPS has been accused of being over-managed and under-led. If true, what leadership roles -- both individual and organizational -- should we be assuming to increase our effectiveness in a rapidly changing future?
L-11b -- Anticipating and Preparing for Change: Leadership Roles in Tomorrows Reality -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 0; Summary: Join one of five different and distinct sessions (L-11b-1, L-11b-2, L-11b-3, L-11b-4, L-11b-5) to further discuss points raised in Session L-11a.
L-11b-1 -- What Impedes Vision? What Do We Do About It? -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 22; Summary: A facilitated discussion aimed at uncovering the impediments within the National Park Service that adversely impact a visionary process and what we might do to make course adjustments.
L-11b-2 -- Aligning an Organization for Results -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 22; Summary: This session explores how our core processes, systems, and structures create the organizations culture and how they impact the results we get -- for better or for worse.
L-11b-3 -- Bringing About the Highest Potential in Every Individual and Organization -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 22; Summary: Explore the role of creating an empowered work environment that encourages creative thinking and drives fear out of the workplace to bring out the best people can offer.
L-11b-4 -- Are We Preparing Our Leaders for the Future? -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 22; Summary: Leadership is not only being a leader of oneself, a park, and/or program, but of the National Park Service as a whole. This session will examine the role of todays leaders in preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
L-11b-5 -- How Do We, as Leaders, Model Ethics and Integrity? -- (Continued from Session L-11a); Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 22; Summary: Polls indicate that the American publics confidence and trust in government has declined steadily since the 1950s. What role can the NPS play in helping to restore trust and confidence to the image of the public servant?
L-12 -- Accountability and Commitment: The Key to High Performance -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 28; Summary: This session discusses the reasons why it is so hard to do what we say we will do -- even though keeping commitments is pivotal to both personal success and organizational high performance.
L-13r -- Leadership Beyond Park Boundaries -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: National parks influence local and regional decisions and plans. Can they influence land use and conservation decisions on a broader, national scale? How do we, or should we, make it so? (Repeated as L-14r)
L-14r -- Leadership Beyond Park Boundaries -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: National parks influence local and regional decisions and plans. Can they influence land use and conservation decisions on a broader, national scale? How do we, or should we, make it so? (Repeated as L-13r)
L-15 -- The Art of Conversation: Possibilities to Reflect On and Learn From -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: When everyone in an organization believes that what is occurring is significant, they can act-rapidly, creatively, and in concert. How might the NPS use routine conversations to focus on significant issues?
L-16r -- Leadership Ecology: How Differences Ensure Dynamic, Sustainable, and Relevant Organizations -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 36; Summary: How can we see differences as valuable and necessary contributions to an array of networks, expertise, and experiences -- and learn to actually seek them out? (Repeated as L-17r)
L-17r -- Leadership Ecology: How Differences Ensure Dynamic, Sustainable, and Relevant Organizations -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: How can we see differences as valuable and necessary contributions to an array of networks, expertise, and experiences -- and learn to actually seek them out? (Repeated as L-16r)
L-18 -- National Park Service American Indian Law and Policy: Government-to-Government Relations in the 21st Century -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 70; Summary: Explore the important challenge we face in working in partnership with indigenous peoples -- and examine ways to balance best conservation practices, public visitation, and the ability of indigenous people to be stewards of their ancestral lands.
L-19 -- From Crisis-of-the-Moment to Visionary Thinking: Making the Transition -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 36; Summary: What is the incentive for managers to grapple with tomorrows problems today, when today is already full of problems? Are there steps we should be taking to make it easier and more natural for managers to deal with the future?
L-20 -- The Legacy of Reorganization in the National Park Service: Alternatives in Leadership, Management, and Administration -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 44; Summary: In looking back at the 1995 NPS restructuring from our current position, what strengths did we add to our organization? What lessons did we learn and how can we apply them today and in the future?
L-21r -- Ive Seen the Face of Change -- and I Dont Like It! -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 25; Summary: Is the NPS any different than any other tradition based organization when it comes to reacting to change? What are the changes we foresee affecting the NPS in the future, and how can we affect the outcomes and prepare for them? (Repeated as L-22r)
L-22r -- Ive Seen the Face of Change -- and I Dont Like It! -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 50; Summary: Is the NPS any different than any other tradition based organization when it comes to reacting to change? What are the changes we foresee affecting the NPS in the future, and how can we affect the outcomes and prepare for them? (Repeated as L-21r)
L-23 -- Management Succession: Ensuring Future Leadership -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 114; Summary: Is the NPS preparing a cadre of leaders capable and comfortable facing 21st Century organizational challenges? How can we develop leaders who will thrive in its new work environments?
L-24r -- A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: For organizations to thrive, leadership must be willing to hear and deliver unpleasant information. Do NPS work environments foster, or deter, constructive change through truth telling and truth testing? (Repeated as L-25r)
L-25r -- A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: For organizations to thrive, leadership must be willing to hear and deliver unpleasant information. Do NPS work environments foster, or deter, constructive change through truth telling and truth testing? (Repeated as L-24r)
L-26 -- Collaborating with Business for Environmental Responsibility -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: How can the NPS look beyond park boundaries to help determine environmentally sound business practices? Can we apply the same standards to concessionaires and ourselves and hold our heads high?
L-27 -- Responding to Changing Constituents -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: The demographic composition of the population is changing rapidly. How will ethnic group attitudes change the practices and values of the NPS and its partners?
L-28 -- Core Values -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 50; Summary: Explore how our core values can guide the organization. Now that we are developing our core values, what must we do to ensure they remain or become part of our worklife, operations, and leadership philosophy?
L-29 -- Leading the Way to a Green Infrastructure -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: This session will examine the Services role in furthering the concept of Green Infrastructure and in helping to develop and encourage these systems nationwide.
L-30 -- Reflective Places -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: Is it possible to bring about broad acceptance of sustainable practices in the U.S., such as has been done in Sweden with The Natural Step? Do such approaches will work better than regulatory approaches?
L-31r -- Parks: Welcoming -- or Exclusionary? -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 20; Summary: Do potential visitors avoid parks in order to avoid people who are dissimilar? Do NPS policies, practices, and operations cause or contribute to parks acting to unify, or to divide people? (Repeated as L-32r)
L-32r -- Parks: Welcoming -- or Exclusionary? -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: Do potential visitors avoid parks in order to avoid people who are dissimilar? Do NPS policies, practices, and operations cause or contribute to parks acting to unify, or to divide people? (Repeated as L-31r)
L-33 -- Keep the Torch Burning Bright: Personal Reflections on Leadership -- Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm; Capacity: 20; Summary: Take time for thoughtful conversation with your colleagues, personal reflection, and journal writing. Join nationally acclaimed writers and peers to examine how we draw inspiration from places, people, and experiences to sustain our energy and leadership.
L-34 -- Fire in the Paint Locker! How We Respond When Everything Goes Bad -- Time: 10:30 am - 12 Noon; Capacity: 25; Summary: It has been said that a crisis brings out the best in good people and the worst in bad ones. Learn about NASAs crisis-management strategies and engage in dialogue on how to plan for crisis and implement those plans when necessary.
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