SUMMARY OF SESSIONS:
Leadership
Thursday, Sept 14 (1:00 pm - 2:30 pm)
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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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.
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