Greetings!
With Thanksgiving just a day away, we extend a sincere thanks to all of the river groups for the hard work you put into saving your rivers this year.
We know many volunteer hours were spent advocating for, cleaning and protecting your rivers. Thanks to you our rivers have less trash and invasive species; state and local elected officials know more about groundwater impacts from nutrient-loaded runoff and over consumption; and your friends and neighbors have had the opportunity to experience a river first hand.
We hope you take some time on Thursday to reflect on all of your accomplishments and to be thankful for the flowing rivers in Wisconsin.
Allison Werner
Local Groups Program Manager
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Thank Your Donors
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You can never thank your donors, members and volunteers too much. Being appreciated is one of the main reasons people continue to donate and volunteer. It does not have to be expensive or complicated. A few suggestions:
- Do your best to thank donors as soon as possible. The standard is within 48 hours of receiving the donation.
- A hand written note for larger donors is better than a form letter.
- If you use a form thank you letter, add a personal note and hand sign the letter.
- Thank donors and volunteers in your newsletter, on your website, on your Facebook page, on Twitter, at your events...you get the idea.
- See how the Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association thank their corporate donors on their website.
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Celebrate Your Success
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When a project is complete we often forget to stop and celebrate our accomplishments before moving on to the next task. As 2010 winds down take a look back at all of the work your group accomplished this year and find a way to acknowledge the success you had.
Did you thank all of the volunteers and staff that were crucial to the project? Did you tell your members and donors about your accomplishments like the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership did on their website?
Did you write down the essential ingredients that made the project a success so you'll remember them next year? Also note suggestions for making the project even more successful in the future.
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Set 2011 Goals
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So now that you've celebrated your accomplishments and thanked everyone that helped in your group's 2010 success, it is time to plan for 2011. Planning does not have to be complicated or ti me consuming. Planning does need to be thoughtful and realistic. Ask tough questions now to ensure you select projects that will meet your goals.
Start by evaluating your 2010 work to determine which tasks should continue and which are no longer relevant. A good plan will help you say no to projects that are good, but not the right fit for your organization at this time.
When considering adding new a task, be honest about the staff, volunteer and financial resources it will require. Will this new task further your mission or distract you from it? Do you have enough resources to accomplish this task in addition to all of your other work?
River Alliance staff can work with your group to set annual and/or long-term goals. Contact Allison Werner at localgroups@wisconsinrivers.org to talk about the ways we can assist your group with planning.
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