PRE-MEETING ONRAMP

A process for maximizing the effectiveness of a critical meeting
 

Healing Our Waters: Meeting the Challenge of Great Lakes Restoration

In May of 2004, The Institute for Conservation Leadership engaged CoVision to help support Healing Our Waters, a conference that brought together scientific and environmental leaders from across the U.S. and Canada to draft a federal-level agenda for addressing major environmental challenges to the Great Lakes.

The thinking process began three months before the 2-day conference and included four rounds of online input utilizing WebCouncil™. The 100 participants first brainstormed, then they identified the primary problems facing Great Lakes Restoration upon which the Federal Government can have the most impact, and finally they crafted problem statements for each of the top three areas – all done online.

At the conference, participants were fully prepared to engage deeply in developing solution statements for each area. By the end, the diverse group was able to reach consensus on how the federal government can most positively impact the restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
 

Process Outline

Round One  (3 months before the meeting)

Participants were asked to identify the critical issues facing Great Lakes Restoration.  They were also asked to identify which entities have the primary responsibility for making improvements in these areas. A sub-group reviewed this input and identified the top three issues on which the Federal Government could have maximum impact.

Round Two  (2 months before the meeting)

Participants were asked to identify gaps in federal policies relating to the top three problem areas. A sub-group reviewed this input and developed draft Problem Statements for each area. 

Round Three  (1 month before the meeting)

The draft Problem Statements were presented to the online participants and they were asked to rate them and make suggestions for improvement. The Problem Statements were refined and prepared for presentation at the conference. 

Round Four

Just weeks before the conference, President Bush issued a preemptive Executive Order outlining the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force's recommendations on how to deal with the health of the Great Lakes. Round Four asked for reactions to this Order and comments on the potential implications for the outcomes of the Healing Our Waters Conference. These reactions and insights were themed and presented and discussed at the opening of the conference.

At the Conference

Participants were able to focus directly and immediately on solutions in each of the three refined problem areas.  By the end of the 2-day conference there was broad-based agreement on specific recommendations to the Federal Government for restoration of the Great Lakes ... as planned and hoped for.

 
Further information:   Healing Our Waters - Website  Final Report

 
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