We seek to create a Natural Resource Volunteer Program
that:
Empowers Volunteers to utilize their talents in a way that brings
them satisfaction and makes a worthy contribution towards protecting
California's fish and wildlife resources.
Is committed to developing a network of effective relationships
with fellow CDFW employees and the public based on teamwork and trust;
getting better results in relationships by cooperating interdependently
rather than by competing independently. Valuing differences in others
and seeking the third alternative.
Utilizes conservation principles and ethics based on facts, not
feelings.
Promotes to the public and Volunteers, sound conservation habits
in Knowledge -understanding what to do and why to do it; Skill -knowing
how to do it; and Desire -the motivation for wanting to do
it.
Reinforces teaching. The ability for the Volunteers to share
their learning with the public; Capture -to understand the
basic content or idea; Expand - to analyze and add personal
experience/knowledge; and Apply -to live it, while sharing
examples of application.
Creates an environment where Volunteers communicate first by
seeking to understand then to be understood.
Encourages Attentive Listening -paying attention and
focusing on what the speaker says and comparing that to their own experiences
and Empathetic Listening Skills -listening and responding
with both the heart and mind to understand the speaker's words, intent
and feelings. "People don't care how much you know
until they know how much you care."
Supports conservation ethics and principles applied in a relationship
where problems and opportunities can be addressed synergistically;
when two or more organizations produce more together than the sum of
what they could have produced separately.
Is the first of it's kind in California and is used as a model
to expand to other counties throughout the state.