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How can I start a Cluster?
Clusters start when a local group is interested in increasing its own (and the area's collective) capacity to care for natural areas, understands that working with others will increase individual and collective capacity to protect, restore, and manage natural lands and waters; and is willing to take on the responsibility of working with the Network to organize.
In order open the process of creating a Stewardship Network Cluster, a local group approaches the Network and learns more about what the Network has to offer and what is involved in creating a local stewardship Clusters. If this group decides it is interested in working with the Network to start a local cluster, they complete and submit the Cluster Start Up Request for Proposal
| Step 1 |
Complete RFP |
| Step 2 |
Identify one to six people interested in being part of a planning committee to organize and oversee activities of the cluster. |
| Step 3 |
Identify participants for cluster membership. These may be diverse organizations, individuals, and businesses throughout a local area working to protect, restore, and manage natural lands and waters. |
| Step 4 |
Plan a community wide kick-off meeting to introduce the Stewardship Network Cluster and brainstorm needs and desires of the local conservation community, i.e. the specific direction and activities the cluster might pursue. (The Network and/or a representative from existing cluster will attend this meeting.) This event should also include a networking component that allows people to interact and discover what is happening locally in natural areas and what groups are doing to care for them. |
| Step 5 |
Share the minutes/proceedings of this meeting with interested people locally as well as the Network. |
| Step 6 |
Follow the kick-off meeting with a prioritizing session to identify activities for the first year. Share the minutes/proceedings of this meeting with interested people locally as well as the Network. The information provided to the Network will become part of a combined calendar and listing of activities available throughout the State. |
| Step 7 |
Hold at least quarterly meetings of the planning committee to ensure that activities are carried out. |
| Step 8 |
Carry out activities identified as part of the planning process. |
| Step 9 |
A cluster engages in the following ongoing communication with the Network:
- Share information about what activities are happening locally both as part of the cluster and independently. This information will become part of a combined calendar available locally and throughout the state.
- Communicate with the Stewardship Network Steering Committee what help the Cluster would like from the Steering Committee.
- Share its expertise with the entire Stewardship Network
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