Lahontan Audubon Society Strategic Plan

Submitted by Suzie Reynolds, LAS President. 

​Lahontan Audubon Society Strategic Plan 
2023-2028

Adopted June 06, 2023

Board of Trustees
Brendan Bucy, William Fletcher, Mike Goddard, Suzie Reynolds, Linda St-Cyr, Tom Stille, Rose Strickland, Brianna Usdrowski, Lauren Whitenack

Commitee Chairs
Valerie Andersen, Jane Burnham, Alan Gubanich

Executive Summary

​This year Lahontan Audubon Society is proud to celebrate its 60th anniversary and excited to present its strategic plan for the future. As a leading conservation organization, the Lahontan Audubon Society (LAS) has been dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife, and their habitats in the communities of northwestern Nevada since 1963. 

To ensure continued success and growth, LAS has developed this strategic plan that outlines its goals, objectives, and strategies for the next five years.  The plan focuses on four key areas: conservation, education, community engagement and sustainability - the same foundational principles our organization was built upon.

Conservation is at the core of the Lahontan Audubon Society’s mission, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect and preserve the habitats of local bird species. To achieve this, we will advocate for policies that promote conservation, assist with research by organizing citizen science projects concerning bird populations, and engage with the community to raise awareness about the importance of habitat preservation.

Education is another key component of our strategic plan. We will continue to work in providing educational resources to our community, including workshops, seminars, and field trips that promote bird conservation and environmental stewardship. We will also continue to collaborate with local schools and universities to develop curricula that teach environmental education through all things related to birds.

Finally, we recognize the importance of community engagement in achieving our goals.  We will work to build partnerships with other organizations, Tribal Nations, businesses, and individuals in our community who share our commitment to conservation. Through these partnerships, we will promote a culture of environmental stewardship and encourage community members to take an active role in conservation efforts.

We will also seek to expand our membership base and increase volunteer participation to achieve our goal of assured sustainability. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our organization is crucial to achieving our goals. By engaging more individuals in our efforts, we can build a stronger community of environmental stewards. Through sustained outreach and collaborative partnerships, we believe we can make a meaningful impact on the sustainability of our organization.


Organization, Vision and Scope

Vision
 Increase and diversify the membership including underrepresented and underserved groups. Continue with, expand, and diversify our educational outreach programs for children and adults. Promote the conservation and protection of birds and their habitats through community science projects, advocacy, and public participation in planning and resource management. Provide opportunities for sharing in the enjoyment of birds.

Mission 
To preserve and improve the remaining habitat of birds and other wildlife, restore historical habitat, and educate people, especially children, about birds in our unique Nevada environments.

Diversity and Inclusion
To fulfill our mission of promoting conservation and environmental stewardship, it is essential that we embrace inclusivity and recognize the full spectrum of human diversity. Lahontan Audubon Society is committed to incorporating, representing, and celebrating the rich diversity of Nevada in every aspect of our organization.  We believe that diversity not only strengthens our community, but also enhances our ability to protect and preserve our natural world. 


Land Acknowledgement
The Lahontan Audubon Society is honored to operate in the traditional territories of the Numu (Northern Paiute), Wašiw (Washoe), Newe (Western Shoshone), and Nuwu (Southern Paiute) peoples. We recognize and deeply respect the enduring stewardship of Native Peoples over their ancestral homelands. We acknowledge the importance of understanding and respecting Indigenous cultures and knowledge and strive to foster meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities.  

Geographic Scope 
Northwestern Nevada, with a focus on Washoe, Churchill, Carson, Douglas, Storey, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing and Lander counties.

Conservation Target
Protect, preserve, and restore habitats for birds and other wildlife, in both urban and rural environments of the region by working with private landowners, public agencies and other conservation organizations. 

Benefits to Birds and Their Habitats
Reduce vulnerability to climate change by preserving and restoring vital habitats, monitoring bird populations, advocating for policies that support sustainable land use practices, engaging in research, and educating the public and policymakers.


Action, and Monitoring

Action
Lahontan Audubon Society will follow a five-year timeline to achieve the four strategic goals as outlined below.

Monitoring
Annual reviews of the plan will assess progress, identify any issues or roadblocks, and make necessary adjustments to ensure goals and objectives are met.


Goals

Goal 1: Conservation
Conservation is at the heart of our mission. We recognize that birds and their habitats are facing significant risks, and require immediate and collaborative action to protect and preserve them for future generations. National Audubon scientists have identified climate change as the greatest threat to birds, and peer-reviewed research shows that 314 species – roughly half of all North American bird species – are at risk of losing at least 50 percent of the habitat by 2080.  To address this threat, we have developed this strategic plan that includes setting ambitious goals, building strong partnerships with like-minded groups, and advocating for policies and actions that support conservation and climate action.  Through our efforts we aim to create a future where birds and their habitats are protected, thriving, and accessible to all.
Our conservation strategy is focused on two key elements: protecting the places that birds need and advocating for significant public policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels. Lahontan Audubon Society will pursue conservation initiatives such as:

• Educating the public on ecological issues including the changing climate as related to birds 
• Organizing work parties, field trips, citizen science opportunities, and other activities to engage people in conservation
• Working with state, county, and city governments and local businesses to advance programs to protect, restore, and preserve natural bird habitats
• Pursuing opportunities to preserve and protect wildlife habitat

Goal 2: Education
At Lahontan Audubon Society, we believe that conservation starts with education.  Our commitment is to inspire people to get out in nature and explore the world of birds and their habitats.  We promote the knowledge and appreciation of birds and advocate for the protection, preservation, and restoration of their habitats. Our society provides meaningful and impactful opportunities for children and adults that foster appreciation and wonder and encourage action to care for and improve bird habitat.  Through our efforts, we aim to create a future where people of all ages are connected to nature and motivated to take care of the natural world around them. We will accomplish this by offering:

• Educational and conservation-related programs, events and activities, including classes, field trips, citizen science opportunities, and conservation projects
• Educational content through a range of mediums to promote access and inclusion, including in-person and online social platforms

Goal 3: Community Engagement
Achieving our conservation and education goals requires reaching out to the communities we serve to share awareness about birds and their needs, and to ignite in people a love of birds and a desire to conserve their habitats. Our chapter is doing just that through various projects such as working with Washoe County on plans for future development at Swan Lake, and conducting ongoing research of Pinyon Jay Populations. Both projects provide tremendous opportunities for community engagement, education and outreach. To further our reach and visibility, we will continue to:

• Partner with; Tribes, municipalities and organizations 
• Participate in nature-related community events 
• Offer educational programs, bird surveys, and information booths 

 
Goal 4: Chapter Sustainability 
Our vision for healthy bird populations and vibrant habitats is a long-term one. Lahontan Audubon Society recognizes the importance of sustainability for the continued success of our organization. In order to serve our communities for generations to come, we must be responsible stewards of our resources. We are committed to managing our operations in a transparent and efficient manner, promoting responsible growth, and strengthening our partnerships with local communities, other like-minded organizations and individual members. 


Annual Objectives, Strategies, Tasks, and Activities

From 2023 to 2028 we will focus on the initiatives listed below:

Conservation

• Continue to support the area annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and other national and/or worldwide bird counts such as Backyard Bird Count, and Big Day of Birding through advertising, forming count groups, and communication.
• Participate in citizen science projects that provide data for research including the Pinyon Jay Project and the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey with a goal of increasing the number of participants in citizen science projects by 10% each year.
• Expand relationships with local organizations and Native American Nations with a goal of adding three new organizational/Tribal relationships over 5 years.
• Identify and prioritize government and non-government partnerships with a goal of increasing the number of partnerships actions/activities each year.
• Actively support conservation efforts by other organizations through letters of support, MOA’s etc.
• Continue to support the Swan Lake restoration project through grant writing and committee support with a long term goal of improving the bird habitat as well as the  viewing capabilities of birders visiting the area.
• Continue to support projects such as Valley Wood Water Wise Garden, Rosewood Nature Study Area, and Rancho San Rafael Regional Park through grant writing and committee support with a long term goal of improving and/or maintaining the bird habitat.

Education

• Improve taxidermy collection through restoration, addition of new mounts, and improved loan out criteria with a goal of having signed agreements with all of the organizations housing LAS mounts on loan
• Develop a written education curriculum with volunteer training
• Continue to provide community education, leadership enrichment, and citizen science skills development, through community tabling events such as Earth Day, Spring Wings, etc. 

Community Outreach

• Inventory our current community partnerships and research to determine partnership opportunities with a goal to add 2 new partners each year
• Create a calendar of events to identify community festivals/events held with our partners to maximize our outreach and visibility with a goal of participating in ten tabling events each year.
• Research to determine partnership opportunities to identify projects within our territory and explore with them the opportunity to build or strengthen our partnership with a goal to add 2 new partnerships each year
• Within the next year, enhance our webpage and social media platforms by prioritizing revising, reorganizing, and redesigning the web site since it is one of our primary communication tools by forming a website revision committee to review the current organization and suggest revisions. Designating someone to pull together a cohesive web plan. 
• Identify underserved communities and develop targeted events to encourage the identified groups to engage in birding activities with a goal of a minimum of three such events each year.

Chapter Sustainability

• Improve participation in and support of committees by recruiting volunteers and utilizing VISTA workers with a goal of increasing the number of volunteers by 10% each year 
• Increase Membership by web page improvement, mastery of Neon One system, and communication of benefits of membership with a goal of a 10% increase in membership each year
• Improve Chapter Financial Health by creating a 2023 annual budget and for each year thereafter, follow a fundraising plan of having a Fall Fund Drive and a Spring Fundraising event which reaches out to the whole community, securing grant funding with a goal of having grant funding for each project.
• Increase Committee participation and effectiveness through an increase in communication about the committees and the volunteer opportunities of each with a goal of having all committee chair positions filled and at least three  committee members per committee.
• Improve volunteer training and volunteer appreciation with the goal of offering training for education, field trip, and citizen science volunteers at least once per year.
• Improve Board effectiveness by providing regular training and education opportunities to board members so that they can make more informed decisions, provide better oversight and enhance overall governance
• Secure guest speakers for monthly program meetings with a focus on education about birds, citizen science projects involving birds, or research on birds
• Improve awareness of our Chapter within the community with a goal of weekly social media posts, obtaining signage for tabling events, and printing business cards 
• Focus on Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) concepts to evaluate our programs, communications, and activities with regard to EDI and to propose ways to increase or enhance the EDI of our organization.​

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