Survey
Conducted by the Virginia Association
for Parks, an emerging coalition of
citizen leaders and park managers associated with national and state parks in
Virginia.
| Introduction: Citizen leaders and park managers from Virginia's 38 state and national park units met together for the first time in November 1997 for two days of training, networking, and discussion about tools and strategies that could strengthen existing park support groups, stimulate the formation of new groups where none existed, to examine the value of continuing collaboration. This enthusiastic and visionary group formed a round table of core leaders that has continued to meet to identify needs and develop work plans for enhancing private-sector support for parks, and community groups working on their behalf. This survey will aid in promoting communication and collaboration throughout our ranks, and will guide the exciting process of joining forces to increase public support and involvement for parks, recruiting new citizen volunteers, and generating new avenues of cash and in-kind support for our collective efforts. Please complete the survey as quickly as possible and return to:
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Your Name___________________________________________________________________
Your Organization (if applicable):_________________________________________
Mailing Address:_______________________________________________________________
City:________________________State:___________________________Zip:_____________________
Daytime Phone:( ) ______________________ Evening Phone ( )_____________________
Fax: ( )_________________________________ E-mail________________________________
Web site:___________________________________
Please check all categories that apply to you/your group (if applicable):
( ) Nonprofit Organization ( ) Informal
Group ( ) State Agency ( ) Land Trust
( ) Conservation Group ( ) Federal Agency ( ) Individual Volunteer ( ) Community
Foundation ( ) Community Association or Citizen Activist ( ) Volunteer Service Group
( ) Park Support Group ( ) Trails Group ( ) Local Green Group Chapter
( ) Civic or Fraternal Organization ( ) Historical Society (Sierra Club, etc.)
( ) Fundraising Group
What is your organizational purpose/mission
statement?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Please answer each of the following questions as thoroughly as you can:
Park(s) which you or your group supports:
______________________________________________________________________
Name of Park City/County Park Contact
_______________________________________________________________________
Name of Park City/County Park Contact
2. Year your group organized: _________________ Incorporated:______________________________
3. Number of members:_______________________ Membership Dues: $_______________________
Number of volunteers:______________ Average Annual Budget:$______________
5. Major sources of revenue: (check all that apply)
( ) Membership dues ( ) Foundation grants ( ) Corporate
gifts ( ) Special events
( ) Product sales ( ) Government grants ( ) Other________________________
6. How do you communicate with and involve your members?
( ) Projects & activities ( ) Newsletters ( ) Telephone trees ( ) Other______________
7. Does your group have an established office? ( ) Yes ( ) No
If yes, where is your office located? ( ) In the park ( )
Rent ( ) Own ( ) Private home
( ) Other_________________
8. Is your group all volunteer or is it staffed? ( ) All volunteer ( ) Staffed
9. How would you describe the relationship between your group and your park?
( ) Compatible & Mutually Beneficial ( ) In the developmental stage
( ) Tense, needs improvement ( ) Other________________________________
10. What is the primary focus of your group?
( ) Volunteer service on park projects ( ) Fund raising ( )
Community education
( ) Advocacy
11. What is the congressional district of your park? ___________________________
12. What is the congressional district in which you live?________________________
13. SKILLS BANK: Please check all talents that apply to you or the members of your group:
( ) Computer skills ( ) Phone bank ( ) Media relations ( )
Online/ Internet ( ) Organize events ( ) Public speaking ( ) Fund raising ( ) Grant
writing ( ) Professional writing ( ) Board training ( ) Volunteer Recruitment &
Management ( ) Personnel mgmt ( ) Lobbying
( ) Training & Conference planning ( ) Research ( ) Organizing service ( )
Interpretation
( ) Other projects _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
14. What do you or your group need most from the new Association?
( ) Peer support/sharing ( ) Resource
materials ( ) Raising money$$$
( ) Training or help with:
___ Getting started ____Organizing a board
_____Incorporation & Tax Exempt Filing
___ Recruiting volunteers ____ Membership Development ___ Revitalizing board
____ Hiring personnel _____ Grant writing ___ Partnering with park ____Advocacy
_____ Publicity/media ___ Brochures & pubs ____ Budget/Finance _____ Equipment
Other_____________________________________________________________________
15. Would your group/park be willing to host a conference or Association event and do you have meeting space and lodging accommodations nearby?
( ) Yes--When?___________ ( ) No ( ) Maybe--let’s talk!
16. What are best meeting times for you/your group/park?
( ) week days ( ) week ends ( ) Evenings
17. How frequently would you like to network with your peers in the Association?
( ) Annually ( ) Quarterly ( ) Twice/year ( ) Other_______________
18. What specific activities or projects do you think the Association should provide or organize first?
( ) "How To" kits ( ) Training Conferences ( ) Regional networking meetings
( ) Online chat conferences ( ) Slide show ( ) Booth at state fair
( ) Leadership in securing ( ) On-site Mentoring ( ) State-wide media campaign
and distributing foundation & Technical Assis. ( ) Lobby Campaigns/State/National
( ) corporate grants
19. What method of contact best serves your needs?
( ) Mail ( ) Telephone ( ) Fax ( ) Email
20. When is the best time to reach you?
( ) Day time ( ) Evenings ( ) Weekends
21. What other organizations do you think we should communicate and network with?
_________________________________________________________________________
22. Please use this space to tell us about any talent, skill or contact you or your group have that would be beneficial to building a strong Virginia Association for Parks.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for answering these important questions. Please feel free to add any other information about your special interests or concerns and add any needs your group may have that we may not have identified. We welcome your ideas and suggestions and urge you to take an active role in this new endeavor to unite citizen organizations working on behalf of state and national parks in Virginia.
Thanks!