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ICL's Impact

What People Are Saying About Us

"I participated in a Membership Development workshop sponsored by the Institute. The workshop was very informative and has already been useful in my work at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. One of the best things about the workshop was that the Institute brought together environmental organizations in the Lake Superior region. I believe that it is invaluable for regional environmental groups to be able to meet each other and have a chance to share their experiences about what has and hasn't worked in their organizations. The Institute makes this possible. The environmental community needs the Institute and the services it provides."

Sandy Tauferner, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), Minneapolis, Minnesota

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"In Idaho, the Institute's Political Effectiveness Project first focused on individual groups [in the state], for it became clear that we couldn't build a more effective team without the individual components being stronger and more self-confident. Speaking for the Idaho Conservation League, that process has been tremendously helpful for me, a relatively new executive director. With the individual building blocks a bit firmer, we've now set about building the movement [across the state], and I'm very excited about the collaborative and strategic focus coming together in Idaho. It is unprecedented. It is also very much needed."

Rick Johnson, Idaho Conservation League, Boise, Idaho

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"Over the duration of this workshop, I have come to understand the significance of the work of the Institute. Many of us end up in our role as executive director by circumstance, not by design and certainly not by training. If the Institute can continue to follow through in concrete ways, I believe that the benefits to the environmental community will be significant."

Sarah Winterton, formerly with Earthroots Fund, Ontario, Canada

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"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the volunteer workshop held in Cleveland... The Columbus Audubon Society is an all-volunteer organization, and so we really depend on recruiting new people and developing current volunteers for future responsibilities. I am quite new to the volunteer coordinator position....

The trainers were wonderful: from the beginning ice-breaker exercises that gave us a chance to get to know each other, to the end. They encouraged participation without being overbearing and allowed comments but effectively kept speakers on track and brief. I've done training before -- and these things are hard to accomplish with grace.

It was very helpful to be able to ask questions of other volunteer coordinators about what they do and how it works for them. The practice role-playing was really helpful...it gave me valuable feedback on what I was doing well and what I needed to improve...."

Tamara James, Columbus Audubon Society, Columbus, Ohio

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"I've been on antibiotics for the past week, I'm taking antihistamines, and I was still energized through this whole workshop."

Linda, water activist, Chattanooga

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"I came into this workshop expecting to leave halfway through, and I stayed for the whole thing."

Water quality professional

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"...this program has been the best development tool that we, as both new and experienced executive directors, have ever experienced...."

Joint letter from the participants of the 1997 Great Lakes program

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"Going through the program has changed my whole attitude toward my job. For a long time I thought maybe our problems came from me, and I internalized them. Having been through this training I've realized that I'm doing okay but that we have organizational issues, which we can work through together. It's given me a whole new insight."

Tina Hissong, Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund, participant, 1998 Great Lakes program

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"My mentoring visit [to a sister organization] was the single most valuable thing inside or outside of my organization that I have done. Just the incentive you gave me to make that visit was worth the cost of the whole ICL program."

Steve Strichman, New York State Council of Waterways, 1998 Great Lakes program

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"Refreshing, enriching, educational, and fun."

James Chapman, Georgians for Transportation Options, 1998 Southern program