Sustainability Website
DNR Colleagues,
I would like to thank each of you who were able to attend the staff meetings
that we held over the past few weeks around the state. It was good to get out of
the office and talk with you about the challenges we face today and our future
opportunities. Eric and I found these discussions very helpful as we work with
you to chart a future course for the Department. As I said at the meetings, we
view these conversations as a starting point, and will continue this dialogue as
we go forward.
To help facilitate that collaboration we are today launching a new, internal
website to provide for your continued participation in our planning work. Found
at
http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/sustainability/comments.html, this site
provides a link to an annotated version of the framework that we discussed at
the staff meetings. Please remember that everything in this presentation is
draft and provided as an example of the framework. We are not focused now on the
actual words (that will come later), but rather the approach that we are
suggesting. I am asking that each of you take a look and use the website to
provide us your comments. You have the option of submitting your comments
anonymously by not typing in your email address. If you have any questions about
the Framework, please feel free to contact Dave Goshorn (x 8119), Sean McGuire
(x 8727), or Christine Conn (x 8785).
Also on the website are links to both detailed and summarized lists of the
comments we received from the staff meetings. Please visit this site frequently
as we will continue to populate it with additional comments, materials for
review, and updates (such as the results from this weekend’s Future Search
retreat). Note that this is a non-public website and not accessible or
searchable by the general public.
We have a unique opportunity under Governor O’Malley’s leadership to help lead
Maryland in establishing a sustainable future. This future will ensure natural
resource conservation and economic prosperity for the health and enjoyment of
many generations of Marylanders. But to do so effectively, we will need the
active participation of every member of the DNR family, taking the time to think
and act strategically, with a focus on how we can best contribute to long term
solutions to the challenges we face.
Once again, thank you to those of you who were able to attend the staff
meetings, and thank you to everyone in advance for taking the time to review the
materials on this website and providing us your comments. Eric and I take this
effort, and your participation and input into this effort, very seriously and
hope that you will also.
Thank you.
John
June 26, 2008