Purpose
The component discusses the role and function of partnerships,
including formal and informal, and the differences in
managing them to accomplish mutually beneficial results.
The interpreter will determine partnership goals, the
desired product or service, and the effectiveness of
a partnership in enhancing interpretive operations.
Objectives
Upon completion of this component the learner will
be able to:
identify
who can establish and participate in partnerships;
list
current formal and informal partnerships that exist
in their park unit;
discuss
similarities, differences, and expectations of formal
and informal partnerships;
develop
a method for evaluating the effectiveness of informal
partnerships.
Approach
This component compliments the Need for Partnerships
presented in the first segment of Module 320 and should
be completed after that component. The Need for Partnerships
introduces why, when, and where partnerships are appropriate.
This introduction provides interpreters a basis for
Developing and Coordinating Partnerships in which the
interpreter identifies park partners, and examines the
expectations, benefits, similarities, and differences
in formal and informal partnerships. Understanding formal
and informal partnerships can help the full performance
ranger accomplish their duties in interpretation. Partnerships
enhance interpretive operations and provide a method
for reaching out to park neighbors and regional and
national supporters.
"My profound conviction [is] that this is the
time for the National Park Service to emerge from the
places we know we can take care of to serve our country
more broadly not just in the parks but out of the parks...We
have an opportunity that's an obligation...We need to
make new friends. We need to strengthen the cause of
common land through common history and a broad and diverse
nation. We need to do that by drawing into our affairs
outsiders as well as insiders every place we can do
it."
-former National Park Service Director Roger Kennedy
Content
Outline: I. Introduce scope of possible partners.
A. Formal partnerships
1. What are formal partnerships?
2. Who can form them?
3. Who are the formal partners at your site?
- Cooperating Assn.
- Friends Groups
- Universities
- Other agencies
- Other not-for-profit groups
- Tribal entities
- Volunteer groups
- Artists-in-Residence
B. Informal partnerships
1. What are informal partnerships?
2. Who can form them?
3. Who are the informal partners at your site?
- other NPS areas
- community and local organizations
- local businesses
- advocacy groups
- foundations
C. The role and function of partnerships
1. Cooperating Associations
a. What are the goals of cooperating associations
and NPS?
b. What are the goals of the local assn. and park?
c. What benefits are derived from the assn. for
the park?
- park publications
- donations
- interpretive services
2. Volunteer-in-the-Park Program
a. What are the goals of the Volunteer-in-the-Park
Program in enhancing the interpretive operation?
b. What are the goals of volunteers involved in
interpretive operations?
c. What benefits are derived from interpretive
volunteers.
- provide information and orientation at desks
- park clean-up efforts
- provide support services
- conduct interpretive activities
d. What benefits are derived for volunteers?
- knowledge about park resources
- learn new skills; career enhancement
- meet new people
- support for NPS Mission
3. Friends Groups
a. What are the goals of Friends Groups and
the NPS?
b. If applicable, what are the goals of your local
Friends Group and the park?
c. What benefits are derived from Friends Groups?
- fund-raising
- advocacy
- aid-to-the park
- organized volunteer group
d. What are the benefits to the Friends Group?
- support for NPS Mission
- knowledge of park resources
- participation in special events
- networking
4. Other formal partnerships
a. Select one of your additional formal park
partners.
b. What are the goals of the partnership between
the partner and the park?
c. What benefits are derived from the partner?
d. What benefits are derived from the park?
5. Informal partnerships
a. Select one of your informal partners.
b. What are the goals of the partnership between
the partner and the park?
c. What benefits are derived from the partner?
d. What benefits are derived from the park?
II. Identifying partnership goals
A. Review similarities and differences between the
various formal and informal partners.
B. How do these similarities and differences help
achieve your park mission and vision?
C. How do they foster support for the interpretive
operation?
D. What method can be used to determine if the goals
of both partners are being met?
III. Developing a partnership proposal
A. Identify the goals for the partnership.
B. What is the desired product or service the partnership
will enhance or provide?
C. What are the benefits to each partner?
D. What obstacles may affect implementing the partnership?
E. What resources are available and can be provided?
F. What funds are needed, and who will provide them?
G. Who will be responsible for implementing and managing
the partnership?
H. Who will be the contact person for both partners?
I. How long will the partnership be in place?
J. How does it help each partner better achieve their
mission or more closely approach their vision.
K. How will the partnership be recognized?
IV. Evaluating partnerships
A. The importance of evaluation
1. It forces you to clarify your objectives, and
ensure that both partners goals are being achieved.
2. It helps assess the costs and benefits of the
partnership.
3. It allows for the redirection of your efforts.
4. It can provide managers with data on which to
base program decisions.
5. It can provide staff with data to reinforce the
partnership.
6. It can assist in anticipating problems in implementing
similar partnerships.
B. Designing the evaluation
1. Clarify the partnership goals.
2. Determine who will conduct the evaluation.
3. To what extent can the accomplishment of the
objectives be attributed to the partnership?
4. Has the partnership been conducted in a manner
consistent with the plan?
5. What changes need to be made?
C. Evaluation format
1. Yearly summary report
2. Project report at completion
3. Quarterly updates
4. Partnership meetings
5. Regular meetings with partners
References
Directors Orders on Cooperating Association Guidelines,
Directors Orders on Volunteer Program Guidelines, Directors
Orders on Interpretive Guidelines, local park Memoranda
of Agreement, national Memoranda of Agreement, Comprehensive
Interpretive Plan, local cooperating association annual
report, Legacy magazine, Ranger magazine.
Resources
National Parks and National Partners: A New Look at
Cooperating Associations, Charles J. Reilly, Masters
thesis in Business Administration, San Diego State University,
San Diego, California, August 1995.
Strategies for Joint Ventures, Harrigan, K.R., Lexington
Books, 1985.
Collaborating: Finding Common Ground for Multiparty
Problems, B. Gray, San Francisco and London: Jossey-Bass
Inc., 1989.
Thoughts from Director Kennedy About People, Parks,
Partnerships, and Education, a video message, Washington,
DC: National Park Service, June 20, 1995.
Thirty-five keys to effective evaluation, R.M. Johnson,
Foundation News, June 1993, page 18.
The learner will develop a listing of formal and
informal partnerships for their park unit.
The learner will select an informal park partner
from the list and through actual dialogue with their
supervisor determine what the goals, expectations,
similarities and differences are for each partner.
The learner will list how the partnership has enhanced
the interpretive program and has met mutual goals.
The learner will analyze the current interpretive
operation at their site, determine where additional
services or products are needed, and propose potential
partners who can assist in meeting the need.
The learner will review summary reports, strategic
plans, cooperating association annual reports, volunteer
program annual reports, or operations review and develop
an evaluation tool for an informal partnership.
