Excerpted From the CFM Strategic Plan:
Advocacy and Coordination
For nearly 80 years, CFM has been known as “The Voice for Missouri Outdoors.” Actively involved in state and national issues relating to conservation and natural resources, the Federation has long been a prominent and effective leader, respected for our opinion and fairness. Our history of standing tall for Missouri conservation speaks for itself. Today, however, many voices are vying for the listener’s ear, and it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish which issues are important and worthy of our time. We believe it is our duty to sort through the clutter, and to advance a balanced opinion representative of the views and values held by all Missourians who believe in the idea of wise use and scientific management of our state’s abundant natural resources.
We also understand that no single organization can tackle the challenges alone. We are committed to the notion that the work of well-informed citizens is the quickest path to success when armed with facts and an understanding of the process. For these reasons, we are committed to serving as a convener, facilitator, and coordinator for the purpose of building relationships and achieving common goals between and among interest groups; to working with all organizations and agencies to develop and advance programs and policies important to our members, affiliates, and conservationists across the state; and to formulating well developed, defensible positions on topics of interest to our members and affiliates.
CFM Resolutions
A critical activity performed by CFM is the monitoring of conservation and natural resource issues and the formulation of an organizational stance or position based on the best available information and/or science. Member and board supported resolutions are frequently developed as a means of expressing CFM support, opposition, recognition, or advice on a particular topic. CFM resolutions are one of the most powerful expressions of our opinion as a conservation organization.
GOAL 1.– To regularly monitor issues important to CFM and to prepare well researched, vetted, and timely resolutions consistent with our organizational mission and goals.
The Resolutions Process follows the monthly timeline below. Of course, members/affiliate members may bring important issues to the attention of the Executive Director or any Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Chair at any time during the year. Issues outside of convention will be handled by a letter or resolution from the Executive Director, President, or Executive Committee, with input from the appropriate RACs, and the Resolutions Committee. October – December is the time for you to act if you want thorough consideration and/or a resolution on an issue at the next convention. By following the timeline below, members ensure important issues can be fully researched and developed in advance of the convention.
Convention resolutions are prepared in advance, and will be “pre-filed” in the months leading up to the annual convention. All of these pre-filed resolutions will be in DRAFT form, until finally discussed and voted on at the convention. By the time of the convention, there will already have been considerable work, background research, and time devoted to each pre-filed resolution – especially by the Resource Advisory Committee members of each committee involved in the development.
The process and timeline are as follows:
You can find the names of RAC Chairs and Executive Director contact information on the CFM website. Thank you for being a conservation advocate – get on board and get your issues considered!
FROM: The Resolutions Committee
Resolutions Committee Members – Jim Low, Dana Ripper, Ginny Wallace, Zach Morris, and DeeCee Darrow.
Resource Advisory Committee List– This list shows the names of the Committee and examples of topics for each.
Committee Membership Request Form– If you would like to serve on any Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), please submit this form to Executive Director, Tyler Schwartze or Director of Operations, Micaela Haymaker.
Member/Affiliate Request for Conservation Issue Review – Any member of the Federation may request consideration or review of a relevant conservation issue or topic. You must include enough detail so that anyone reading about, or assigned to, your submission understands the exact nature of the conservation issue. For pre-filed resolutions to be presented at the annual convention, this form needs to be submitted to Executive Director, Tyler Schwartze or Director of Operations, Micaela Haymaker by December 31.
Steps for Resolution Process – Steps for the process of a Resolution to be presented at the Convention.
Process and Procedures for Resolutions and Advisory Committee Actions – Complete Details of Process
Tips for Successful Resolutions