I've been asked to write a manifesto on using social media in the Forest Service. Having never written one, the prospect is a bit daunting. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful idea. We already have an ample supply of strategic plans, mission statements, goals and objectives. A manifesto implies an urgency, perhaps even an insurgency. Frankly, we need to light some fires to revive the spirit of this organization.
When Aldo Leopold became deputy supervisor on the Carson in 1911, he founded and edited a forest newsletter called The Pine Cone. In the first issue, Leopold stated his objective was to promote esprit de corps. He also asked his rangers to contribute articles so that their collective knowledge would help the Forest Service better serve the public. We need to do the same today.
Pine cones are a great metaphor. They contain within themselves the seeds of their own regeneration. If the Forest Service is to continue as a model of what government can be, and should be, change and growth must come from the inside. We need to tap the intelligence and skills of a very talented workforce. I believe that social media can help to do that. But, like pine cones, it often takes a fire to open.
Note: By starting this thread, I am asking you to help write The Pine Cone Manifesto as a collective document. We expect that it will soon be part of an editable wiki that you can all edit. For now, I would love to have your comments.
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3 comments:
Yes! Let's do it!
And I'm sure you are aware that the National Transformation Management Team lead by Rita Stevens is calling for a collaborative re-design of the agency and plans to employ social media in the process. Bill Williams, if you see this, what would you add from that perspective?
Perhaps the Pinecone Manifesto is a container for one of the many generative conversations occuring across the agency via formal and informal networks?
Hey Steve,
Why not set up a PB Wiki for this?(or some other easy Wiki) That way you can get your feedback directly. If and when the FS gets its Wiki act together, you can migrate it over. Alternatively, just post it up as a blog post and let the comments begin. Maybe do both.
I find it interesting that an earlier manfiesto exhorted us to "throw off our chains." In many ways we would be calling for the same thing.
Hokay, so what would be the elements of this Manifesto? A Preamble that lays out the need? The End State we hope to achieve? Where's Karl now that we need him?
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