Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 9, Number 3 • May-June 2001
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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by Jill Ryan
As I reviewed this issue of the GLAHNews, I realized it contains several articles that discuss developing visions, sharing visions, and visionary people that get things accomplished. These articles remind me of the importance of having visions for the work we are trying to accomplish. And, just as important as having a vision, is sharing your vision with those you are working with, decision-makers, funders, supporters, and yes, those with different points of view.
Looking back on my own work and the major accomplishments of most groups I’ve worked with, each successful venture began with a vision of what needed to be done, and usually with a visionary leader pointing the way. Visioning can come in many forms, from a great idea generated by a motivated person or group, to a yearly strategic goal setting process, to assessing a problem and finding creative solutions through brainstorming. No matter what the process for creating a vision for your work, it is important to be able to communicate this vision to others, build your work plan around the vision, and of course be able to modify both your vision and your plans for reaching it when necessary.
Many of the projects that produce outstanding results across the Great Lakes are cooperative and collaborative projects. By working with other groups that have different expertise and resources, we can create projects that accomplish great things. From my perspective, a common vision is usually the factor that unites the groups and enables them to work together. When we have a vision of where we are going, it is easy to see how each person’s or group’s expertise can assist in reaching our goal. I’m sure we’ve all been part of groups where there is no shared vision, and each member has their individual agenda. Generally I have not found these groups to be very productive, with every individual working to get their own goals accomplished.
Therefore, I call upon you all to put on your visionary caps, to be sure you know where you are going, to share that vision with the others you work with, and to convince others of the importance of your vision. Then go out and watch the amazing results unfold as you strive to see the water in your neighborhood stream become clean, the nearby wetland permanently protected, or the contamination in the local aquatic habitats removed. We are all visionaries, we just have to take the time to articulate, share, and work toward the personal goals in each of us that make us so passionate about our work.