water quality
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Outreach Workshops
The people involved in NPS management and watershed protection efforts often feel they don't have the skills or resources to effectively communicate NPS issues to the public. But that doesn't mean it can't be done. Effective outreach can be done on a limited budget; it just takes a little creative thinking. To increase awareness of successful outreach strategies, NEIWPCC worked with state staff to coordinate NPS outreach workshops in 2002 in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island.
The workshops, entitled "Innovative Outreach and Motivation for Change," attracted participants from state NPS departments, local watershed groups, and conservation districts. Presenters emphasized the concepts of community-based social marketing developed by Doug McKenzie-Mohr while offering ways to think more creatively about the entire outreach process. At each workshop, local groups had the opportunity to present examples of outreach work they'd done and felt was effective. Members of a media panel also presented their views on how to effectively generate media coverage. For many participants, the media panel was their first introduction to working with the press.
2002 Nonpoint Source Outreach Workshops
Sept. 25 -- Worcester, Mass.
Oct. 16 -- Derby, Conn.
Oct. 23 -- Augusta, Maine
Oct. 29 -- Providence, R.I.