Woodsy Owl - 2000 election mentioned, role of govt in society

[The Straight Story]

The Woodsy Owl Program
Strategic Plan


In the New Century of Service strategic plan, there is a paragraph that well describes how
the FS role has evolved over the years. It reads as follows:

When the Forest Service was small, it operated out of small offices embedded in
local communities. In this environment the agency was able to establish relationships
and a solid reputation with local citizens. These local residents who have made their
living from forest products rely on this income. When this is taken away or made
more difficult, distrust and disconnection with the FS ensues. Now, urban growth and
the rapid movement of employees has led, in some cases, to loss of connection with
and trust in the agency and its management policies and practices. The FS is often
seen as reactive, not proactive. It is also seen as being managed more frequently
from higher levels that are more political, not at the local levels, and being buffeted by
organized special interest groups. Fewer dollars are reaching ranger districts and
local communities and many ranger districts have been consolidated or eliminated in
recent years. The agency needs to clarify its role in communities small and large,
close and distant, especially as commodity production shifts to the private sector.”
(NCS Strategic Plan p.4)

As a result of the 2000 election, changes are expected in terms of the role of government in
our society. There is a new administration interested in increasing funding to field units and
decreasing the size of the headquarters and regional offices across the nation.


In 1999, the FS increased its commitment to improve the delivery of the agency’s CE
programs by officially establishing the CE staff under the State and Private Deputy area.
There is a CE component in every single natural and cultural resource management
program in the agency. The CE staff has proven its effectiveness by dedicating itself to
developing innovative ways to promote CE and by strengthening the network of regional CE
coordinators. The CE staff increased partnerships with major national teaching and learning
institutions and interest groups. It also increased participation in interagency groups to
support the establishment of theme- oriented interagency programs. And, most importantly, ......

The list of community characteristics that help describe the environment in which Woodsy
lives is included in Appendix C. Characteristics listed by the participants in the July, 2001,
strategic planning session would probably be different if they were to be listed by the same
group of participants now, in light of the events occurred in New York City, Pennsylvania,
and Washington, DC on September 11, 2001.

http://www.symbols.gov/action-plans/Woodsy-2003-2006-Strategic_action_plan.pdf