Notes from the Executive Officers
The start of 2021 has ushered in rays of hope for many as we weather the global pandemic. Our world has changed dramatically in the past 18 months and we are all finding new ways to adapt, communicate and connect. We hope this newsletter finds you well and in good stead. Our IASNR community is a resource that is available to all its members and allies. We hope our June virtual conference will help to ignite new relationships and spark creative ideas to keep you energized and directed for months to come. We are all still here – mighty, strong, and steadfast in our effort to generate a robust arena of scholarship, a treasure trove of ideas, and a welcoming community.
At the 2021 kickoff IASNR Council retreat, we identified three goals for this year that are helping to align our efforts and activities of our committees.
- Internationalization. We are eager to expand international membership, provide additional support and programming for international members and chapters, and encourage the development of a greater sense of IASNR community in regional hubs across the globe.
- Recruitment. IASNR is a community that brings together scholars and practitioners from that sweet spot between social science and natural resource management. For many it is that place we call ‘home.’ We seek ways to get the word out about our unique association and expand our membership base, including recruiting new members, re-engaging previous members, and reaching out to more managers and practitioners.
- Retention. We sometimes here people say that they think of IASNR during the annual conference, but less so throughout the year. We believe that providing additional member services throughout the year will help with retention. This could mean expanded mentorship, webinars, regional workshops, among others. A larger, more diverse, and geographically distributed membership base will strengthen our society and enrich our community.
Thank you for being a member of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR). IASNR’s staff, leadership, and many volunteers are working hard to make this a great professional association for you. If you have ideas or would like to get involved, please let us know! See you at the IASNR Conference June, 20-24!
—-Bill, Becky, and Lee