22 VIRGINIA FORESTS Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation Update Charting the Course: The New Strategic Plan for the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation By Lavan Dauberman, VFEF Director Since its beginning in 1958, the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF) has prospered due to your donations, strong market returns, and prudent management. With this success comes great responsibility, so the VFEF Board chose to proactively pursue a new strategic plan. This strategic planning cycle began in September 2023 when the Board of the VFEF engaged Ryan Ripperton Consulting to work with a planning team to facilitate a strategic analysis and planning project. The Strategic Planning Team began gathering vital input and insights from VFEF’s constituents. This input enabled the team to reflect on the core mission of VFEF, the needs of the forestry community, and the ways VFEF can maximize its support of the forestry community in its next chapter. Research methods included an electronic survey with an excellent response rate, personal interviews with knowledgeable leaders across the forestry community, and benchmark research into comparable organizations in other states. The Board held a two-day planning retreat, and the Strategic Planning Team conducted multiple rounds of drafting to construct the plan. We’re excited to announce that we unanimously adopted our new strategic plan at the VFEF Board meeting on April 25, 2024. With the adoption of this plan, the real strategic work begins. The plan outlines the visionary direction of VFEF and the goals we seek to achieve, but progress is made through action. With this plan in hand, the Board will work together with our colleagues throughout the forestry community to bring this vision to reality. Mission and Vision Two of the most vital components of an organization’s identity are its Mission and Vision statements. Working together, these components express vital perspectives about what we do, for whom, and why; where we are heading as an organization; and the impact we are trying to make in the world. VFEF’s refreshed Mission Statement and new Vision Statement capture the purpose and direction of the organization’s future service to the forestry community. The VFEF Board of Directors met during the 2024 Virginia Forestry Summit. Their work resulted in a strategic plan for the Foundation that will help guide and strengthen VFEF for the future.
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