UCFS News
60 Years Strong, Strategic
Plan Accomplishments, and
How You Can Get Involved!
By Leslie Berckes, Executive Director, Urban and Community Forestry Society
Following Our Road Map
In early 2023, we shared with you the
organization's three-year strategic plan.
We have one year done—and a lot to
be really proud of. Some of the strategic
action goals that have been completed:
• Review and update committee structure.
• Implement revised and renewed
UCFS Board Member training
and onboarding process.
• Develop a formal marketing plan to
elevate the organization's profile.
• Grow and develop partnership with orga-
nizations like APWA, NASF, and others.
• Work with key partners on the enhance-
ment of industry credentials.
• Implement the Municipal Forestry
Institute (MFI) Focus Year plan.
10 CityTREES
For example, UCFS now holds a position on the American Public
Works Association (APWA) Knowledge Team, where we will help
represent urban and community forestry to an association that
interfaces with so many of our members' daily work lives.
Now, moving into our second year of the strategic plan, the
organization will continue its action plans. With several steps
complete, this opens the door for realignment and reassess-
ment. In early January, the UCFS Board of Directors met in
New Orleans to take a deep dive into the strategic plan and
decide which items to put laser focus on for the year. These
include growing and retaining membership, determining lead-
ership training needs, developing an organizational advocacy
plan, performing a staffing needs review, cultivating spon-
sorships, and doing a database update. These items range
from very high-level/big-picture to specific operational
steps. Throughout it all, we hold an optimistic and visionary
mindset where we explore new possibilities and embrace for-
ward-thinking approaches to urban and community forestry.
Thank you to our members and friends for joining us
on this journey. Not a member yet? We hope
you'll join
when the time is right. The future is bright for UCFS!
