· Bioregional approach

· Diverse wildlife and plant communities

· Special attributes of the area

· The Land Ethic/Respect for the land

· Good Stewardship

· Considering the efficacy of restoration approaches

· Preserving scenic qualities

· Appropriate resource use

· Smart Growth

· Local and regional planning

· A sound economic base

· A balance between public and private

· A balance between long and near term

· Minimal bureaucracy

· Maximum action

· Real-Significant Results

· Cooperation

· Consensus

· Establishing Trust on All Levels

· Developing Tools for Solutions

· Democratic/Civil Problem Solving

· Reconnecting people with the landscape

· Communicating a sense of place

· Heritage sharing with present and future

· People oriented & Project oriented goals

· Development of environmental awareness

· And acknowledge Grief

· The children in decision making

· Personal Relationships with land & water

· Mandated Water Quality

· Establishing standards

· Bringing money into the area

· Networking and contact

· Local leadership

· Different perspectives

· Accomplishments

· Different opinions

· Existing structures and programs

· Avoiding turf issues

· Funding Opportunities

· Our Congressmen

Question 2: What can the group accomplish as a whole that you could not do as individuals?

Raise Awareness/ Education

Learn from each other

Raise the level of awareness of the general public

Place-based education for very young

Get national recognition

Agree upon a name for this place

Define area

NA (No Acronyms)

Regional Planning

Develop regional land use strategies

Unite Mississippi Sub-Watershed Projects and fill in the gaps where there are

not projects.

Regional planning

RC&D regional effort

Coordinated zoning effort for land use

Define the common interest/objectives for the greater blufflands region

Manage competing interests

Political/Public Policy

Address federal farm policy problems

Cross boundary - elevate political concerns

Have Political clout

Lobby

Cross Boundaries

Bridge boundaries

Ignore political boundaries

Work together for success

Cross boundary - elevate political concerns

Stewardship

Dispel fear with spiritual stewardship

Grow a culture that respects/honors stewardship

Support sustainable land use practices

Pool Resources

Pool group resources to focus on environmental resources in the Driftless area

Pool info

Act as a clearinghouse

The group provides a catalyst for action where the connections are helpful

Create discussion forums

Funding

Obtain federal funding

If we become something, become a sustainable organization

Question 3: What action items would you like to see accomplished by this group in the next few months ?

· Hold another forum

· Figure out what we are doing

· Find out where the gaps are in and between existing organizations

· Have a briefing on the farm bill at the next meeting

· Develop a GIS Map of the Area

· Discuss a multi-state RC&D Project at the North Central RC&D meeting

· Create a Web Page

· Develop a Name – “ Greater Blufflands Forum “

· Define our goals

· Identify other issues and partners that should be included

· Interdisciplinary

· Diversify

· Meet quarterly –in a central location during formation of the group and then move out into each of the four states for future meetings.

· Don’t use acronyms

· Reenergize

· Educate from the ground up

· Involve landowners

· Promote the area

· Define and name the area to gain political support

· Find funding for a Forum Coordinator

Question 4: What groups that bring people together already exist in the region?

UMRCC

UMRBA

RC&D

Stakeholders Network

Soil & Water Conservation Society

Question 5: Is there anyplace where all organizations can come together and discuss issues, problems, concerns, and solutions for the unique four state area temporarily termed the Greater Blufflands Region?”

The answer was no. There is no current forum that facilitates organized discussion and exchange between organizations in the defined area.

Question 6: What group should be nominated to organize future forums?

There was discussion about who could organize future forums since most of the current organizers are taking on the work on top of their current duties and may not be able to continue. After input from several participants, the group agreed to elect the RC&D’s from all four states to try to find out if they could work as a “Super RC&D”. If the RC&D Councils agreed to the prospect, the newly formed “Super RC&D” would seek funding to hire a Project Coordinator to assist the Greater Blufflands Forum Group to organize future forums and succeed in its efforts (which until goals are defined would be to continue to meet and provide a forum for discussion for all participants.)

Representatives from the following organizations attended the meeting

Upper Miss Basin Stakeholder Network

USDA-FS

USGS

Corps of Engineers

US Geological Survey

US Army Corp of Engineers

Driftless Area Stewardship Council

National Audubon Society

Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center

US EPA – Region 5

NRCS

USFWS

National Assoc of Cons Dist

Audubon's Upper Miss. River Campaign

Mississippi Valley Conservancy

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

WI DNR

MN DNR

IA DNR

The Nature Conservancy of IL

MPCA

Olmsted County Environmental Services

UIRW Project

Vernon County Land & Water Cons District

Office of Congressman Ron Kind

Jo Davies SWCD

Olmsted County Environmental Services

Univ. of Wisconsin

St Mary's Univ

Univ of Minnesota

Southwest Badger RC&D

Limestone Bluffs RC&D

NE IA RC&D

Sustainable Woods Coop

Minnesota Land Trust

Clayton County Iowa

Franklin County

Fillmore County SWCD

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Country Heritage Community

Question 1: What values do you want this group to embody?

Cross Boundaries

Question 3: What action items would you like to see accomplished by this group in the next few months ?

Question 6: What group should be nominated to organize future forums?

Representatives from the following organizations attended the meeting