Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #2

Hey Everyone! My name is Matthew Reaume and I represent Huron Pines AmeriCorps on the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council. The Huron Pines AmeriCorps Program assists both non-profit organizations and conservation districts that are committed to furthering environmental conservation efforts in Northeast Michigan by placing young professionals in positions that allow them to engage in volunteer recruitment, develop new conservation projects, and promote resource stewardship just to name a few.

My position placement allows me to serve in the capacity of Training and Communications Coordinator for the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), where I will develop and implement a strategy to provide enhanced training resources for Michigan Conservation District boards and staff. This process will be an intense effort designed to increase a District's ability to be more effective at delivering crucial environmental services to the local communities in which they serve.

Just last week MACD held its annual Winter Convention at the Soaring Eagle Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The event lasted three days and included the annual MACD State Council business meeting, various training workshops, an information and resources exhibition, as well as an enormous opportunity for District members and staff to network with representatives of government agencies and private businesses as a means to achieve shared goals in environmental stewardship.

Among the list of notable and inspiring speakers and presenters at the convention was Don Koivisto, the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. As part of his speech, Director Koivisto spoke openly and honestly to the audience about the uncertainty of the future of state budget appropriations to the Conservation Districts. As I listened to this particular segment of the speech, I couldn't help but wonder how Districts were going to manage delivering vital resources to their communities with shrinking budgets and dwindling resources. At that point it occurred to me that limited budget appropriations were not exclusively going to be partial to Conservation Districts alone, but to a wide range of government service programs and initiatives, both in the environmental movement and so much further beyond.

Given the looming forecasts of America's struggling economy paired with the dire need for money and resources in the national service community, I can't help but pose this question. Is idealism and commitment to a cause really enough to affect meaningful change in society?

In looking at the role Conservation Districts play in serving as stewards of the environment, one cannot doubt the level of commitment and selfless service given by all of those who have dedicated decades of their lives to the environmental cause. I have absolutely no doubt the same is true of countless other individuals and programs served by AmeriCorps. But is this really enough to do the job? Can we really make the difference we strive to if we are not given the necessary tools?

I personally believe that where there is a will there is a way. If we are unable to accomplish the tasks that are required of us with the means that we have, then I believe our commitment and dedication must force us to awaken the same sense of urgency in all of those who are effected by our actions so as to develop a public demand that will exact the resources from our government that we require to achieve our goals. Is this naive? Or is this reality? Most importantly, how do we do it?