State fish and wildlife agencies (SFWAs) are struggling to address new and emerging conservation challenges while retaining core traditional programs. Many are finding they are unable to do so adequately and fear loss of relevancy to society unless they are able to transform into organizations that meet changing public needs and interests, while continuing commitments to core programs. Organizational transformation is a challenging endeavor; many SFWAs have tried to achieve this, yet few have succeeded. For those that have embraced a vision and made a commitment to transform, planning the first steps? identifying an appropriate and realistic process and securing necessary resources ? proved a formidable challenge.

Identified during a 2010 workshop at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (NAWNR) were elements and precursors for SFWA transformation, impediments to transformation, and ideas for leadership of transformative change. That workshop catalyzed a network of interested fish and wildlife leaders who desire to stay connected to explore challenges of transformative change of SFWAs; communication is being fostered via e-mail and opportunities for interactions are being explored at upcoming meetings (e.g., Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' annual meeting, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' annual meeting and the Pathways to Success Conference).

The 2011 workshop?"Transformation of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies: What We Want to Be and How We Will Get There"? scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, at the 76th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, will provide opportunity to take SFWA leaders' exploration of transformation of their agencies to a more advanced level. Participants will explore in greater depth topics that were identified by those at the 2010 workshop. In particular, the 2011 workshop will help participants address the question "transform into what?" Presenters will offer case studies demonstrating the nuances of SFWA transformation from a variety of perspectives and relate the social, political and economic realities that have been encountered.

It is anticipated that participants will be able to identify circumstances and approaches germane to their individual state's situation from experiences reported by colleagues from other states. Ideally, those experiences would serve as benchmarks and inspiration to help other SFWAs with their first steps toward formulating and designing transformation strategies.

The March 2011 workshop will: (1) provide advanced insight regarding organizational transformation from a leading expert in organizational behavior; (2) help participants develop a vision for institutional transformation; (3) offer a range of case studies on SFWA transformation that participants can relate to their states' situations; (4) provide tools to help participants identify their roles in the transformative process; (5) help them formulate a general strategy for leading change in their states; and (6) identify and discuss ways in which they can help others (e.g., agency leaders, policy makers, partners) understand and participate in transformation. Participants will come away with practical information about transformative processes, examples from SFWAs that have engaged in such processes, and preliminary strategies, including their individual roles, first steps and timelines that can be applied in their states (the workshop will not advocate a one-size-fits-all approach). In addition, the workshop will help keep up the momentum of networking among SFWA leaders engaged in transformative change planning and implementation.

The workshop is being cosponsored by the Cornell University Human Dimensions Research Unit, the Organization of Wildlife Planners, Management Assistance Team, and the Wildlife Management Institute. For more information, contact workshop organizers Cindi Jacobson (cindi.Jacobson@alaska.gov), and Dan Decker (djd6@cornell.edu) and John Organ (John_Organ@fws.gov).