Attached is a survey from the WK Kellogg Foundation seeking information and
feedback on existing sustainable agriculture networks and its Integrated
Farming Systems Network.
Maria Magnelli van Hekken
WK Kellogg Foundation Consultant
SOURCE: THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
Dear Colleague:
SANet has been identified an appropriate place for the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation to obtain information and feedback to help us decide whether or
not the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) network should be maintained and, if
so, for what purpose and in what form.
The Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) network is composed of representatives
of 18 projects funded primarily by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It has met
twice a year for a national networking conference since August of 1992. The
purpose of the IFS projects is to: 1) help farmers find and adopt integrated
and resource-efficient crop and livestock systems that maintain productivity,
are profitable, and protect the environment and the personal health of
farmers and their families, and 2) assist people and their communities to
overcome the barriers to adoption of more sustainable agricultural systems so
these systems can serve as a foundation upon which rural American communities
will be revitalized. A draft purpose statement for an IFS network recently
developed by an IFS working group is "to foster collaborative action toward
agricultural and community sustainability".
Now in the third year, and with one additional networking conference
scheduled, the IFS network members and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation want to
assess future needs for the network.
We appreciate your time in filling out this survey and providing us with the
information we need to make an informed decision about the future of the IFS
network. Please return it to Maria at mariavhm@aol.com (NOT TO SANET!) by
January 4.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Richard M. Foster Maria Magnelli van Hekken
Vice President for Program W.K. Kellogg Foundation Consultant
Food Systems and Rural Development
IFS SURVEY
NAME
(Optional)________________________________________________________________
Have you ever attended an IFS Networking conference?
__________YES_________NO
Do you participate in one of the IFS projects?
_________YES_________NO
1. What regional and national sustainable agriculture networks do you
participate in?
2. What needs do these existing networks network, meet? (Feel free to be
specific about which networks meet which needs.)
3. Which of the following needs are being adequately met by existing regional
and national networks? Please respond on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is not
met and 5 is highly met.
Networks meet/don't meet the need for:
Not met at all Highly met
access to diverse collaborators on regional/national
sustainable agriculture projects 1 2 3 4 5
information acquisition and exchange 1 2 3 4 5
leadership development of members 1 2 3 4 5
national networking conferences 1 2 3 4 5
networking with direct marketing contacts 1 2 3 4 5
networking with farmers 1 2 3 4 5
networking with sustainable agriculture contacts 1 2 3 4 5
obtaining grassroots perspective and reality check
on programs I am involved in 1 2 3 4 5
policy influence at the local/regional level 1 2 3 4 5
policy influence at the national level 1 2 3 4 5
policy influence at the university 1 2 3 4 5
providing a forum for sharing project experiences 1 2 3 4 5
providing a forum for strategy development 1 2 3 4 5
providing community support for sustainable
agriculture 1 2 3 4 5
providing support and encouragement in my work 1 2 3 4 5
providing technological support
(e.g. electronic communication) 1 2 3 4 5
regional Networking conferences 1 2 3 4 5
sustainable agriculture production information 1 2 3 4 5
other_________________________________________________________________
4. Indicate the level of need that exists for the IFS network to continue, on
a scale of 1- 5, where 1 is not needed and 5 is highly needed.
Not needed Highly needed
1...........................2......................3........................4.
.........................5
5. What is your preference with regard to the IFS network?
________ consider it finished; disperse.
________ merge with existing networks
________ maintain IFS as it is
________ continue IFS in a new form (explain)
________ expand the IFS network as a national network
________ expand the IFS network on a regional level
________ don't know
________ other
6. If the IFS network were to continue, who should be involved and why?
(Please feel free to list names of individuals and organizations)
7. If the IFS network were to continue, how should it be sustained, i.e., in
what form? (For example: electronic network, newsletter, merge with existing
regional/national networks, non-profit organization, several regional
networks, etc.)
8. If the IFS network were to continue, how should it be governed or led?
(Please list any other ideas you have.)
________ diverse stakeholders representation
________ executive board, elected by membership
________ foundation representatives
________ regional representation
________ other
9. What resources will be required to sustain the network? (Please list any
other ideas you have.)
________ a clear purpose
________ commitment of its members
________ diverse funding streams
________ foundation support
________ membership dues
________ open membership
________ time resources allocated to the network
________ other
10. What specific next steps should be taken to work with existing networks
or maintain or expand the IFS network?
11. As a way to help us understand the deeper values that people hold in
their work, we would like to learn something about core values. What are the
values that motivate and sustain your work toward sustainable agriculture?