2009-2010 Annual Report - Alabama Department of Conservation ...

DIVERSITY
AND RECRUITING
The Diversity and Recruiting Section develops and implements
programs designed to increase the pool of qualified applicants
needed to hire and promote a work force that reflects the cultural
and ethnic diversity of the State of Alabama.
This section maintains the Department’s Affirmative
Employment Plan, does statewide recruiting, and contracts diversity
and other training for the Department.
Accomplishments
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Statewide recruiting.
Natural Resources Law Enforcement training program for
colleges (Internet Classes).
Regional partnership with Federal agencies.
Adopt-a-School/Community program for elementary, junior
high and high schools. Carver High School Culinary Arts and
Tourism Program is our latest adoption.
Statewide college internship program.
Diversity and other training for managers and employees on a
continuing basis.
Development of an affirmative employment plan.
Increased community input into the Conservation diversity
committee working group, by including a policy review
committee composed of legislators, community members and
educators.
Future Plans
n
n
n
n
Continue developing statewide and regional recruiting.
Enlarge partnerships with elementary, junior high and high
schools through our Adopt-a-School/Community program;
increase awareness in urban school districts of careers in
conservation, and provide a link to outdoor recreational
opportunities available in the state of Alabama.
Working to develop a long-range mentoring community based
program for minority youths to provide hands on water safety,
firearms training, archery, and fishing skills, and provide outdoor
recreational opportunities for these youth to participate with
mentors. Three sections of the state have already started these
programs.
Enlarge our college internship program to include most fouryear
schools in Alabama where logistically possible.
n
n
Maintain our commitment to the student aide program.
Continuing the natural resources law enforcement training
program to include instructors from Alabama State University,
Auburn University Montgomery, Alabama A&M University, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Region IV, U.S. Treasure Department’s
ATF Division, and instructors from the Department of
Conservation’s five operating divisions.
Information
and Education
The Information and Education Section (I&E) provides a variety of
creative services for the Department. These include print media such
as Outdoor Alabama magazine for paid subscribers; news releases
distributed to media outlets; brochures for various Department
programs; Web and special video productions; and a weekly outdoors
column on the Department’s website, outdooralabama.com.
Educational services include K-12 conservation education curricula
and teacher training programs; in-school conservation programs; and
outdoor classroom assistance and certification in cooperation with
the Alabama Wildlife Federation. Last year 544 educators completed
in-service workshops offered by the Department.
Outreach services include two Becoming an Outdoors Woman
weekend workshops a year, coordination of the Outdoor Alabama
Expo, and exhibiting at various events.
In addition, I&E provided public relations and publishing
consultation as well as editorial, proofreading, and copy writing
service for departmental staff; responded to information requests
from the public, media and other agencies; drafted documents for
Department administrators and the Governor’s office; coordinated
special projects; and acted as liaison to the Governor’s Press Office.
Facilities and Personnel
Twelve positions are allocated to I&E and most were filled during
FY 2009-2010: one Public Information Manager who served as
section chief and editor; one Public Information Manager who wrote
a weekly outdoors column for the website and print media; one
Public Information Specialist who served as a staff writer and media
liaison; one Photographer II who served as staff photographer and a
graphic artist; one Artist-Illustrator II who served as graphic artist; one
10
ALDCNR 09-10 Annual Report