By Kay Dahlke - Special to the News Graphic

PORT WASHINGTON — It all started in 1991, when a grassroots group in Port Washington decided to protect a parcel of land along Sauk Creek.

“We envisioned the Sauk Creek environmental corridor as a sort of ‘central park’ as Port grew around this environment gem in the midst of our city,” said Joe Dean, who was serving on the Port Washington Parks and Recreation Board the time.

The group petitioned, fundraised and formulated the 501(c)(3) organization, Ozaukee Land Trust, in 1992, which was renamed Ozaukee Washington Land Trust when the group began adding Washington County community members and lands to the organization.

“The Sauk Creek project served as an early example of smart land preservation — promoting blanched growth and economic development — while protecting this unique and precious natural resource,” Dean, one of the organization’s founders, said.

The goal of Ozaukee Washington Land Trust is to amplify the appreciation and preservation of the area’s natural beauty; these land trusts, as they are called, are nonprofit, nongovernmental conservation organizations that, through partnerships with public and private landowners, actively work to protect natural resources for the benefit of all.

These community-based organizations are run by local people having a shared passion for preserving their communities’ natural heritage.

In 30 years, the OWLT has adopted more than 25 nature preserves and three partnership preserves — Highland Woods, Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve and Mequon Nature Preserve.

The trust conserves more than 7,000 acres throughout the two counties it calls home, with more than 2,000 privately held that have been made available to the public.

By Hannah Shaw, Rotary social and digital media specialist

Social media makes expanding your club’s reach easier than ever, but how? There are tips, tricks, and tools for creating content for social platforms, and the goal is simple: connection. A well-built social media presence will help you create connections in your community and beyond, from showcasing your club’s success to building awareness of its presence. To help boost your social media savvy, we’ve put together the following eight tips and tools:

Pick your platform. With so many social media platforms available, getting started can be intimidating. Choose one platform to focus on and grow from there. We recommend starting with Facebook, which has the largest user base.

Assign roles. The first step in creating content is capturing it. Assign a designated photographer to take pictures at club events and service projects. Additionally, pick a point person to manage your club’s social media posts.

Be consistent. Whether you post daily, weekly, or monthly, set a goal to share on social media regularly. Consistent posting helps cultivate followers. 

Take photos that tell a story. Opt for images that show action rather than just offering group shots. Show people getting their hands dirty, giving out supplies, or sharing a moment of laughter.

Lead with impact and encourage engagement. When planning an event, project, or fundraiser, think about how you’ll use social media to showcase it. Tell a story by identifying the problem, your solution, and its impact. Or consider what one thing you want someone to know after viewing your post.

Celebrate partnership and participation. Tag participants and community partners in your posts. Avoid Rotary jargon. Not everybody who reads your posts will be familiar with acronyms like PETS or RYLA. Remember that those engaging with your posts are prospective members!

Find inspiration. Examine the content you engage with on social media. What captures your attention and holds your interest? How can you apply that to content you create? Check out Rotary International’s profiles and posts for more inspiration (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).

Use the Brand Center. The Brand Center is your one-stop shop for logos, creative assets, guidelines, and more. Be sure to visit often as new materials are added for your use.

It’s the most important communication skill you were probably never taught

By Louis Greenstein

When you’re talking to someone, do you ever get the feeling that they’re busier looking for an opening in the conversation than listening to what’s being said? That if you were to stop and ask, “What was I just saying?” they’d give you a deer-in-the-headlights stare, maybe repeat a few words you spoke, but definitely fail a pop quiz on the content?

Most of us have learned some basics of public speaking: enunciate, make eye contact, repeat the most important points so they stick. But "we haven't had good teachers in terms of listening skills," says Jim Bolton, president of Ridge Training, a company that specializes in teaching communication skills to business leaders and trainers. Bolton makes a distinction between hearing and listening. True listening requires your full attention. You need to make an effort.

Failure to truly listen is a missed opportunity — not just to learn, but to deepen our rapport with others. When people feel heard and can speak without being criticized or interrupted, says Bolton, "they start to feel a deeper sense of relatedness. Even in professional relationships, it's knowing that someone has enough respect for you to set their own agenda aside and learn from you."

When you are actively listening, you get more information than you would otherwise — and not only because you're paying closer attention. "When you listen well, people share more," says Bolton. "People are more open because you are more receptive."

So how can we sharpen our active listening skills?