Laserfiche WebLink
<br />n00983 <br /> <br />VoluntaIy Adaptation <br /> <br />The ability of an organization to voluntariJy adapt its performance in order to <br /> <br />successfully meet changing needs of its constituents and of society will depend on the <br /> <br /> <br />institutional capacity for the organization to change. This will depend upon two factors: (1) <br /> <br />the members' and Board's ability to deal with internal and external issues; and (2) the context <br /> <br />and language of individual enabling legislation. Internal issues include the changing role of the <br /> <br />district board and the changing trustee relationship between the board and its usf:rs. External <br /> <br />issues include the ability to address environmental and economic impacts and to deal with <br /> <br />pressures to trade, <br /> <br />Capacity of board members to adequately address future issues <br /> <br />Some concern was raised with respect to the ability of water boards to have the <br /> <br />prerequisite resources to address the future political, t~hnical, and ecOnomic issues they are <br />I <br /> <br />likely to encounter, The group felt it would be helpful to assist districts to look at the broader <br /> <br />picture of western water resources as they tend to be narrow iD focUs. It was felt that the <br /> <br />incorporation of these considerations would augment their ability to govern. Traditionally, <br /> <br />boards of irrigations districts are part-time members with primarily farming backgrounds, This <br /> <br />type of background was historically well-suited for developing supplies and expanding irrigation <br /> <br />systems. To the extent these boards today get involved in activities such as voluntary trading, it <br /> <br />may be difficult for them to develop the expertise necessary to make informed decisions on <br /> <br />these types of market issues. For some forms of organizations, one solution may be to simply <br /> <br /> <br />establish an ageJ;lCY ~at will provide technical aSsiStan~. <br /> <br />5 <br />