Team Charter

The purpose of this Charter is:

• To describe the mission, goals, and objectives of the Team, and

• To recognize the roles and responsibilities of the agency’s Sustainability Team members, the Team’s Executive Sponsor, and Ecology Management in regards to interactions with the Team.

The mission of the Ecology Sustainability Team is to guide the activities of the agency towards results that will achieve the agency's goal of "Sustainable Communities and Natural Resources."

GOALS

• To refine and mainstream the concept of sustainability to management, staff, other agencies, and citizens of the state by providing leadership, training, education, and networking opportunities.

• To work with Agency management to integrate the Principles of Sustainability into Ecology policies, decisions and activities.

• Build internal understanding and competency by sponsoring opportunities for dialogue and education on sustainability.

• Build institutional framework to enable sustainable decisions and help implement the agency’s Sustainability Plan

• Pursue windows of opportunity to contribute a sustainability perspective to ongoing Ecology projects.

ORGANIZATION

 Meetings

The Sustainability Team can decide the frequency and duration of regular Team meetings.  Currently, the Team meets on the Fourth Tuesday of each month, from 9:00 - 12:00.    Regular Team meetings are open to any interested staff.  Additional meetings are sometimes required when issues come up that demand the attention of the Team, or when additional planning or strategizing is necessary.  Select Team members may also meet at their discretion to accomplish tasks on the workplan. 

Structure

The Team consists of Team Members, Co-chairs, and an Executive Sponsor.

Executive Sponsor
The Deputy Director of the Agency or her designated Program Manager or Office Director will be the Executive Sponsor of the Team.  Executive Sponsorship will be a rotating position, with a term of 2 years, with the possibility of serving subsequent terms. 

 Co-Chairs
The Team is managed by co-chairs who help set the agenda, organize and facilitate Team meetings and keep the Team on track with the mission and workplan.  The co-chairs are selected by and from the team members. Ideally, they will be from two different programs.  The selected member will serve a term of 2 years with the possibility of being re-selected to subsequent terms.  The terms of the 2 co-chair positions will be staggered.

Team Members
Each Program Manager or Office Director shall appoint one representative to serve on the Team, with the goal of having each program represented.  Additional staff can apply for membership, subject to approval by their Program Manager and acceptance by a majority of team members. 

The Team wishes to limit membership to stay manageable and maintain consistency.  When a Team member can no longer consistently participate on the Team and contribute to Team projects, she or he will notify the co-chairs.  A replacement from that program (if not still represented) will be recruited. 

ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Sponsor:

• Represents the Team to Executive Management, including but not limited to EPMT meetings, and updates team on important developments.
• Presents the Management perspective on issues of interest to the Team.
• Participates in Team meetings to facilitate the exchange of perspectives between Management and the Team.
• Is available for consultation with Team Co-chairs.
• Works with other Program Managers to ensure staff participation on the Team.

Team Members:

• Work toward the goals and objectives of the Team.
• Agree to participate in Team meetings and contribute to advancing the understanding of sustainability concepts within their Program, and to others as opportunities arise.
• Contribute to the development of the workplan.  Individual members who agree to lead projects are responsible for reporting back to the Team on the project status.
• Contribute to the development of a yearly report which outlines the Teams’ progress and accomplishments.
• Keep the Team informed on issues within their program that would warrant input.  Each member is a link between their Program Manager and the Team.
• Will respond to management requests for sustainability perspectives on Agency decisions in a timely manner.
• Recognize that while comments relating to longterm sustainability will be considered, the Agency will balance that perspective with other considerations when making decisions. 

Ecology Management:

• Acknowledges that the Team has a role in ensuring that the agency meets its goal of supporting sustainable communities and natural resources. 
• Commits to provide opportunities to the Team to provide input into Agency direction on issues where there is value in developing a sustainability perspective. 
• Will seek to engage the Team at an early stage, and in a manner that allows for thoughtful development and consideration of the sustainability perspective, either through discussion with their program representative to the Team, the Team Co-Chairs, or the Executive Sponsor.
• Will offer feedback to the Team so that the Team continues to be of value to help integrate the Principles of Sustainability into Ecology policies, decisions  and activities