America’s Byways Resource Center Develops America’s Byways Peer Advisory Network (PAN) Pilot Program
PAN Program Description
Byway leaders have expressed a need and desire for a mentoring program. At the 2009 national conference in Denver, participants indicated during the Open Space Forum that experienced byway leaders from established organizations should help leaders from newly formed organizations or organizations that are rebuilding. The America’s Byways Peer Advisory Network (PAN) seeks to meet that need.
America’s Byways Resource Center has provided a number of peer-to-peer and networking opportunities and tools, such as the national conference, networking calls, the byways project database, an online library and Facebook dialog.
The PAN pilot project provides a more intensive assistance tool, similar to the technical assistance provided by Byways Specialists, but with information and mentoring from the standpoint of a day-to-day byway practitioner.
Peer Advisor Selection
Peer advisors provide America’s Byways organizations short-term consulting services based on their knowledge, skills and abilities. As peer advisors, byway practitioners use their years of experience leading byway organizations to assist client organizations by assessing their needs, helping them determine a course of action and helping them resolve to act. The purpose of the program is to be a peer-to-peer exchange and not a delivery of professional services.
Peer Advisor Criteria
America’s Byways Resource Center expects this cohort of peer advisors to represent the diversity of the America’s Byways collection. Peer advisor applicants are selected based on the following criteria:
- Substantial experience working with a byway organization as a director or volunteer in a leadership position.
- Evidence of engagement with the National Scenic Byway Program. Examples include: presented at a National Scenic Byway or State or regional byway conference as a presenter or panelist; contributed an article to an America’s Byways Resource Center publication; participated in an America’s Byways Resource Center webinar or teleconference as a presenter or panelist; or contributed a project to the Byways Project Database.
- Experience working with geographic diversity: regional, rural and urban, etc.
- Experience working with organizational diversity: small and large organizations. Examples include: nonprofit organization, citizen group, joint powers entity, tribal organization, government agency as lead, etc.
- Diversity of experience in areas such as organizational development, finances, corridor management and visitor experience.
With assistance from the Peer Advisor Training Program at the University of Massachusetts - Arts Extension Service (AES), the Resource Center has offered training to individuals to engage in short-term mentoring. The AES has been training peer advisors in the arts and heritage field for more than twenty years. The Peer Advisory Network offers byway practitioners an opportunity to strengthen the byway community.
Watch for more information about requesting PAN assistance.
