The Exeter NROC program started with the Dealing with Growth in Exeter presentation in May, 2002. Over the course of the next few months, Exeter-NROC participants identified goals, and formed Action Groups to develop and implement specific actions to achieve their natural resources protection goals. These activities are described below. 

• Open Space Protection
  • Develop a public education and outreach strategy to build support for a bond for open space protection.
  • Protect up to 800 acres of open space (30% of Exeter's land area)

• Subsequently launched an open space committee (appointed by the selectboard) to take the work of the Special Place committee to the next level - to develop priorities for, and implement a land conservation program using the bonded funds. Between 2002 and 2005, Exeter achieved their initial land conservation goal of protecting at least 800 acres in town.

• Successfully passed a bond for $3 million in March, 2003 with support from 73% of the voters.

• Made several presentations, and held one-on-one discussions to educate citizen groups and key municipal decision makers about the issues. These efforts resulted in a strong public mandate for open space protection.

• Wrote a number of media articles to publicize the efforts of the Special Place committee, and to encourage citizens to show their support for bonding funds for open space protection.

• Researched and wrote a series of four newsletters to increase public awareness of open space issues in Exeter. These were mailed to all registered voters and town property owners in town. The newsletter topics were:
  1. Open Space Protection and Bonding Funds for Land Conservation
  2. The Arithmetic of Growth: How We Save With Open Space
  3. Questions and Answers
  4. Open Space Protects Our Water

• Researched and developed a brochure, Exeter, A Special Place - An Initiative to Preserve our Past and Protect our Future, describing the initiative's goal of protecting 800 acres of Exeter's significant natural resource areas.

• Developed and implemented a public education and outreach strategy to build support for a bond for open space protection, called Exeter, A Special Place.

• Attended the NROC workshop, Developing an Effective Education & Outreach Strategy.