York Holds Legislative Breakfast

SHANNON — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:30:12 +0000

PACD Executive Director Robert Maiden (center) spoke about funding concerns during the York County Conservation District’s (YCCD) Legislative Breakfast on May 2. Also pictured are YCCD Chairman Jack Dehoff (left) and Representative Ron Miller.

Registration is Open for the 66th PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference

SHANNON — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:42 +0000

Executive Director for the PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), Joe Geiger, will present Public Participation and Legislative Effectiveness during the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference.

You won’t want to miss this year’s Joint Annual Conference. In fact, the conference has so much to offer that we can’t cover it all here, so this is the first in a series of articles highlighting conference sessions and activities.

Today’s highlight is our session on Public Participation and Legislative Effectiveness with Joe Geiger. As Executive Director for the PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), Joe Geiger has been instrumental in creating a high-impact membership organization which is responsible for advancing the entire community-benefit sector in Pennsylvania. An expert lobbyist, Geiger is also credited for the passage of Act 55, the Purely Public Charities Act of 1997, which created the Nonprofit Caucus, providing the sector a unified voice on key issues in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. Join us for his presentation on effective legislative tactics, policy, advocacy and local citizen engagement.

For more information about the conference, including registration information, click here.

Stay tuned for more highlights of conference sessions and activities. We look forward to seeing you in July!

Schuylkill Conservation District Completes Silver Creek AMD Trail Project

SHANNON — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:30:11 +0000

Stephen Silber of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps plants a rain garden. Photo by SCD.

The Schuylkill Conservation District (SCD) and the Schuylkill Headwaters Association constructed a walking trail to educate locals on abandoned mine drainage and stormwater issues. The trail surrounds the Silver Creek Acid Mine Drainage treatment system.

As part of the project, three rain gardens were installed along with eight educational signs.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Conservation Districts Receive Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants

SHANNON — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:30:04 +0000

More than 90 environmental education grants have been awarded to local schools, non-profits and conservation districts. Announced on Earth Day, the funds total $334,074 and will go toward programs such as summer camps, soil testing, professional development and watershed education. Several conservation districts were among this year’s awardees: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bucks, Cambria, Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Erie, Fulton, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Mercer, Pike, Snyder, Tioga and Westmoreland. Individual grants for the districts range from $1,700 to $5,600.

“The districts will be able to use this funding to conduct education and outreach efforts on topics ranging from stormwater management to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director. “We are grateful to the administration for these grants and for their continued support of environmental education.”

For more information, including a full listing of grantees, click here.