|
|
PACD
Information
PACD Committee
Members Needed
PACD is seeking volunteers for the six PACD committees: Conservation,
District Employees, Education and Outreach, Legislative, Operations,
and Ways and Means. There are currently a number of vacancies, and some
terms will end on December 31. The PACD Executive Board will be appointing
new members in December, with new appointments effective January 1,
2009. To volunteer for a committee, simply complete a Committee Volunteer
Form and submit the form to PACD by November 14, 2008. Forms are available
on the PACD website (link below) and will be distributed during the
PACD Fall Region Meetings. For more information on a specific committee,
please go here and click on
the committee name.
Contact: molly-burns@pacd.org
Link: Committee Volunteer
Form
PACD South Central
Region Meeting Agenda is Set
Conservation District directors, associate directors, and staff
in the PACD South
Central Region are invited to attend its region meeting. During
the meeting there will be updates from PACD and the State Conservation
Commission, information about the new Open Records Law, information
on the amendments to the Conservation District Law, and an update from
the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Committee on the development
of a District Director Training website. The meeting will be held September
29, 2008 from 9:00am-2:30pm at the Franklin Conservation District Office
in Chambersburg, PA. To register, please call or email the Juniata County
Conservation District at (717) 436-8953, ext. 5 or juniataccd@juniataccd.org,
by Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Registration will be $8.00
per person (lunch included). Payment to the Franklin County Conservation
District can be submitted the day of the meeting.
Link: South Central Region
Meeting
PA Fair Share
for Clean Water Coalition: State Budget Leaves Behind Farmers, Nutrient
Credit Trading Bank Needed To Meet PA Clean Water Mandates
While the budget adopted by the state in July included major new funding
to improve wastewater infrastructure, it did little to address the needs
of farmers required to meet state and federal clean water mandates or
to create a Nutrient Credit Trading Bank that would lower the cost of
meeting the mandates, according to the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean
Water Coalition. Representatives of the Coalition, including the Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania
Builders Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Pennsylvania
Association of Conservation Districts, presented testimony last week
to the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee during a public
hearing on farm conservation funding needs at Ag Progress Days near
State College. Click on the link below for a video of Brenda Shambaugh's
testimony and a press release on the event.
Video: Fair
Share Video August 2008
Press Release: Fair Share Press
Release August 2008
Contact: brenda-shambaugh@pacd.org
PACD Testifies
Before House Agriculture Committee at Ag Progress Days
PACD testified before the House Agriculture Committee during Ag Progress
Days in State College expressing our concern over the amount of state
funding received by conservation districts. Conservation districts deliver
key farm and environmental programs at the local level, but have only
seen a one percent increase since 2005. As costs continue to escalate,
many conservation districts will be faced with the difficult decision
of which programs to reduce or discontinue in order to meet budgetary
constraints.
Link: http://www.pacd.org/fp/FairShareAug08.pdf
Contact: brenda-shambaugh@pacd.org
Conservation
District Marketing Strategy Update
The PACD's Marketing Consultant, Eric Eckl of Water Words that Work,
unveiled the much anticipated Marketing Conservation Plan on July 28
during the opening session of the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference.
Conservation district representatives learned how components of the
Plan will help their district become more recognized and better appreciated
by their target audiences. The Plan offers tools that help promote conservation
districts in a cohesive manner. Some elements of the Plan include establishing
a unified "look" among districts, developing a communications
calendar, creating exhibit and website templates, and maximizing advertising
opportunities. Short and long term Plan evaluation is also addressed.
A video of Eric's presentation will be available for viewing online
in the near future.
Link: http://www.pacd.org/about/committees/edoutreach/FinalMarketingPlan.pdf
Contact: kathleen-banski@pacd.org
Upcoming
Events
Save
the Dates for Free 2009 ACT Training
PACD is pleased to announce that it will again co- sponsor the annual
Agricultural Conservation Technical (ACT) Training program. The 2009
ACT Training sessions are free-of-charge to conservation district staff.
The ACT Training offers Agricultural Conservation Technicians, Nutrient
Management Technicians and Chesapeake Bay Technicians, NRCS field staff
and Watershed Specialists a blend of classroom and hands-on field learning
experiences. The ACT Basic "Boot Camp" Level I session will
be held April 13-17, 2009 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA. The
Level I training targets those who have less than one year of professional
experience or others who have one to three years of professional experience
but have not previously attended a Level I ACT training. The ACT Advanced
"Boot Camp" Level II session will be held at Fort Indiantown
Gap, May 4-8, 2009. Level II targets those who have completed the Level
I prerequisite and have not previously attended any Level II training
or have previously attended one track of Level II and are interested
in attending the other track. ACT application forms will be available
in early 2009.
Contact: lisa-suhr@pacd.org
All
Bay Meeting to Feature Roundtable Session
"I
would like to see more opportunities for discussion." The need
for more time for conservation district program staff to talk amongst
themselves was clearly indicated on last year's All Bay Meeting evaluation
forms. As a result, the 2008 All Bay Meeting will feature a special
session devoted to conservation district successes and challenges, including
funding issues. For example, tips on how to reach farmers who don't
receive money for implementation of best management practices will be
shared. The session format will involve small group roundtables. Pre-meeting
materials will be distributed to districts so that those who are attending
the All Bay Meeting come prepared to participate in the roundtable discussions.
For instance, "How do districts reach landowners regardless of
available cost-share?" In addition to the roundtable session, other
topics, including state and national program updates, will occur. The
All Bay Meeting is scheduled for December 9 from 9am to 3:45pm at the
Holiday Inn Grantville. Look for an agenda and registration information
in November. Funding for the annual All Bay Meeting is provided through
the PACD's Bay Education Office grant with the PA Department of Environmental
Protection's Chesapeake Bay Program.
Contact: kathleen-banski@pacd.org
Pervious
Concrete Certification Program & Pervious Concrete Demonstration
This seminar will provide attendees with an overview of the material,
design, and placement techniques required for installing pervious concrete.
Following an extensive instruction period, attendees will test for certification
as Pervious Concrete Technicians. The Pervious Concrete Certification
Program will be held September 10, 2008 in New Britain, PA. Cost is
$300. A pervious concrete demonstration will be held September 11, 2008
at Noon in New Britain, PA. There is no fee for the demonstration. RSVP
for either or both events by September 5, 2008.
Link: PACA
Concrete September 2008
Contact: Ken Crank, ken@pacaweb.org
Susquehanna
River Symposium 2008: The Susquehanna River and Agriculture
You are invited to the 3rd annual Susquehanna River Symposium from September
12-13, 2008 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. The goal of this
symposium is to bring farmers, scientists and the public together for
community-wide discussions about the complex environmental issues facing
agriculture and the Susquehanna River. The presentations and discussions
are designed to deepen our understanding, stimulate new insights, and
provide direction for the future. A fee of $10 will cover the symposium
materials, a picnic dinner featuring locally-produce foods will be held
on Friday evening. A luncheon will also be offered on Saturday. Pre-registration
is not required.
Link: http://www.pacd.org/FP/SRS08.pdf
Contact: Jess Scott, jess.p.scott@gmail.com
Grant
Opportunities
Grant
Writing Workshop Materials Available Online
The Grant Writing: The Fundamentals for Funders workshop held during
the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference this past July offered useful tips
and information for conservation districts. If you missed this training
opportunity, Denise Schlegel's presentation and handouts are now available
online. Download them today!
Link: Grant
Writing Presentation and Handouts
Chesapeake
Bay Stewardship Fund Seeking Requests for Pre-Proposals
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with EPA and
the Chesapeake Bay Program, will award grants on a competitive basis
of between $200,000 and $1 million each to support the demonstration
of innovative approaches to expand the collective knowledge about the
most cost effective and sustainable approaches to dramatically reduce
or eliminate nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and
its tributaries. A total of up to $12.9 million will be awarded through
this solicitation. Online Applications Must be Completed by Friday,
October 31, 2008.
Link:
http://www.pacd.org/FP/CBRFP.pdf
Contact:
Noel Soto at 717-237-2173 or noel.soto@pa.usda.gov
Other
Information
Request a District
Visit from the Leadership Development Committee
The SCC has approved the funding for the "District Visits"
for the 10th year through the Leadership Development Committee. This
year there is also a "Self Assessment" tool for your District's
consideration. Since both time and number of slots is limited, please
contact Mike Lovegreen by the end of October if you are interested.
It'll be a first come first served basis with priority for those Districts
that have not participated in a Visit previously.
Link: District Visit Overview
Link: District Self-Assessment
Tool
Link: District Visit
Request Form
Contact: Mike Lovegreen, Mike.Lovegreen@pa.nacdnet.net
The Private Side
of Grantmakers: Tips and Tactics
Denise S. Schlegel, Alutiiq LLC, who led the Grant Writing Training
for watershed specialists and environmental educators during the PACD/SCC
Joint Annual Conference in July, offers these tips for selecting potential
funders, conducting research, and contacting the potential funder.
Link: Grant Writing Tips
August 2008
State Water Plan
to Hold Public Meetings and Hearings In September
Six public meetings and hearings will be held throughout the state in
September to gather input on the state water plan. The plan presents
water use data, water resources conservation and protection recommendations
and facts and data portraying various water resource perspectives.
Link: http://www.pacd.org/FP/Statewaterplan.pdf
Contact: Leslie Sarvis, lsarvis@state.pa.us
|
