Recent news coverage of sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement has left many wondering what they can do to ensure that their organizations are prepared to handle these kinds of issues when they arise.

In addition to matters of legal compliance and liability, understanding how to prevent workplace harassment and discrimination is important in maintaining a respectful organizational culture that allows all team members to thrive professionally. District organizational culture can affect staff recruitment, retention, and team cohesiveness, as well as community and partner relations. Effective policies are a crucial requirement for harassment-free workplaces, but focusing on the board’s role in communicating and modeling respect and appreciation for diversity is also vitally important for your district.

Respect in the Workplace, our 2019 Building for Tomorrow Director Training Program, features an interactive workshop facilitated by Mary Kay Williams of MindShift Consulting.

The program will include topics such as:

• Understanding workplace diversity and inclusion issues
• Defining discrimination & harassment
• “What if” scenarios
• Effective policy & training authorization documents
• Steps to create awareness and lessen liability

All conservation district directors and associate directors are encouraged to attend. These sessions are free of charge and lunch will be provided.

Please click on one of the following links to register (all workshops are 10am – 3pm):

Tuesday, March 5 – Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, Wilkes-Barre
Wednesday, March 6 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
Wednesday, March 13 – Cross Creek Resort, Titusville
Thursday, March 14 – West Meeting Center, West Elizabeth
Thursday, March 21 – Woodcrest Retreat Center, Ephrata

Help us spread the word and please encourage your fellow directors to participate. Contact Matt Miller with questions.

Thank you to all the PA Farm Show volunteers for giving their time to promote the work conservation districts are doing throughout the state!

The following districts staffed the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show:

• Berks
• Chester
• Cumberland
• Franklin
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• Schuylkill
• Union

January 18 is the last day to pre-register for the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting. On-site registration will be available at the conference on a space-available basis, but why wait? Click here for more information or to register.

The 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 5–12, 2019 in Harrisburg and will honor agriculture’s rich heritage and promising future with this year’s theme, Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story. Visit the Conservation District booth (co-located with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) in the GIANT Exposition Hall.

Click here to read more about the event.

On December 18, 2018, PACD held a holiday open house at the new office location in Harrisburg. Over 25 people stopped by to tour the new office and share holiday cheer. Special thanks to our members and partners who stopped by to see us: Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and External Affairs Director Katie Hetherington Cunfer; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Denise Coleman and Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships Susan Marquart; State Conservation Commission’s Executive Secretary Karl Brown and Executive Assistant Barb Buckingham; Cumberland County Conservation District Manager Carl Goshorn; Berks County Conservation District Manager Dean Druckenmiller; and Dauphin County Conservation District Manager Eric Naguski.

On March 19th, PACD hosted a breakout session at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Spring Conference titled, “Conservation Districts and You.” The meeting was held in Harrisburg, PA.

The session educated attendees on what conservation districts do at the local level to protect natural resources. Speakers included: Carl Goshorn, District Manager, Cumberland County Conservation District; Cliff Lane, Commissioner, McKean County; Dave Rupert, District Manager, Armstrong County Conservation District; Brenda Shambaugh, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts; and Chris Strohmaier, Managing Director, Chester County Conservation District.

 

 

The Clean Water Farm Award Program recognizes Pennsylvania farmers whose exemplary farm management practices result in improved local and downstream water quality. Pennsylvania’s conservation districts may submit a nomination for a farm in their county. One award will be given in each of PACD’s six regions. Each district that submits a complete nomination will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 pizza party for their office! Deadline: April 30, 2017. Click here for more information. 

Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.).

 

Conservation District, PA Department of Environmental Protection, and Penn State Extension staff are encouraged to attend this one day workshop to gain a good understanding of the Manure Management Manual and learn techniques for training others on how to use the manual. Tips and techniques on conducting manure manual workshops for producers will also be presented.

This year’s workshops will be held at the following locations:

• January 17, 2017 – Huntingdon County Extension Office, 10722 Fairground Road, Suite 6, Huntingdon, PA 16652. Registration will close on January 9, 2016. Click here to register.
• January 31, 2017 – Lysock View Complex, 542 Country Farm Road, Montoursville, PA Registration will close on January 23, 2016. Click here to register. 

Registration for both events will open at 8:30 am. Instruction will begin at 9:00 am, ending at 3:30 pm. The workshop is free. Lunch and morning break are provided. Please direct any questions to tfisher@pacd.org.

Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant and the Clean Water Fund.

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Submitted by Allegheny County Conservation District Staff from Allegheny Conservation District organized a team building challenge at Go Ape Treetop Adventure in North Park. Eighteen staff from Allegheny, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Conservation Districts participated in the event. Go Ape is an exhilarating journey through the forest canopy on suspended obstacles including aerial crossings, Tarzan swings, and 5 zip lines. Team members provided support and encouragement to each other as they completed each obstacle while getting to know some of their neighboring conservation district counterparts a little better. The course took just over two hours to complete and was certainly a unique and challenging experience for all. It offered an incredible, extraordinary, view of North Park and certainly tested our strength and nerves, especially those of us who are uncomfortable with heights! Thanks to all who participated and made it a great outing!