October Board Development Video: Right to Know Law

The monthly Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. The October 2025 installment provides a brief review of the Right to Know Law.

Where to Start with Strategic Planning?

The State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse expenses related to the development of a strategic plan, up to a maximum of $1,500, for the 2025-26 period. The Building for Tomorrow’s Strategic Planning Grants Program supports strategic planning by offering grants and support to districts engaged in strategic planning activities.

“Where do we start?” and “How much does it cost?” are common questions that districts considering strategic planning often ask. Join us on Wednesday, October 15, at Noon for Right-Sizing Your Strategic Planning Process, a webinar presented by Ryan Szuch, Founder & President of York-based Grow Conservation LLC. This webinar will present a toolkit with simple options for districts to evaluate when considering how to best invest their time and money to address priority challenges.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

The 2025 Management Summit was held September 16–18 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. Over 60 district managers, management staff, and partner staff attended. In addition to keynotes on managing uncertainty, understanding artificial intelligence, and communicating for influence, attendees participated in discussions on change management models, learned about audits and principles of accounting, and were updated on current legislative issues.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

The most common strategic planning questions at districts revolve around budgeting. This webinar will present a toolkit with simple options for districts to evaluate when considering how to best invest their time and money to address priority challenges. “Right-Sizing” Your Strategic Planning Process will be presented by Ryan Szuch, Founder & President of York-based Grow Conservation LLC, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from Noon to 12:45 p.m. 

Click here to register.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

The Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings.

In the September installment, we review the Pennsylvania Public Official & Employee Ethics Act and how it applies to Conservation Districts. Click here to watch the video.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

There’s still time to register for the 2025 Management Summit, September 16-18 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College.

PreCon Tuesday features an in-depth look at Leading through Transition & Uncertainty, followed by an interactive mini-workshop on Change Management & District Strategic Challenges. The Wednesday Summit program starts with a keynote presentation on Artificial Intelligence, followed by a manager-led discussion on AI at districts. Wednesday afternoon includes presentations on DEP Modernization and Financial Planning for Districts and wraps up with an informal manager panel. Summit concludes on Thursday with a training workshop on Communicating to Influence Decision Makers, followed by a working lunch featuring a PACD legislative update and discussion for managers.

All district management staff and partner agency staff are welcome to attend at no charge, but registration is required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

August Board Development Video: Nomination Process Timeline

The August installment of the monthly Board Development video series continues the focus on director nominations with a review of the nomination process timeline.  

Register Now for 2025 Management Summit

Registration is open for the 2025 Management Summit, September 16–18, at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. This year’s program features sessions on transition and change management, artificial intelligence, financial planning, and influencing decision-makers. All district management staff and partner staff are welcome to attend. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda, registration links, and room block information.

Apply for a 25-26 Strategic Planning Grant

Strategic Planning is an essential activity for conservation districts. Building for Tomorrow encourages districts to reevaluate and update their plans regularly and supports districts by offering grants to offset costs associated with strategic planning activities. The State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to $1,500 in expenses related to the development of a strategic plan for the 2056-26 program year. To be eligible for these funds, conservation districts must meet program requirements. Priority will be given to conservation districts that have not received a Strategic Planning Grant in the past five years. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information on the Strategic Planning Grants program, or contact Leadership Development Program Manager Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for information and assistance.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

 

Registration is open for the 2025 Management Summit, September 16–18, at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. The year’s program features sessions on transition and change management, artificial intelligence, financial planning, and influencing decision-makers. All district management staff and partner staff are welcome to attend. Visit Building for Tomorrow for the agenda and registration links.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Leadership Development is posting a monthly series of short videos in 2025 to share information, promote programming, and encourage discussion on board development topics. The July installment of the series includes information on the district director nominating process.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Registration is open for the 2025 Management Summit & PreCon, scheduled for September 16–18 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College.

This year’s program includes:

A PreCon day dedicated to helping emerging leaders navigate transition, uncertainty, and change
A Day 1 Keynote and Manager Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence
A Day 2 workshop on Communicating to Influence

Management Summit is open to all district managers, management staff, and partner staff. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for the Summit agenda, registration link, and room block information.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Leadership Development is posting a monthly series of short videos in 2025 to share information, promote programming, and encourage discussion on board development topics. The June installment of the series includes a discussion on voting abstentions, reasons for abstaining, and best practices for handling abstentions in your board meetings, as well as links to reference articles on parliamentary procedure.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.