2020 was a very productive year for conservation district video production, and this year’s events demonstrated the growing importance of video communications for district outreach. Producing quality video content involves all three ingredients that form the theme for our upcoming Virtual Staff Conference: Team, Tools, and Talent.

The conference closing session on Friday, February 12, 2021, will highlight this year’s best video content with the first annual Conservation District Video Awards. Districts are encouraged to submit their best work to compete for the coveted CONDIVA trophy.

Click here for rules and submission form – email to mmiller@pacd.org. The deadline to submit your videos is December 31, 2020.

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 foundation for a successful district is built on three components: Team, Tools, and Talent.

Building for Tomorrow’s 2021 Staff Conference February 8 -12 features a look at each of these ingredients with a whole week of online programming dedicated to helping conservation district staff reconnect, learn, and share.

The theme for opening day on Monday, February 8, is Team, featuring workshops on stress management during challenging times and the connections between personal beliefs and team cohesion.

Starting Tuesday, February 9, the focus shifts to Tools, with three days of interactive forum sessions for district staff to share information on topics including local media outreach, productivity and time management apps, drones, and video and meeting technology.

Our two-part Keynote presentation on Wednesday and Thursday is on Conflict Management for Conservation Workers, presented by Rita Coleman Graham, who draws on decades of environmental experience in her work as a consultant on conflict resolution.

The conference wraps up on Friday, February 12, by highlighting the Talent that went into sharing district work and projects in 2020 with the premiere of the CDVAs, our first annual Conservation District Video Awards show.

Click here for agenda and registration for the 2021 Virtual Staff Conference February 8-12, 2021.

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.

 

• Adaptive Strategies and Contingency Planning
  Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts workshop videos and materials from the October 20 and 27 sessions have been posted at Building for Tomorrow. Click here to view.  For those not able to attend, please review the separate workshop videos for managers and directors and plan on joining us for a combined Session 3 on Tuesday, November 17. Click here to register. 
• Strategic Planning Grants application deadline is November 20
  Reminder to Managers and Directors: Conservation districts interested in participating in the Strategic Planning Grants Program for 2020-21 must submit a Letter of Intent by November 20. Click here for more information and program requirements or contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller with questions.
• Save the Dates: 2021 Board Leadership Webinar Series
  Conservation District Directors – mark your calendars for Building for Tomorrow’s 2021 Board Leadership Webinar Series, scheduled for February 15, 16, 17, 23, and 24. Sessions will be held during the day and evening. Topics will include Ethics & Conflict of Interest, District Success Stories, Board Committees & Effective Governance, and Strategic Planning. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

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 first session in a three-part workshop series on Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning is scheduled this week for district managers. However, there’s still time for board members to register for Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning for Directors, scheduled for Tuesday, October 27 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. This workshop series is designed for both managers and boards to work separately on identifying issues and concerns and then to come together to determine priorities and strategies for implementing them. At least one board member from every district should plan on participating in the October 27 directors-only session, as well as a combined follow-up session on Tuesday, November 17, that will integrate information and insights from the previous two sessions. This series is facilitated by Deb Thompson of Strategy Solutions, who also presented a section of our New Director Orientation regional training workshops earlier this year.

Click here to register directly for the 10/27 Directors workshop.

Click here for more information on the Fall Leadership webinar series.

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.

Congratulations to Cambria, Cumberland, Lancaster, and Pike County Conservation Districts on the completion and approval of their new strategic plans in 2020. Strategic Planning Grants totaling over $4800 were awarded to reimburse 2019-2020 planning costs for these districts. For 2020-2021, the State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses (per district) related to developing a strategic plan. In order to be eligible for these funds, conservation districts must meet program requirements, and priority will be given to conservation districts that did not receive a strategic planning grant in the past five years.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for this year’s program is Friday, November 20. For information and resources, please visit the Strategic Planning Grants page at the Building for Tomorrow website or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator.

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.

Mark your calendars for Building for Tomorrow’s first Virtual Conservation District Staff Conference, scheduled for February 8–12, 2021. The week-long program will include interactive webinar workshops and round-table forum discussions on a variety of topics and tools relevant to current challenges faced by conservation district staff. Stay tuned for more information and a draft agenda coming soon.

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.

2020 has been a year of significant uncertainty, and being prepared to adapt quickly is imperative for all organizations in the “new normal.”  Contingency planning identifies potential crisis scenarios and proactively seeks to mitigate disruption by establishing timely, appropriate, and effective responses to emerging situations.  It is a process in which stakeholders work together to develop a shared agreement and understanding of the risks. This planning style helps establish a common set of principles and mechanisms that would guide organizational decisions during a potential crisis.

Starting in October, Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development offers a webinar workshop series on Adaptive Strategies and Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts.  Hosted by Deb Thompson of Strategy Solutions, this series will examine the lessons learned during the recent crisis and potential opportunities for the future as we identify issues, challenge assumptions, and develop action plans for possible future scenarios.

On Tuesday, October 20, Session 1: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Managers will define the parameters of contingency planning as they relate to technology, staff support, program operations, stakeholder advocacy, and fundraising. Managers will discuss the challenges and hazards they have faced during the pandemic and beyond and lessons learned. They will also discuss challenges yet to come and collectively develop an action list to increase awareness with their boards.

On Tuesday, October 27, Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Board Members will introduce the concept of scenario planning and examine the board’s role in helping staff work through a contingency planning exercise based on the discussion from Session 1. Session 3: Finalizing Scenario Plans: Identifying “Must Do” Strategies for Conservation Districts is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, and will allow Managers and Directors to work together in groups to identify top-priority strategies and share ideas and best practices for implementation.

Managers, please click here to register for the October 20 workshop. 

Directors, please click here to register for the October 27 workshop. 

All participants will receive an invitation to the November 17 combined workshop.  For more information, visit the Building for Tomorrow website or contact Matt Miller, mmiller@pacd.org Leadership Development Coordinator.

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 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership series in October and November. The series starts on Wednesday, October 14, with a session on the PA Environmental Rights Amendment presented by Meg Murphy, DEP Counsel for Special Projects. This webinar is open to all conservation district staff, board members, and partners.

Click Here to Register for the 10/14 webinar. 

A three-part workshop on Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts is scheduled for Tuesdays October 20, October 27, and November 17. Deb Thompson of Strategy Solutions will facilitate a manager workshop on October 20, followed by a director workshop on October 27, to examine contingency planning parameters as they relate to technology, staff support, program operations, stakeholder advocacy, and funding. Both managers and directors will meet together on November 17 to discuss issues identified and assumptions challenged from the previous workshops.

Click Here to Register for Session 1: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Managers – October 20 

Click Here to Register for Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Board Members – October 27 

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.

Strategic Planning is an essential activity for conservation districts. Building for Tomorrow encourages districts to reevaluate regularly and update their plans, and supports districts by offering grants to offset costs associated with strategic planning activities. For 2020-2021, the State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to developing a strategic plan. Priority will be given to conservation districts that did not receive a strategic planning grant in the past five years.

Please visit the Building for Tomorrow website for program eligibility requirements and strategic planning resources.

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.

In light of the ongoing restrictions on event size, Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development has scheduled a Fall 2020 webinar series that includes programming for both district staff and boards.

Wednesday October 14, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

PA Environmental Rights Amendment & Responsibility for Natural Resources

Presented by Margaret Murphy, DEP Counsel for Special Projects

Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, also known as the PA Environmental Rights Amendment, states, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.” This presentation will examine the background of the Environmental Rights Amendment and its significance to the work of Pennsylvania’s conservation districts and is open to all conservation district staff, board members, and partners.

Click Here to Register for 10/14 webinar. 

Tuesdays October 20, October 27, and November 17, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts

Presented by Deb Thompson, Strategy Solutions

Ongoing disruptions have demonstrated that contingency planning is more important now than ever before. This workshop series will examine the lessons learned and potential opportunities for the future. We will identify issues, challenge assumptions, and develop an action plan to engage boards in scenario planning.

Session 1: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Managers will define the parameters of contingency planning related to technology, staff support, program operations, stakeholder advocacy, and fundraising. Managers will discuss the challenges and hazards they have faced during the pandemic and beyond, as well as lessons learned and challenges yet to come. They will collectively develop an action list to increase awareness with their boards.

Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Board Members will introduce the concept of scenario planning and will examine the role of the board in helping staff work through a contingency planning exercise based on the discussion from Session 1.

Session 3: Finalizing Scenario Plans: Identifying “Must Do” Strategies for Conservation Districts will allow managers and directors to work together in groups to identify top-priority strategies and share ideas and best practices for implementation.

Click Here to Register for the 10/20 Manager Session. 

Click Here to Register for the 10/27 Director Session

All registrants will receive an invitation to Session 3 on 11/17.

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.