This year’s Pre-Con features workshops on executive skills and emotional intelligence for emerging leaders. The Summit program includes sessions on burnout, performance reviews, and change management, along with partner presentations, a TEDx screening, and opportunities to network and meet the new managers and DEP conservation district field representatives from across the state.

Reminders:

Spring Leadership Series webinars on Act 217 Conservation District Law, Other Applicable Laws, and a DEP & SCC Programs Overview are posted at Building for Tomorrow. These resources can be used for orientation (or review) for all new directors and staff.

Over 240 district staff and managers have already participated in the CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts Initiative, which has been extended through April 2024. Take advantage of this opportunity to discover your innate talent areas and to learn about your greatest potential to build strengths that can make you more effective in all areas of life. Visit Building for Tomorrow or contact PACD Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for more information and to get started on your CliftonStrengths learning journey.

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.

Video and slides from the June 7 webinar Act 217: Conservation District law are available at Building for Tomorrow.

There is still space and time to register for the remaining sessions in the 2023 Spring Leadership Webinar series.

Managers and district staff that are interested in participating in the 2023-24 CliftonStrengths Initiative can 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.

 

Tune in Wednesdays from May 31 through June 28 for a series of lunch & learn webinars open to all district personnel and partners. There is no cost to attend.

May 31, 2023 – Tech Roundtable
The Tech Roundtable series continues on May 31 with an opportunity for district staff to share, discuss, and learn about technology-related topics relevant to conservation district work.

June 7, 2023 – Act 217: Conservation District Law
On June 7, all board members and district personnel are encouraged to attend a refresher presentation that will review the history of conservation districts; PA Act 217; the powers of conservation districts; and the legal, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities of district boards.

June 14, 2023 – CliftonStrengths Wrap-up for Managers
A CliftonStrengths wrap-up for managers is scheduled for June 14, including a review of strengths-based management resources available through Gallup. It will provide managers that participated in the 2023 CliftonStrengths Staff Initiative an opportunity to share and discuss how they use CliftonStrengths with their teams.

June 21, 2023 – State Conservation Commission & PA Department of Environmental Protection Overview
All newly appointed board members and new district personnel are encouraged to attend orientation overviews of SCC and DEP programs for conservation districts on June 21.

June 28, 2023 – Applicable Laws for Conservation Districts
All newly appointed board members and other new district personnel are encouraged to attend this orientation overview of Applicable Laws and Policies for Conservation District Administration, including the Sunshine Law, Ethics Act, and Right to Know Law.

All Spring Leadership Webinars are scheduled for Noon – 1:00 p.m. Visit Building for Tomorrow 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.

 

Thank you to the nearly 200 district staff who participated in the 2023 CliftonStrengths Initiative, adding to the 40+ district managers who participated in 2022. Over 100 staff attended CliftonStrengths workshops held at PA State Parks in February and March, and plans are in the works for a second round of workshops for district teams beginning later in the Spring.

Employment Law for Conservation Districts reference material and video from the March 15 follow-up webinar is available at Building for Tomorrow and is highly recommended for all districts to review.

Save the Dates for 2023 Spring Leadership Webinar Series – Wednesdays 12:00 pm -1 pm from May 31 through June 28; Look for the agenda and registration opening 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.

Thanks again to the over 80 district directors, staff, and partners who participated in the 2023 Employment Law for Conservation Districts seminars. A follow-up webinar to address specific questions from the seminars was presented on March 15 by Adam Long. This session’s video and slides, along with reference material from the February seminar series, are now posted at Building for Tomorrow. 

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.

All district management staff and partners – mark your calendars for the 2023 Management Summit and Pre-Con, scheduled for September 12-14 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center State College. The draft agenda will be announced in June. Visit Building for Tomorrow for updates.

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.

Over 80 district personnel and partners attended the Employment Law for Conservation Districts seminar series on February 21 in Cranberry Township, February 22 in State College, and February 23 in Lehighton. The program was presented by Adam Long of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC and included an overview of policies and best practices for effectively and lawfully managing staff. A webinar to follow up on some of the questions discussed in these seminars is scheduled for March 15. Click here to register for the webinar. 

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 3rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards presentation was held on Thursday, February 16.

Clips from eight 2022 video submissions were screened, district staff discussed the production of their content, and awards were presented based on overall production, presentation, and messaging scoring.

The First Prize, and the coveted CONDIVA trophy, went to “Improving Driveways and Access Lanes,” submitted by Kylie Schultz of Westmoreland Conservation District.

Runners-up trophies were awarded to Berks, Chester, and Pike County Conservation District entries.

Video of the 3rd Annual CDVA presentation and links to the 2022 entries can be found on the Building for Tomorrow website. 

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.

All district personnel are invited to tune in via Zoom for the 3rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards next Thursday, February 16, from Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Only a handful of spaces are left for the Employment Law for Conservation Districts seminars February 21–23. Director and managers, don’t miss this valuable training opportunity – visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

Registration for the March 9 CliftonStrengths workshop at Keystone State Park is closed, and the rest are filling up quickly – any staff or managers interested in attending can visit Building for Tomorrow to register before February 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.

All district personnel and partners are welcome to join us on February 16 for the 3rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards. Tune in via Zoom from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. as we celebrate district-produced video content and find out who will win the coveted CONDIVA trophy for 2022.

Registration is still open for the 2023 Employment Law for Conservation Districts seminar series scheduled for February 21-23. Space is limited and filling up quickly, so directors, associate directors, and managers interested in attending should register as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this valuable training opportunity. Visit Building for Tomorrow to register and for more information.

Staff and managers participating in the CliftonStrengths 2023 Initiative should complete their assessments by February 3, and those planning to attend a team-building workshop should register by February 17. Visit Building for Tomorrow for registration 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.