Summit Room Block Deadline is August 16

All district and partner management staff are invited to join us for the 2024 Management Summit on September 18 & 19 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. The deadline to make a reservation from the event room block is August 16. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for reservation information, event registration, and agenda.

Strategic Planning Grants

Building for Tomorrow is accepting Letters of Intent for 2024-25 Strategic Planning Grants. The program will reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to developing a strategic plan. Visit Building for Tomorrow for information and requirements.

CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts

The CliftonStrengths assessment identifies an individual’s unique set of talent areas. It provides participants with an opportunity to learn about how their talents form the foundations for strengths that can contribute to success and fulfillment in all areas of life. Nearly 350 district staff have participated in the CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts Initiative since its launch in 2022. Building for Tomorrow will continue to offer this valuable development tool to districts through April 2025. The initiative is open to all district personnel, including the individual assessment and team-building workshops for participating districts. Contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Program Manager, at mmiller@pacd.org for more information on getting started or to schedule a workshop for your district team.

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.

Management Summit Day 2 on Thursday, September 18, will feature an interactive workshop on Ethical Issues in the Workplace, presented by Mary Kay Williams of Mindshift Consulting. This session will examine the definition of ethics and how values, morals, and beliefs impact ethics in the workplace. A discussion of the Ethical Triangle concept and common behaviors associated with ethics violations will be informed by case studies and examples of real-life district scenarios. It will also include the importance of insightful questions in making ethical decisions.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda, registration, and important 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.

Managers understand that motivation sometimes requires some inspiration, and that applies to staff, board, volunteers, and all district stakeholders. This year we’re welcoming back Christopher Ridenhour to present the 2024 Management Summit Keynote on Inspired Leadership. This entertaining and interactive presentation will focus on bringing our “whole selves” to work, inspiring accountability and greatness, confronting challenges in sharing critical feedback, and mastering stressful conflicts. Summit Day 1 also features presentations on motivating and inspiring district volunteers and boards, as well as optional late-day networking activities.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda, registration, 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.

Registration is open for the 2024 Management Summit, Wednesday, September 18 through Thursday, September 19, at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center State College. This year’s Summit program includes a keynote on Inspired Leadership and sessions on Volunteer Engagement, Board Relations, and Ethics. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda and registration.

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 managers, management staff, and partners are invited to the 2024 Management Summit, which will be held from Wednesday, September 18, to Thursday, September 19, at the Wyndham Garden State College.

This year’s Summit program includes a keynote on Inspired Leadership and sessions on volunteer engagement, board relations, and ethics. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda and registration.

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.

Building for Tomorrow is hosting a dedicated training program exclusively for new conservation district managers in 2024. 2024 New Manager Training begins in September, starting with Summit PreCon on Tuesday, September 17, and continuing through both days of the 2024 Management Summit on Wednesday, September 18, and Thursday, September 19. The September portion of the training will wrap up with a PostCon meeting on Thursday, September 19, after the Summit program has concluded. The training will continue in October, with a full-day meeting in State College on Wednesday, October 23, focusing on management effectiveness and developing personal leadership skills. The program will conclude with a webinar series in October through December with dates to be determined. Please stay tuned for further announcements.

There is no charge for participation in the New Manager Training events, but registration is required. 2024 New Manager Training group members are eligible for reimbursement of one room night for both the September and October training. Visit Building for Tomorrow for training agenda and registration links, or contact Leadership Development Manager Matt Miller mmiller@pacd.org 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.

The CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts Initiative has been extended through April 2025. Thank you to the 300+ who have participated in the initiative so far!

Access codes for the CliftonStrengths online assessment and Top 5 Reports will continue to be available to staff at all districts. Participating managers will continue to have access to CliftonStrengths for Managers, including a Top 10 Report, and access to Gallup portal resources such as the individualized Manager Learning Journey self-guided curriculum and other learning models, articles, and advice. CliftonStrengths team-building workshops are also available for participating districts and are great opportunities for both staff and board development.

Contact LD Manager Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for more information on getting the most out of CliftonStrengths or to schedule a workshop for your district team.

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 Tioga County Conservation District (TCCD) held a Legislative Luncheon in Wellsboro, PA, on May 10, 2024. Senator Yaw’s office, Representative Owlett, the Tioga County Commissioners, PACD, the State Conservation Commission, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and the TCCD Board and staff were all represented.

The district highlighted its accomplishments from 2023, achieved through grant funding, partnerships, and the support of its legislators. The district concluded by looking forward to providing leadership, education, and technical assistance in 2024.

The 2024 Spring Leadership Webinar series will continue to focus on Board Development with a pair of lunch-and-learn webinars on two Wednesdays, May 29, and June 12. These webinars will cover the topics presented at the in-person regional Strategic Board Development Workshops, including SCC guidelines and requirements for both director nomination and approval of nominating organizations, the importance of board development in the district’s success, and the role of intentional outreach in recruitment strategy.

The sessions will also include a review of orientation, training, and development resources. All newly-appointed directors and new associate directors are encouraged to attend. 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 Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program offered two workshop series for directors and staff this spring.

Sixty-eight attendees representing 31 districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection participated in the 2024 Regional Director Workshop Series on Strategic Board Development. Attendees discussed strategic aspects of board culture and performance, the processes of director nomination and nominating organization approval, and the importance of intentional outreach for district boards.

Follow-up webinars for those who missed the workshops are scheduled for Wednesdays, May 29 and June 12. They will focus on the development needs of new directors and associate directors. Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

The 2024 Staff Training Initiative included five regional workshops on Emotional Intelligence facilitated by Sarah Colantonio of Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC. Attendees discussed aspects of emotional intelligence in the workplace and methods to reduce stress and improve well-being. A total of 95 staff from 30 districts attended the workshops.

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.