This year’s series features include sessions on financial issues, website accessibility, and insurance gaps. All sessions are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., and all district managers, staff, directors, and partners are welcome to participate.

Financial Issues in Conservation District Management – Wednesday, November 15. 

Following up on the 2023 Management Summit breakout, Kevin Stouffer of SEK will present and answer questions on audits, grant management, and internal controls. DEP, SCC, and PACD staff will also discuss topics such as fundraisers and donations, ACAP requirements, and more.

Tech Roundtable: Website Accessibility – Wednesday, November 29

This session will provide an overview of website accessibility standards, ADA requirements, and potential issues for districts. Group discussion will follow a demonstration of accessibility evaluation tools.

Identifying Gaps in Insurance Coverage – Wednesday December 13

Are there gaps in your district’s property or liability coverage? This session will include insights from insurance professionals, district board members, and management on the process of determining whether all of your district activities are covered under your current policies.

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.

Reminder to districts considering strategic planning: the Strategic Planning Grants Program is accepting letters of intent for 2024, and planning support is also available for interested districts. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.

A brief 2024 Staff Workshop options survey was sent out last week to all district staff listservs. All district staff are requested to complete this survey by Friday, October 13.

All district staff and managers who have yet to participate in the CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts initiative are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. The CliftonStrengths assessment is an online tool that helps individuals identify, understand, and maximize their strengths. It can empower confidence, improve performance, and support growth and development in all personal and professional life aspects. The CliftonStrengths initiative aims to help district staff discover their talent areas, identify where the greatest potential for building strengths exists, and examine how individual strengths contribute to team performance and organizational culture. Staff interested in beginning their CliftonStrengths learning journey can visit Building for Tomorrow or contact Matt Miller mmiller@pacd.org Leadership Development Program Manager for more information.

Lastly, mark your calendars for the 4^th Annual Conservation District Video Awards at noon on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Tune in to find out which districts will win the coveted CONDIVA trophy for 2023!

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

The 2023 Management Summit was held September 12-14, 2023, at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center, Boalsburg, PA.

The Tuesday pre-con was attended by 38 new managers and partner staff. The total Summit attendance was 64. Summit attendees participated in sessions on resilience, burnout, leadership derailers, performance reviews, change management, maximizing total compensation, and financial topics.

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.

Last Chance to Register for Management Summit & Pre-Con

Management staff can still register for the 2023 Management Summit & Pre-Con September 12-14 at the Wyndham Garden State College. The registration deadline is this Friday, September 1. Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

2024 Strategic Planning Funding and Support Available for Districts

Districts considering updating or creating new strategic plans can apply for a 2024 Strategic Planning Grant. Visit Building for Tomorrow or contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at 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.

Attention all district management staff – the deadline for making a reservation from the Summit room block is this Friday, August 11. Attendees who plan to reserve a room should contact the Wyndham Garden State College directly at 814-466-2255 and provide Summit group code 091123MAN to receive the discounted rate. The 2023 Summit features a dedicated day for emerging leaders and a varied conference program for all district managers, visit Building for Tomorrow for more information and 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.

Registration is open for the 2023 Management Summit and Pre-Con, September 12-14 at the Wyndham Conference Center State College.  For the third year in a row, the conference features a Tuesday Pre-Con meeting dedicated to new and first-time managers, assistant managers, team leaders and other management-aspiring district staff.  This year’s Pre-Con program for emerging leaders features a morning workshop focusing on executive & supervisory skills and an afternoon workshop focusing on emotional intelligence.  

Wednesday’s Summit keynote, presented by Sarah Colantonio of Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC will examine the connections between stress, burnout, and emotional intelligence and their effects on organizational culture and leadership.  The Summit program also features breakouts on financial topics and strengths-based performance reviews, a workshop session on Change Management & Maximizing Total Compensation, partner presentations, and an opportunity to meet the new district management staff and new CDFRs.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information and to register.   Please note that the deadline for making a reservation from the Summit room block is August 11 – attendees should contact the Wyndham Garden State College directly at 814-466-2255 and provide Summit group code: 091123MAN

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.

 

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.