Submit Your Entries for the 3^rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards

Reminder to all districts who produced and shared video content this year – the deadline to submit your entries to the 2022 CDVAs is next Friday, December 31. Who will win the coveted CONDIVA trophy for 2022? Tune in to the 3^rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards on Thursday, February 16, to find out. In the meantime, please submit your videos for consideration. Click here for the submission form. 

2023 CliftonStrengths Initiative and Team-Building Workshops for Staff

Following the success of the 2022 CliftonStrengths for Managers initiative, Building for Tomorrow will be presenting a program in 2023 geared toward district staff. The two-part initiative begins this week with the CliftonStrengths assessment, an online exercise that identifies an individual’s unique talent themes and the greatest potential for building strengths. Participants will receive a report detailing their five signature themes, which serve as a starting point in discovering talents that can be productively applied to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. The assessment’s purpose is to facilitate development and growth, and it can be used as a springboard for discussion with managers, colleagues, and friends, and as a tool for self-awareness. Feedback about talents and strengths development can form the basis for further exploration to help individuals capitalize on their greatest talents and apply them to new challenges. Managers who previously indicated their district would participate will receive information for their staff this week. Individual staff at other districts can contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org directly to participate.

After taking the assessment, the staff is encouraged to attend one of the CliftonStrengths Team-Building Workshops. Participants will visit State Parks to participate in a half-day program that explores the role of talents and strengths and the development, integration, and applications of talents and strengths for success. 2023 CliftonStrengths Team-Building Workshops are open to all district staff; there is no fee to attend, but space is limited and registration is required. Workshops are scheduled for February 28 at Hickory Run State Park, March 2 at French Creek State Park, March 7 at Bald Eagle State Park, March 8 at Moraine State Park, March 9 at Keystone State Park, and March 14 at Lackawanna State Park. Staff participating in the CliftonStrengths assessment can 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.

 

Strategic Planning Grants Reminder

The deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent for the Strategic Planning Grants program is Friday, December 23. The program will reimburse up to $1500 in costs associated with strategic planning activities and may assist in facilitating the planning process. Visit Building for Tomorrow for program information and requirements, or contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org.

Building Blocks of Trust

In case you missed it, video and program materials for the 2022 Fall Leadership presentation Building Blocks of Trust, presented by River Network’s April Ingle, are posted at Building for Tomorrow. 

Register Now for 2023 Employment Law Seminars

Adam Long of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC will present a seminar on Employment Law for Conservation Districts on February 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, February 22 at the Ramada State College, and February 23 at Country Inn & Suites Lehighton-Jim Thorpe. The presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of practice and policy for lawfully and effectively managing conservation district staff. Topics will include hiring considerations and employment policies such as harassment training and policy, employee absences and leave, wage and employee classification, and best management practices for staff communication, confidentiality, conduct, and performance concerns. All conservation district managers, directors, and associate directors are encouraged to attend. Networking begins at 9:00 a.m. and seminars will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch is provided, and all attendees will receive a bound reference document to supplement the presentation. There is no fee to attend, but space is limited, and registration is required. 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.

 

All districts that produced and shared video or animated content in 2022 are encouraged to submit an entry for the 3^rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards. Videos will be scored on production, presentation, and messaging, and finalists will compete for the coveted CONDIVA trophy at the awards presentation on Thursday, February 16. Visit Building for Tomorrow for the submission form – entries must be received by December 31, 2022.

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 staff are invited to participate in the 2023 CliftonStrengths Initiative, which includes an online strengths assessment and a team-building workshop scheduled at a PA State Park. Stay tuned for coming announcements, but in the meantime, please mark your calendars for the workshop date closest to you:

• Tuesday, February 28 – Hickory Run State Park
• Thursday, March 2 – French Creek State Park
• Tuesday, March 7 – Bald Eagle State Park
• Wednesday, March 8 – Moraine State Park
• Thursday, March 9 – Keystone State Park
• Tuesday, March 14 – Lackawanna State Park

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.

 

Employment Law Seminars Announced for 2023

Adam Long of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC will present a series of seminars on Employment Law for Conservation Districts on February 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, February 22 at the Ramada State College, and February 23 at the Country Inn & Suites Lehighton-Jim Thorpe, with a follow-up webinar planned for March.

The presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of practice and policy for lawfully and effectively managing conservation district staff. Topics will include hiring considerations and employment policies such as harassment training and policy, employee absences, leave wage, employee classification, and best management practices for staff communication, confidentiality, conduct, and performance concerns.

All conservation district managers, directors, and associate directors are encouraged to attend. Seminars will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch is provided, and all attendees will receive a bound reference document to supplement the presentation. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information and to register. 

Apply Now for 2023 Strategic Planning Grants

The State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to $1,500 in expenses related to developing a district strategic plan for the 2022-23 program year. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for 2023 is December 23, 2022. Click here for information and program requirements, or contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org.

Submit Your 2022 Entry for the 3rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards

All districts that produced and shared video or animated content this year can submit entries for the 3^rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards, scheduled for February 16. Click here for the submission form. All entries must be received by December 31, 2022.

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.

It’s that time of year again – time to submit your videos for the 3^rd Annual Conservation District Video Awards! Who will win the coveted CONDIVA trophy this year? We’ll have to wait until February to find out, but in the meantime, all districts that have produced and shared video or animated content this year are encouraged to submit their entries by December 31, 2022. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Building Blocks of Trust webinar on November 16. Links to the presentation recording, a Building Blocks of Trust summary, and a full report with case studies are posted at Building for Tomorrow. 

Reminder: The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for the 2023 Strategic Planning Grants Program is December 23, 2022. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information, or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator mmiller@pacd.org

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 final session in our 2022 Fall Leadership Webinar Series. River Network’s April Ingle describes the Building Blocks of Trust as a constellation of foundational best practices to help cultivate and strengthen partnerships. Using case studies from several projects and partnerships involving PA’s conservation districts, this presentation will examine what is required to create these partnerships, the circumstances required for them to succeed and flourish, and ways that we can create more effective partnerships to protect our waters.

Register for Building Blocks of Trust, Wednesday, November 16, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

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 still open for the Fall Leadership Webinar Series. All directors, staff, and partners are encouraged to join us for a lunch & learn session on Wednesday, November 16, with River Network’s April Ingle. Continuing in the partner relations theme from Management Summit, the Building Blocks of Trust program will examine best practices for establishing and maintaining the trust-based partnerships critical to protecting our waters. The session will include examples involving partnerships with Pennsylvania’s conservation districts. Participants will learn what is required to create these partnerships, what circumstances are needed for them to succeed and flourish, and how we can use these lessons to catalyze even more vital partnerships for healthier waterways.

Register for Building Block of Trust, Wednesday, November 16, Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Strategic Planning Grants are available for 2023. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is December 23, 2022. Click here for program information and requirements or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator mmiller@pacd.org.

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 2022 Fall Leadership series starts November 2 with a Tech Roundtable on DIY video production for conservation districts. A CliftonStrengths for Managers Debrief meeting will be held on November 9, followed by a presentation on November 16 from River Network’s April Ingle on the Building Block of Trust. For more information and to register for these sessions, please visit Building for Tomorrow.

The 2022-23 Strategic Planning Grants program is accepting Letters of Intent through December 23. Visit Building for Tomorrow for program requirements and contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator mmiller@pacd.org  to discuss your district planning needs.

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.

Conservation Districts are encouraged to regularly reevaluate and update their strategic plans and Building for Tomorrow 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 a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to developing a strategic plan for the 2022-23 program year. Priority will be given to conservation districts that did not receive a strategic planning grant in the past five years—Visit Building for Tomorrow  for information on program requirements. Contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator, at mmiller@pacd.org with questions and to discuss planning facilitation and support needs.

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.