Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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Management Summit Concludes

Rita Graham facilitates a panel discussion on district-partner relations on September 14, 2022. (Pictured: Joe Buczynski, PA Department of Environmental Protection North East Regional Office Acting Regional Director; Dan Ludwig, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Resource Conservationist; Lisa Meade, PA Department of Environmental Protection North Central Regional Office Local Government Liaison; Laurel Rush, State Conservation Commission Nutrient Management Program Regional Coordinator; Kate Beats, PA Department of Environmental Protection Chesapeake Bay Program Specialist; and Bobby Hughes, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Executive Director.)

The 2022 Management Summit was held September 13-15, 2022, at the Wyndham Garden State College. The Tuesday Pre-Con was attended by 30 new assistant managers as well as partner staff. The total Summit attendance was 58. Summit attendees participated in group discussions on strengths-based management, partner relations, and program cost assessment and budgeting. 

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.

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Be A Better Manager – Attend The 2022 Management Summit

All management staff and aspiring managers are encouraged to register for the 2022 Summit and Pre-Con, September 13-15 at the Wyndham Garden State College.

This year’s Summit begins on Tuesday, September 13, with a dedicated Pre-Con meeting on Leadership Fundamentals, perfect for first-time and new managers, assistant managers, team leaders, and other staff who aspire to management roles. The Leadership Fundamentals workshops will focus on foundational interpersonal and self-leadership skills for managers and future managers. The morning session, presented by Jacqui Catrabone of Erie-based Strategy Solutions Inc., will look at team roles and dynamics and will examine the concepts of engagement and empowerment and their role in healthy organizational culture. Jonathan Cleck of Greencastle Consulting Associates of West Chester will present the afternoon session focusing on the roles of self-awareness and regulation, trust and vulnerability, crucible moments, and resilience in developing high-performance leaders.

Strengths-Based Management is the theme of the Wednesday, September 14, Keynote workshop. This session will begin with an introduction using reports from the CliftonStrengths for Managers initiative; all registered attendees will be invited to participate in this assessment before the Summit. The workshop by Jonathan Cleck will guide participants in identifying and understanding their dominant and secondary talent themes. It will also examine ways to integrate their strengths with management roles and styles to improve performance, team cohesion, and problem-solving. The Wednesday afternoon session features an interactive workshop and panel discussion on Partner Relations and Communications, facilitated by Rita Coleman-Graham. Participants will explore aspects of working collaboratively and communicating effectively with various district partners and will interact with partner panelists on improving communication and interactions by understanding shared goals, expectations, and roles.

The Summit wraps up on Thursday, September 15, with a manager networking TEDx screening, a facilitated group discussion on Budgeting, Assessing Program Costs, and Other Financial Questions, and a Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership presentation.

The deadline for registration is September 2 – visit Building for Tomorrow for Pre-Con and Summit registration links and event agenda.

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.

 

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2022 Management Summit Features Leadership Fundamentals, Manager Strengths, Partner Relations

All management staff are encouraged to register for the 2022 Management Summit, September 13-15 at the Wyndham Conference Center State College. This year’s conference features a dedicated Pre-Con meeting on Tuesday, September 13, that will examine fundamentals of team management and personal leadership development and is suitable for all new and first-time managers, assistant managers, team leads, and other aspiring management staff. In addition, summit attendees will be invited to participate in the CliftonStrengths for Managers assessment. The focus topics for Wednesday, September 14, include strengths-based management and partner relations, with two interactive workshops and a facilitated panel discussion. Thursday, September 15, will include a group discussion on program cost assessment and other budget issues, along with a presentation from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information to register for the 2022 Pre-Con and Management Summit.

The deadline for reservations from the Wyndham room block is Friday, August 12 – please see the event registration pages for room reservation instructions.

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.

 

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District Management Staff: Register Now for 2022 Summit Conference

Registration is open for the 2022 Management Summit Conference, scheduled for September 13–15, 2022, at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center in Boalsburg. This year’s event starts with a Pre-Con meeting on Leadership Fundamentals on Tuesday, September 13. It is suitable for all new and first-time managers, assistant managers and team leaders, and any other staff aspiring to management roles in their districts. The traditional two-day Summit meeting on Wednesday, September 14, and Thursday, September 15, features sessions on strengths-based management, partner relations, and financial topics, including budgeting and program cost assessment.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for Summit Conference 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.

 

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Deep Dives for Directors Presentations Available Online

Directors and district personnel are encouraged to watch the Deep Dives for Directors webinar sessions from June 2 (SCC programs) and June 15 (DEP programs) on the Building for Tomorrow website. Click here for links to videos and presentation materials.

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.

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June Deep Dives for Directors to Focus on SCC, DEP Programs

All Conservation District Directors and Associate Directors are encouraged to register for the Deep Dives for Director’s webinars on Thursday, June 2, and Wednesday, June 15. These sessions will pick up where the 2020 New Director Orientation program left off in discussing the roles and responsibilities of boards in relation to partner programs and delegation agreements and are intended to provide in-depth background for newly-appointed directors or as a review for all board members. Both sessions will be recorded and posted online, and district managers are also encouraged to host watch parties for their board members. 

Register for Deep Dives for Directors: SCC & DGLVR Programs – Thursday, June 2, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM 

Register for Deep Dives for Directors: DEP Programs – Wednesday, June 15, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM 

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.

 

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Register Now for Spring Leadership Webinar Series

The 2022 Spring Leadership Webinar Series has something for almost everyone. On June 1, our quarterly tech roundtable meeting will focus on video production and include a panel of finalists from the 2021 Conservation District Video Awards (CDVA). Deep Dives for Directors sessions on June 2 and June 15 will provide a detailed overview of SCC and DEP programs for newly-appointed directors and an opportunity for all board members to ask questions about partner programs in their districts. Finally, on June 8, district managers and management staff can learn more about the Clifton Strengths for Managers assessment and discuss possibilities for utilizing strengths-based management tools. 

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.

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Register Now for the 2022 Spring Leadership Webinar Series

The Building for Tomorrow 2022 Spring Leadership Webinar Series is scheduled for early June and includes lunch & learn opportunities for all district personnel. 

The first meeting in our Quarterly Tech Roundtable series for staff to share, discuss, and learn about technology-related topics relevant to conservation district work is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1. This session will focus on video production for conservation districts. It will feature a panel discussion with 2021 Video Awards finalists to examine how production technique and messaging contribute to effective video content.

Deep Dives for Directors presentations provide an in-depth orientation for newly appointed directors and an opportunity for all directors to review and learn more about their districts’ partner programs. Part 1 on Thursday, June 2, will focus on SCC and DGLVR programs, presented by Johan Berger and Roy Richardson. Part 2 on Wednesday, June 15, will focus on DEP programs, presented by Karen Books, Jaci Kerstetter, and Linda Mackey.

On Wednesday, June 8, all district managers and management staff are encouraged to attend an Introduction to Clifton Strengths for Managers, including an overview of the Clifton Strengths for Managers assessment tool, associated resources for managers, and Summit activities that will utilize these reports.

Visit Building for Tomorrow to register for Spring Leadership Series webinars.

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.

 

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Leadership Development Updates

Video and materials from the 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference have been uploaded and posted at Building for Tomorrow.

District managers and other management staff should mark their calendars for the 2022 Management Summit Conference, scheduled September 13–15 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. This year’s expanded event includes a dedicated pre-conference meeting on September 13 to focus on leadership fundamentals for new managers and management staff, in addition to the traditional two-day Summit, which will include topics for all managers and management staff on identifying and leveraging management strengths, staff retention, assessing true program costs, and partner relations. Stay tuned for a registration announcement and draft agenda in June.

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.

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Director Workshop Series Concludes

Mary Kay Williams presents to directors at Westmoreland Conservation District on February 24, 2022.

The 2022 Director Workshop Series was held at the Westmoreland Conservation District on February 24, at the Clinton County Conservation District on March 3, and virtually on March 9. Forty-seven attendees participated in the workshops on staff retention, the employee lifecycle, and post-Covid policies. In addition, the Building for Tomorrow website posted video and slides from the March 9 virtual workshop. 

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.

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