Registration is now open for the 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference, scheduled for February 16-17, 2022 at the Wyndham Garden State College AND streaming live via Zoom. This year’s conference features keynotes on Resilience, Stress & the Value of Humor, Dealing with Difficult People & Situations, and Public Attitudes on Conservation Work, as well as sessions on cybersecurity, grant management, outreach, working with rural landowners, and the 2^nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards.

Staff can register individually to attend in-person, and managers can register their districts for virtual access.  For more information, conference agenda, and registration, visit 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.

Building for Tomorrow is now accepting submissions for the 2^nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, February 16, at the 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference. Districts can submit videos produced this year to compete for the coveted CONDIVA trophy, which will be awarded to winners in three categories.

Click here for contest rules and the submission form. 

The deadline for entries is December 31, 2021.

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.

Directors and managers can still register for the Fall Leadership Webinar Series. Part 1 of Succession Planning Management is scheduled for this Wednesday, November 3, at Noon, with Part 2 on November 17. Environmental Justice & Conservation Leadership will be presented on November 10. Click here for more information and to register 

Reminder for districts interested in strategic planning: Letters of Intent for the Strategic Planning Grants program must be received by November 19. For more information, visit Building for Tomorrow or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator, at mmiller@pacd.org

The 2^nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards will be presented on Wednesday, February 16, at the 2022 Staff Conference. Stay tuned for an announcement and contest submission rules later this month.

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.

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Conservation District Staff Conference, scheduled for February 16-17 at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg. The conference will be a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting featuring interactive sessions on conflict management, resilience, and burnout prevention, and the 2nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

The Fall Leadership Webinar series begins on November 3, 2021, with Succession Planning Management Part 1, presented by Dennis Gilbert. The series continues on November 10 with Environmental Justice & Conservation Leadership, presented by Justin Dula, Regional Coordinator for the DEP Office of Environmental Justice. The series wraps up with succession Planning Management Part 2 on November 17. All district directors, associate directors, and managers are encouraged to participate. Click here 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.

Does your district have a succession plan? Vacancies in key positions can disrupt operations and cause significant extra workload and worries, but succession planning management can help alleviate the stress and uncertainty of dealing with vacancies, both planned and unplanned. This comprehensive two-part webinar will examine current workforce challenges, the true costs of a lack of preparedness, and actions you can take now to ensure smoother future transitions.

Note for those registered or planning to register for the Fall Leadership Webinar series: Succession Planning Management Part 1 (originally scheduled for October 27) will now be on Wednesday November 3 and Part 2 will be on Wednesday November 17.

District board members, associate directors, managers, and partners can still register for the Fall Leadership Webinar Series. For more information and to register, please visit 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.

Fall Leadership Webinar Series

Directors, managers, and interested district personnel and partners are encouraged to register for the Fall Leadership webinar series in October and November. This year’s Fall Leadership series includes presentations on succession planning and environmental justice. Click here for more information and to register.

Strategic Planning Grants

Reminder to districts considering strategic planning for the coming year – deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for the 2021-22 Strategic Planning Grants program is November 19. Click here for program requirements.

Management Summit Wrap-Up

The 2021 Management Summit was held last week in State College. This year’s event included a pre-conference meeting to wrap up the 2021 new manager hybrid training program. Fifteen new managers, assistant managers, and partners attended the pre-conference, with an additional four participating virtually.

Congratulations to the 2021 New Manager Training class, which included Nathan Brophy (Northumberland), Dion Campbell (Northampton), James Coslo (Centre), Ellen Enslin (Pike), Kevin Frederick (Lehigh), Kristina Heaney (Monroe), Holly Laird (Armstrong), Matthew Long (Lycoming), Jeff Hill (York), Jeff Pflug (Beaver), Carrie Richmond (Sullivan), and Trevor Weaver (Mifflin).

The Summit was attended by 48 managers, assistant managers, and partner staff, with an additional seven participating virtually. This year’s program focused on staff development and retention, with keynotes on coaching, mentoring, performance management, and employee life cycle.

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 for managers and assistant managers to register for the 2021 Management Summit September 1-16 in State College. All attendees are strongly encouraged to mask and practice social distancing when possible. The deadline to register is this Friday, September 3.

Directors and all interested district personnel are encouraged to register for the 2021 Fall Leadership webinar series. This year’s series includes a two-part workshop on Succession Planning Management on October 27 and November 3 and a presentation on Conservation Leadership & Environmental Justice on November 10. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information and to register.

Letters of intent for the 2021-22 Strategic Planning Grants program are being accepted through November 19. If your district is considering updating its strategic plan, please click here for program information and requirements.

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 Strategic Planning Grants program for 2021-22 is accepting letters of intent through November 19. Interested districts should review the program requirements and submit a letter of intent by November 19.
• Managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit, September 15-16 in State College.
• Registration is open for the 2021 Fall Leadership webinar series in October and November. All conservation district personnel are welcome to attend these sessions.

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 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The webinars are open to all district personnel and partners. District directors and managers are especially encouraged to attend. This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management and a presentation on Environmental Justice. Registration is separate for each of these programs. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for more information. 

District managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit September 15-16 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. This year’s Summit focuses on staff development and retention with sessions on coaching and mentoring, employee lifecycle management, and employee policy in the post-COVID era. 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.

Mark your calendars for the 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for three Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The Fall Leadership webinar series is intended for directors and managers, but is open to all conservation district personnel and partners. Similar to last year’s series, webinars will begin at noon, and registration is separate for each – please stay tuned for further announcements.

This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management, presented by Dennis Gilbert, Appreciative Strategies LLC. Employee turnover, retirements, and labor force issues can cause stress and uncertainty for small organizations. Participants will learn about the importance of succession planning and the true costs of lack of preparedness.

Also presenting will be Justin Dula, Regional Coordinator, DEP Office of Environmental Justice. Building on last year’s PA Environmental Rights Amendment webinar, Justin’s presentation will examine the concept of environmental justice and the ways that disproportionate environmental impacts can affect conservation districts’ work in the communities they serve.

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.