From: https://midnightpoem.tumblr.com/post/37362306136

By Jann McNamara, PACD Administrative Assistant, jmcnamara@pacd.org

Before coming to PACD, I worked for five years with the Department of Agriculture providing administrative support to the Deputy Secretaries and the Legislative Director (which was PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh!). At the end of my career with the Department, I had the opportunity to work with the Bureau of Markets working with commodities and the Fair Fund Program.

On a personal note, except for a brief stint in San Antonio when my husband was in the Air Force, I have lived in the Harrisburg area. My husband Kevin and I have three children and we are officially “empty nesters” with our youngest starting his freshman year in college in August.

I am thrilled to be back working with Brenda and the rest of the awesome staff at PACD and look forward to helping the districts however I can with all the great work you do!

Editor’s Note: Jann joined PACD after former part-time Administrative Assistant Sandy Austin moved on to pursue full-time employment. We wish Sandy well and thank her for her six years of dedication to PACD.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Executive Directors’ Conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from August 29 to September 1, 2017. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Utah for the conference.

Topics included fundraising, marketing, and peer-to-peer training.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to network with other state association executive directors. While we do face some different issues, there are many that are the same all over the country. I am excited to bring back ideas that we can use in Pennsylvania,” said Shambaugh.

Click here to see NACD’s photos and here to read NACD’s article on the event (scroll to second item). 

 

PACD Executive Assistant & Meeting Planner Molly Burns recently attended the 2017 National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting, August 13-15 in Burlington, Vermont. When asked what she found most valuable, Molly said “Learning about districts in other states – our similarities and differences – is an eye-opening experience. I hope that our members all take advantage of having the regional meeting so close to home next year. There is so much we can learn from each other.”

During the meeting, Molly gained valuable contacts and hands-on information to help coordinate the 2018 NACD Northeast Regional Meeting, which will take place in combination with the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, July 15-18, 2018, at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster, PA.

Ag Progress Days at Penn State was held August 15-17, 2017. PACD organized a booth for conservation districts to speak with attendees.

Several volunteers made the booth possible: Ann Donovan (Centre), Eric Naguski (Dauphin), Eric Ernst (Union), Shanon Burkland Stamm (Union), Abbe Hamilton (Huntingdon), Pierce Wilson (Fayette), Joe Dietrick (Westmoreland), and Rob Shannon (Centre). Thank you for your time and for helping to make the booth a success!

During the PACD Executive Council meeting on Thursday, July 13, new officers were elected.

They are:

• President – Charles Duritsa
• 1^st Vice President – Mike Price
• 2^nd Vice President – Donald Koontz

Please welcome these board members to their new positions!

Attending the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, but didn’t sign up for the soil health tour? It’s not too late! Stop by conference registration to purchase your ticket. The tour will take place on July 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10/person which includes bus transportation, the tour, and bottled water.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Health Scientist Joe Kraft will demonstrate how the farm’s practices affect the soil as participants tour beautiful Hershey Farms. Owned and operated by Jim Hershey, President of the No-Till Alliance of Pennsylvania, the farm uses cover cropping, interseeding, and no-till methods to encourage and maintain soil health.

Click here for more information on the conference.

A new game show will debut during the hospitality suite at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference on July 12, 2017. PACD will present the “Newly Misled Game” where friends and colleagues will see how well they know each other!

Volunteers are still needed to participate in the game. Contact Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org if you are interested in joining the fun.

In addition to the game show, the hospitality suite will feature snacks and drinks from around the state. See you there!

The early-bird discount for the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference expires this Friday, June 16. That’s only five more days to take advantage of the $10 early-bird discount! The conference will take place July 12-13 at the Red Lion Hotel in Harrisburg, PA. Click here to register and find out more.

 

 

Help us mark the 70^th anniversary of the Joint Annual Conference July 12-13 at the Red Lion Harrisburg Hershey in Harrisburg, PA. With timely informational sessions and a soil health tour at beautiful Hershey Farms, you won’t want to miss this conference! The new conference location is outside of the city and easily accessible. Look for feature articles in upcoming issues of Front Page for more details about the tour and other conference activities. Click here to register, and for more information.