The PACD/SCC Winter Meeting was held in State College January 24-25. During the meeting, sessions were held on Growing Greener III, Farm Bill, Stormwater, and PACD’s On-Call Attorney program. During the Executive Council meeting, a motion was passed to strike the PACD Auxiliary from the Bylaws and a motion was passed to improve the efficiency of the PACD Policy Process. A 50/50 drawing was held with proceeds benefitting the Pennsylvania Envirothon.
Happy Holidays from the PACD Staff
Shambaugh Attends Blair County Conservation District’s 50th Anniversary
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the 50th anniversary banquet and board meeting of the Blair County Conservation District on October, 20, 2016. Pictured left to right are: Donna Fisher, District Manager; John Morrow, Director; Commissioner Terry Tomassetti; Jim Biddle, Secretary/Treasurer; Blaine Smith, Vice-Chair; Shambaugh; Gary Long, Director; Alan Gearhart, Director; and Chairman Harold Bailey.
Kelly Williams Wins Annual Watershed Specialist Photo Contest
The grand prize winning photo from this year’s annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Photo Contest (above) was submitted by Kelly Williams, Watershed Specialist for the Clearfield County Conservation District. The photo, which Kelly has titled “Reflections”, captures Kelly and her niece monitoring water quality at a treatment site for abandoned mine drainage. Photo used with permission.
Shambaugh Visits McKean County Conservation District
McKean County Conservation District (MCCD) directors and staff show Shambaugh the native plant and pollinator garden adjacent to their office building. The garden was funded by a Lumber Heritage Region grant. https://www.lumberheritage.org/grants1.htm Pictured from left to right are: Cliff Lane, County Commissioner and MCCD Board Director; Kerry Fetter, MCCD Board Chairman; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director; Bob Wright, MCCD Board Director; and Sandy Thompson, MCCD District Manager.
Meet PACD’s Newest Conservation Technician
Welcome our newest PACD Engineering Assistance Program technician, Phillip Wilson! Phillip works out of the Somerset Conservation District office, along with full-time engineer Eric Robertson and part-time technician Phil Gardner. His first day was September 26, 2016.
Phillip has a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a certificate in AutoCAD from the Somerset County Technology Center. He can be reached at pwilson@pacd.org. PACD Creates Conservation District Video
PACD recently created a video explaining conservation districts and the great work they accomplish on a daily basis. The video was created for districts to use to introduce new board members and the public to conservation districts. Please share the video with county commissioners, other elected legislators, and others who are unfamiliar with conservation districts. Click here to view the video.
PACD Executive Director Travels to Arkansas
Attendees of the NACD Executive Director Conference pose in front of the Arkansas River. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh is pictured in the middle row, second from the left.
- Strategic planning for state associations
- Partnerships – developing, maintaining and not competing
- New programs, projects and outreach efforts
- Arkansas programs and projects highlighted through a conservation tour and success stories
- State issues, funding sources, and much more
Presentations from PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Available Online
Presentations and handouts from last week’s PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference are available online, including:
- Odor Management and Manure Haulers and Brokers: Nuts and Bolts for Conservation Districts – Johan Berger and Frank Schneider, PA State Conservation Commission
- NACD: Working for Pennsylvania – Jeremy Peters, National Association of Conservation Districts
- Panel: Building District Boards – Dave Rupert, Armstrong; Mark Kimmel, York; Sally Corrigan, Pik
- The New Overtime Regulations and What They Mean for Districts – Adam Long, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC
PACD Executive Council Elects Slate of Officers, Passes Dues Structure
At the PACD Executive Council meeting on July 28, a slate of officers was elected. They are:
- President – Glenn Seidel (Berks)
- 1st Vice President – Donald Koontz (Mercer)
- 2nd Vice President – Charles Duritsa (Westmoreland)
- Secretary – Joseph Dietrick (Westmoreland)
- Treasurer – Kenneth Meck (Lancaster)