At the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) on July 20, 2023, the Association elected a new slate of officers. Among them was Cambria County Conservation District Chairman Dennis Beck, who was elected President.

Previously, Beck served as the Association’s First Vice President and Second Vice President.

The 2023 PACD officers elected are as follows:

• President: Dennis Beck, Cambria County Conservation District
• 1st Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland Conservation District
• 2nd Vice President: Kelly Stagen, Pike County Conservation District
• NACD Director: Ron Rohall, Westmoreland Conservation District

Executive Board Members not up for election and continuing to serve their terms:

• Secretary: Charles Duritsa, Westmoreland Conservation District
• Treasurer & Interim South Central Region Director: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District
• North Central Region Director: Dr. Robert Shannon, Centre County Conservation District
• North West Region Director & NACD North East Region Representative: Cliff Lane, McKean County Conservation District
• North East Region Director: Thomas Herbert, Luzerne Conservation District
• South East Region Director: Piper Sherburne, Berks County Conservation District
• South West Region Director: Vacant

 

Registration is open for the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference July 19-20, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey Area) in Grantville, PA. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with fellow conservation district staff, board members, and agency partners in conservation.

Registration is open to conservation district directors, associate directors, district staff, partner agency staff, and invited guests. Click here to register and for more information. 

PACD committees will meet virtually in June and July prior to the conference. Committee registration is free and each committee requires separate registration. Please email the listed contact to request a registration link.

June 27, 2023 | 10-11 AM
PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

June 29, 2023 | 10-11 AM
PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

July 6, 2023 | 10-11 AM
PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference
Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.

July 12, 2023 | 1:30-2:30 PM
PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.

July 13, 2023 | 10-11 AM
PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference
Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.

July 14, 2023 | 1:30-2:30 PM
PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

April 23-29, 2023, is “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold conference calls and meetings with legislators. Resources such as letters, a press release, and social media images are available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week.

Conservation District Week materials are available here. 

April 23-29, 2023, will be “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold conference calls and meetings with legislators. Resources such as letters, a press release, and social media images are available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week.

Conservation District Week materials are available here. 

As the Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in the North East Region, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

This position will: provide technical assistance to area partnership Growing Greener personnel and the NRCS in the planning, design, and construction of engineering practices; prepare designs of agricultural conservation practices and water quality best management practices (BMPs), which are site-specific and require coordination among various groups and individuals; and provide engineering assistance in conducting preliminary investigations.

Salary Range: $40,000 to $42,000. Benefits include health insurance, a 401k retirement plan, and accrued PTO leave.

Click here for the full job description. Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2023.

By Chris Grimsley, PACD Instructional Designer

I am a former teacher transitioning from a career in secondary and higher education into instructional design. I have served in many roles as an educator, including working as a classroom teacher, student support specialist, course designer, and researcher. I hold a B.S. in sociology, an M.A. in teaching, and a Ph.D. in philosophy. I completed my doctoral dissertation on the history and philosophy of science, focusing primarily on the social implications of new technologies like artificial intelligence.

In my capacity as an academic, I focused on communicating issues of philosophical significance within the sciences to both technical and non-technical audiences. I want to leverage my experience in education and science communication as I pivot to instructional design with a focus on conservation at PACD. My main responsibility is the Clean Water Academy. 

I enjoy camping and hiking, photography, motorcycling, computer programming, and playing guitar in my spare time.

I can be reached at cgrimsley@pacd.org.

Thanks to the conservation districts for submitting their 2022 highlights pages. The pages will be sent to all PA General Assembly members in early January.  

Click here to see what other districts have accomplished this year! 

The PACD instructional designer is responsible for developing self-guided eLearning hosted on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Learning Management System, the Clean Water Academy. Technical training on Erosion and Sediment Control and Dam Safety and Waterway Management is provided through the Clean Water Academy. This is a full-time, salaried position reporting to the Executive Director in the Harrisburg office.

Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to the PACD via email with the subject heading “Instructional Designer” to jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is November 11, 2022.

Click here for the full announcement. 

PACD recently hired Brittany Moore as a Conservation Technician in the Lebanon, PA Technical Center. Brittany graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biology and Animal Science. Brittany has a background in agricultural research and GIS and was the previous Agricultural Program Coordinator at the Schuylkill County Conservation District. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys kayaking, running, and hiking with her dog, Eleanor.

Brittany can be reached at bmoore@pacd.org.

The PACD Engineering Assistance Program, funded through the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Program and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides statewide engineering and soils technical assistance to entities developing or implementing a watershed assessment, watershed restoration plan, or watershed protection plan. Program staff are based out of four regional offices covering all Pennsylvania river basins.