Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show, April 24-27, 2022. Once again, there will be a conservation district booth at the show from Sunday, April 24, through Tuesday, April 26.

Please consider volunteering for a morning or afternoon shift at the conservation district booth. This is a valuable opportunity to promote the districts, explain the type of work they do, and reinforce existing relationships with local township officials.

We are currently seeking volunteers for the following shifts:

• Sunday, April 24:  Noon – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 25:  Noon – 4:00 p.m. (2nd shift)
• Tuesday, April 26:  7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

To volunteer, please contact Diane Young with PACD at dyoung@pacd.org.

April 10-16, 2022, will be “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold conference calls and meetings with legislators. In addition, resources such as letters, a press release, and social media messages will be available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week.

The PACD Executive Council Video Conference was held on January 27, 2022. In addition to PACD’s business meeting, several partners provided reports.

“While we were disappointed that we could not meet in person, we were happy to connect with each other over Zoom,” said PACD President Kelly Stagen. “We are grateful to PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn for joining us and for their continued support of conservation districts.”

Other key partners providing reports were PA Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Greg Hostetter, State Conservation Commission Executive Secretary Karl Brown, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships and RCPP Coordinator Susan Marquart.

The next PACD event will be the regional meetings in March and April. Click here for more information.

PACD created a public service announcement (PSA) to encourage citizens to reduce the use of salt and de-icers to prevent pollution. Please share!

Materials include:

• 74-second Video 
• 60-second Script 
• 30-second Script 
• 15-second Script

Click here to view the webpage of materials. Please share the PSA scripts with your local radio stations. In addition, conservation districts and partners are encouraged to share the video on their social media channels.

As the Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in the North West and South West Region in Clarion, PA, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

This position will: provide technical assistance to area NRCS partnership 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.

Click here for the full job description. In addition, candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. All application materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2021.

On September 17, 2021, PACD’s 4-person team traveled to York County for the 14th annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser benefitting the York County Envirothon.

Due to overwhelming interest, the York County Conservation District added a morning shoot in addition to the afternoon shoot. Congratulations to York County Conservation District for another successful event!

Dakota Welkom recently graduated from Cecil College in North East, Maryland, with a Biological and Environmental Science degree. Dakota was previously employed as a Mosquito-borne Disease Control Technician by the Northumberland County Conservation District. She grew up on her family farm with her four sisters in Columbia County. Dakota currently resides with her fiancé, Micah, their four hounds, and a variety of farm animals.

Welcome, Dakota!

At the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in July the Association elected a new slate of officers. Among them was Pike County Conservation District Director Kelly Stagen who was elected as President.

Previously, Stagen served as the First Vice President and Secretary of the Association. In addition to being President, she remains the alternate representative to the National Association of Conservation Districts.

“I am thankful for Pennsylvania’s conservation districts for electing me to represent their interests as their President,” said Kelly Stagen. “I look forward to moving the association forward and to supporting the important work of environmental education that districts provide across the state.”

The 2021 PACD officers are as follows: 

1^st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria County Conservation District
2^nd Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland Conservation District
Secretary: Charles Duritsa, Westmoreland Conservation District
Treasurer: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District

 

During the July 29, 2021, Executive Council meeting, three new officers were elected.

President: Kelly Stagen, Pike County

1^st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria

2^nd Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland

PACD Treasurer Sonia Wasco and Secretary Charles Duritsa continue to serve in their current positions. Outgoing President Mike Price was presented with a gavel plaque during the meeting. We thank Mike for his two years of leadership as PACD President!

The PACD staff in the Harrisburg office updated their phone system. With the new system, staff each got a direct line. The main number (717) 238-7223 will still work, but it will take callers to an automated menu to select the extension they want.

If you want to dial a staff person directly, please use these numbers:

Brenda Shambaugh – 717-794-6103

Amy Brown – 717-794-6104

Holly Miller – 717-794-6105

Nick Yeagy – 717-794-6106

Diane Young – 717-794-6109

Molly Burns – 717-794-6110

Matt Miller – 717-794-6111

Shannon Wehinger – 717-794-6112

If callers use the main number, staff can be reached at their three-digit extension, which is the last three numbers of their direct line. Brenda’s extension is x103; Matt’s is x111, etc.