On December 11, 2018, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Carlisle to attend the Cumberland County Conservation District board meeting. Brenda spoke to the board about the toolkit PACD is developing for project promotion, the new PACD office location, and how to get to know new legislators.

 

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, on September 25, 2018, for the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Executive Director Conference. The conference allows peers from across the country to compare notes and share their successes. In additional to networking and tours, the conference also addressed capacity building, board training, and a new training program for executive directors of state associations.

 

Snyder County Conservation District Manager Craig Bingman retired on August 3. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Snyder County in July for his retirement recognition.

Craig began his work with the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) under the title Executive Assistant on October 1, 1977. Craig was on the original Envir-Olympics board, came up with the name Envirothon, and helped coordinate the first state event in 1984 at Shaver’s Creek. Craig served on the PA Envirothon board for over 30 years, serving as chair for one year and vice-chair for the first National Envirothon at King’s Gap in 1988.

During the PACD Executive Council meeting on July 18, three officers were re-elected and two new officers were elected.

The 2018-19 slate of officers includes:

• President: Charles Duritsa, Westmoreland Conservation District
• 1st Vice President: Mike Price, Beaver County Conservation District
• 2nd Vice President: Donald Koontz, Mercer County Conservation District
• Secretary & NE Region Director: Kelly Stagen, Pike County Conservation District
• Treasurer: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District

Also during the Executive Council meeting, delegates voted to give the Executive Board the authority to sell the existing PACD office building and purchase a condo.

 

Representatives from the northeastern United States traveled to the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster for the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting. Conservation leaders from these states met for educational programs, tours, and networking.

“It is exiting to host a meeting that brings our counterparts from other northeastern states together. This week, we were able to showcase some of Pennsylvania’s conservation district projects via tours and educational sessions. Attendees learned about the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program which helps decrease pollution from unpaved roads and is unique to Pennsylvania. They visited a plain sect farm where they saw how the Lancaster County Conservation District helped the farmer control pollution. They participated in a stormwater tour by LandStudies, Inc. which shows work being done in our communities to reduce flooding. Finally, visitors had the opportunity to visit Stroud Water Research Center and learn about research they are conducting to ensure we have enough clean water for future generations,” said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director. “Our conservation districts work hard every day to make a difference in our communities.”

After saying goodbye to our collegues from other states, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) and the State Conservation Commission held their 71^th Joint Annual Conference. Several Pennsylvania conservationists were recognized at an awards luncheon on July 18.

The 2018 PACD honorees are as follows: 

• Legislator Leadership Award – Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (PA 30th District)
• President’s Award – Pat Sueck
• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award – Jay Snyder (Lancaster County)
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award – Renee Swineford (Snyder County)
• Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Program Awards

40 Years of Service

• Craig Bingman, Manager, Snyder County
• Years of Service
• Carl Goshorn, Manager, Cumberland County
• James Pillsbury, Hydraulic Engineer, Westmoreland County
• Tammie Robinson, Administrative Assistant, Indiana County
• Lorelle Steach, PA Envirothon Coordinator, Bedford County

Click here to read the entire press release and here to see photos from the event.

WorldView is proud to announce the release of the newest version of PracticeKeeper, a cloud-hosted land and water resource planning software platform, to all conservation districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The platform includes modules for tracking and reporting for data related to best management practices, conservation plans, nutrient management plans, watershed management, and complaints.

Features of PracticeKeeper include web-based mapping tools, reporting, and document management capabilities. PracticeKeeper is designed to provide standardization of data recording at the state level but also allows for flexibility at the district level to meet specific needs.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has also contracted with WorldView to build a new module that will be used to report Agricultural Initial Inspections. Work is currently underway on this new module, which will be released during the Fall of 2017. PA DEP and WorldView are also committed to making continual improvements and enhancements to PracticeKeeper as all district staff begin using the application and providing feedback.

PA DEP has contracted with WorldView to provide licenses to all conservation districts, so please contact Steve Taglang for more information about the necessary steps to access the application.

For more information about PracticeKeeper, visit www.worldviewsolutions.com or www.practicekeeper.com.

Long-time Adams County Conservation District Manager Larry Martick retired on May 5, 2017. Managers and other friends gathered to say farewell in Cumberland County on May 1, 2017. The gathering was held during a luncheon in Larry’s honor following the South Central Region Managers Meeting. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.

The Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives declared April 23-30, 2017 as “Conservation District Week.”

During Conservation District Week, offices across the state will hold events. These events will showcase the projects conservation districts work on every day that control pollution. PACD made fact sheets, a press release, and social media images available for conservation districts to use and share with their news outlets.

Click here to read the press release. 

On September 29, 2016, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and Westmoreland Conservation District Chairman Ronald Rohall traveled to State College to represent conservation districts before the Legislative Forestry Task Force. Their testimony spoke to the past, present, and future of the regulatory relationship between the state’s forestry industry, local governments, and county conservation districts. Click here to read the testimony.

PACD is pleased to welcome Adam Long, attorney with McNees Wallace & Nurick’s Labor & Employment Group, as a presenter for the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. Adam will join us on Thursday, July 28, from 11:00 am to Noon, to present on the new overtime rule, and provide other updates on employment law to the membership. Adam regularly provides advice and counseling to employers on a wide range of labor and employment law issues, including wage and hour compliance, employment discrimination, family and medical leave, labor relations, and non-competition agreements. He is familiar with conservation districts and has provided a number of well-regarded seminars on employment law for conservation districts through the Pennsylvania Leadership Development Committee. Interested in finding out more? Click here to register and learn more about the conference.