The 2022 Director Workshop Series was held at the Westmoreland Conservation District on February 24, at the Clinton County Conservation District on March 3, and virtually on March 9. Forty-seven attendees participated in the workshops on staff retention, the employee lifecycle, and post-Covid policies. In addition, the Building for Tomorrow website posted video and slides from the March 9 virtual workshop. 

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Mark your calendars for the 2022 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference July 20-21 in Harrisburg, PA. PACD activities will take place in person with the option to attend the July 21 PACD Executive Council meeting virtually. Conservation district directors, associate directors, staff, and agency partners won’t want to miss this first statewide PACD meeting in over two years. Catch up with old friends and make some new ones in Harrisburg this July! Look for additional information, including facility information, registration, and a draft agenda, in May.

It’s time to RSVP for your spring region meeting! All meetings will be held in person, with the option to attend virtually. Please click on your region meeting below for RSVP information and other details.

Topics will include a potential statewide invasive species program organized by PACD region, a legislative update, and a proposed three-year PACD dues schedule.

 

March 24, 2022 | 9:30-Noon

PACD South East Region Meeting

Montgomery County 4-H Center, Collegeville, PA (virtual option is also available)

 

March 25, 2022 | 10:00 am-Noon

PACD North East Region Meeting

Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville, PA (virtual option is also available)

 

March 31, 2022 | 10:00 am-Noon

PACD North Central Region Meeting

Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA (virtual option is also available)

 

April 8, 2022 | 10:00 am-Noon

PACD South Central Region Meeting

Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA (virtual option is also available)

 

April 21, 2022 | 10:00 am-Noon

PACD South West Region Meeting

Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA (virtual option is also available)

 

April 27, 2022 | 10:00 am-Noon

PACD North West Region Meeting

Tionesta Church of God, Tionesta, PA (Forest County) (virtual option is also available)

The Wayne Conservation District held a workshop through PACD’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts. The district educated STEM teachers on soil health and nonpoint source pollution. The event was held at a local farm that utilizes a lot of the practices that were taught. A rainfall simulator was also used to demonstrate how soil reacts to rainfall.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Conservation district directors, associate directors, managers, and partners–there’s still time to register for the March 9 Virtual Director Workshop: Staff Retention, the Employee Life Cycle, and Post-Covid Policies. The workshop presentation includes three parts:

• Part 1 will begin at 9:30 a.m. with an overview of workforce trends and data from the January 2022 Conservation District Staff Retention survey.
• Part 2, from 10:00 a.m. – Noon, will examine shifting attitudes and generations in the workplace, the employee life cycle, and the role of performance management concepts in a successful retention strategy.
• We will break for lunch at noon and reconvene for “virtual” networking starting at 12:40 p.m.
• Part 3, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., will include a report and group discussion exercises focusing on retention strategy priorities identified at the 2021 Summit conference and in the 2022 Staff Retention survey.

Districts are encouraged to host watch parties for their board members; please contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for more information.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

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.

PACD North West Region Director and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Director Cliff Lane represented Pennsylvania recently. Cliff attended the NACD annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, from February 12-16, 2022.

Click here to read more about the annual meeting.  

Do you know a staff person or director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty?

A legislator who champions conservation legislation? A Pennsylvania resident or Pennsylvania-based organization you would like to recognize for their contributions in support of environmental recreation? Consider nominating them for a PACD award!

The categories are:

•      Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award

•      Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

•      Legislator Leadership Award

•      Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Click here for more information. Contact Diane Young at dyoung@pacd.org or 717-794-6109 with any questions.

During the 2022 Building for Tomorrow Staff Conference, PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell recognized conservation district staff with exceptionally high achievement in the Clean Water Academy. 

The following individuals were recognized for the most courses completed:

1. Jake Kennedy – PACD (previously interned at Armstrong Conservation District)
2. Brianna Osborne – Warren
3. Taylor Lawrence – Berks
4. Brady Byers – Franklin
5. Adam Seitz – Lancaster
6. Steve Beach – Blair
7. Hank Bradish – Westmoreland
8. Christina Anders – Adams
9. Keith Stetsko – Allegheny
10. Dave Taylor – Wyoming

The Secretary also recognized the following districts for having the highest number of completed courses:

1. Lancaster
2. Washington
3. Wyoming
4. Allegheny
5. Berks
6. Beaver
7. Armstrong
8. Blair
9. York
10. Chester

Conservation district staff with the most courses completed will receive a signed certificate from Secretary McDonnell.

Conservation District Video Awards Announced

The 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference was held February 16 and 17 at the Wyndham Garden State College and streaming via Zoom. Over 180 virtual and in-person attendees participated in sessions on dealing with difficult people, managing stress, and public opinions on conservation work, as well as breakout sessions on working with rural landowners, cybersecurity, grant management, and outreach challenges.

The conference also included recognition for training achievement in Clean Water Academy (see the article below) and the 2nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards.

The videos awarded are:

1st place high score and winner of the General Public category:

• NatureWorks Park Riparian Buffer – Blair County Conservation District

2nd place high score and winner of the Landowner/Homeowner category:

• The Homeowners Guide to Stormwater – Introduction: 3 Steps to Managing Stormwater – Westmoreland Conservation District

K-12 Educational Category winner:

• From Seed to Market – Wayne County Conservation District

3rd place overall runner-up:

• ICCD: Get to Know Us – Indiana County Conservation District

All finalist entries are posted on the Building for Tomorrow website.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.