During the July 29, 2021, Executive Council meeting, three new officers were elected.
President: Kelly Stagen, Pike County
1st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria
2nd 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!
Conservation district staff and partners attended the PACD Executive Council Meeting on July 29. During the meeting, several individuals were recognized.
The 2021 honorees are:
Legislator Leadership Award
President’s Award
Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation
Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award
Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
Conservation District Trash Champion
Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards
30 Years of Service
35 Years of Service
Click here to read the entire press release.
PACD is pleased to announce the five state-level winners of the National Association of Conservation Districts 2021 “Healthy Forests Healthy Communities” poster contest.
The winners in each age category are:
K – 1st Grade: Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County
2nd – 3rd Grade: Riley Thomas, Cambria County
4th – 6th Grade: Brock Wharton, Cambria County
7th – 9th Grade: Evelyn Warner, Cambria County
10th – 12th Grade: Kathryn Polstra, Columbia County
To promote the importance of trees, students from kindergarten through twelfth grades entered posters conveying their thoughts and ideas through original artwork. Submissions were judged based on the entry’s conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal.
PACD thanks all of the participants in the contest for their interest and dedication to conservation. Best wishes to the state-level winners in the upcoming national judging competition.
For more information about the NACD poster contest, visit http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests.
Click here to read the press release.
The Westmoreland Conservation District has been working diligently to install best management practices and green infrastructure in the community. These projects, implemented with the help of local partners including local municipalities, school districts, watershed organizations, farmers, and the Westmoreland County Community College, have made great strides in preventing water and erosion issues.
To showcase the phenomenal work completed, the district created a BMP portfolio that highlights 45 of the many projects. The portfolio organizes the projects within four categories – watershed restoration; stormwater management; agriculture; and dirt, gravel, and low volume roads.
Click here to read the entire article and here for the BMP portfolio.
On July 16, 2021, Bradford County Conservation District (BCCD) held its 65th anniversary celebration at Mt. Pisgah State Park. PACD Director of Communications and Education Shannon Wehinger attended the event.
Visit the BCCD Facebook page for more photos of the event. Click here to read a press release.
Registration is open for the 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The webinars are open to all district personnel and partners. District directors and managers are especially encouraged to attend. This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management and a presentation on Environmental Justice. Registration is separate for each of these programs. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.
District managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit September 15-16 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. This year’s Summit focuses on staff development and retention with sessions on coaching and mentoring, employee lifecycle management, and employee policy in the post-COVID era. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda and registration.
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.
Conservation District managers from the South Central Region met at Raystown Lake on July 19, 2021. The managers were joined by PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and a few retired managers as well.
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.
Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff; partner agency staff; and invited guests are encouraged to register for the PACD Executive Council Video Conference, which will take place from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on July 29, 2021. With PACD committee meetings concluded, this will be the final event in the 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference video conference series.
Registration is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting, instructions to participate, and a phone number for anyone who needs to participate via conference call. To request a registration link, contact mburns@pacd.org.
Register today for the QuickBooks Training Webinar Series! PACD has partnered with SEK CPAs and Advisors to offer free QuickBooks training statewide to conservation districts. August 12 will feature basic training, September 9 will be an advanced training, and September 23 will focus on payroll. All webinars will be held 10:00 a.m.-Noon.
Click here for descriptions of each training and the registration links. Please get in touch with Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.