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PACD President Steps Down
Drew Gilchrist flourished in his term as President
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 | | Drew Gilchrsit visited Berks County Conservation District in January. Pictured are (left to right): Front row: Leonard Good (Associate Director) , Piper Sherburne (Chairperson), Lori Sandman (Associate Director), Ross Stowell (Associate Director) , Glenn Seidel (Vice Chair), Mark Wolfskill (Treasurer). Back row: Larry Kehl (Farmer Director), Drew Gilchrist, Brian Boyer (Public Director), Commissioner Christian Leinbach, Bruce Latshaw (Associate Director). |
As of Feb. 8, 2013, Drew Gilchrist stepped down as PACD President for personal reasons. For the past six months, Drew has traveled the state, meeting with conservation district directors, associate directors and staff. He led the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting with momentum and ease. In his time as President, Drew has also participated in an abandoned mine drainage tour Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties and represented PACD at the Canon Envirothon. And these are just some of his outreach highlights as PACD President. "The energy that Drew created, traveling the state and listening to district concerns, is admirable. In a short six-month term, he dug right in to the role of President and worked extremely hard. He will be missed," said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director.
On February 8, PACD 1st Vice President Jack Tressler assumed the role of President. Glenn Seidel moved from 2nd Vice President to 1st Vice President. The 2nd Vice President office will remain vacant until an election can be held at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in July.
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Conservation Districts Respond to Budget Cuts: Districts Need Funding Restored
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 On February 5, Governor Tom Corbett announced his proposed FY 2013-14 state budget to members of the legislature. Part of his budget includes a 100 percent decrease in general fund line-item funding to the state's 66 conservation districts through the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.
Now is the time to act by personally contacting your legislators! But remember it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Please contact PACD for all the 2013 spring legislative program materials. These will help you more effectively communicate with your legislators
Please let PACD know what contacts you are making and what responses you receive. Contact PACD at pacd@pacd.org or 717-238-7223.
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Meet Randi Tyler - New PACD Conservation Technician
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 Randi Tyler is PACD's newest employee! She was hired for the conservation technician position in the Clarion Office. Randi graduated from Clarion University in May 2012 with a M.S. degree in Biology with a concentration in environmental science. Her prior experience includes serving as an intern for the PA Department of Environmental Protection and also as a volunteer intern assisting Elk County Conservation District with a water monitoring system.
In her spare time, Randi enjoys being outdoors with activities such as hunting, fishing and kayaking. She also enjoys serving her community as a volunteer fire fighter.
Many conservation district representatives met Randi at the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting. She can be reached at randi-tyler@pacd.org.
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NACD Elects New President, 2013 Leadership Team
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 The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced its new Officer Team for the years 2013-2014. Earl Garber of Basile, LA (pictured) was elected as the 2013 NACD President, replacing outgoing President Gene Schmidt, whose two-year term ended this year.
Other officers include:
- First Vice President - Lee McDaniel of Darlington, MD
- Second Vice President - Brent Van Dyke of Hobbs, NM
- Secretary/Treasurer - Dick Went of Scituate, RI
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Environment of a Healthy Horse Calendars have Arrived!
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The "Environment of a Healthy Horse" 2013-2014 Calendar has arrived. This calendar is designed to provide horse enthusiasts basic information, such as:
- Tips to keep horses healthy
- Tips to improve pasture
- Tips for proper manure handling
- Explanation of the environmental regulations that cover horses
- Tips for hay selection
- Coat management
- And much, much more.
These calendars will assist your district with educational outreach for the equine community.
In each month, you will find "Hazards to the Health of a Horse" and "Steps to a Healthy Horse" along with:
- Potential environmental pollutants and damage, or potential toxic and/or hazardous consequences to horses
- Health tips and preventative care suggestions
- Actions that should be taken by horse owners to protect the environment, or to preserve the surroundings where horses live.
Photographic examples of undesirable manure or pasture management are sprinkled throughout the calendar. These are countered by photographic examples of proper management and desirable results.
The 2013-2014 calendar is available from the Lancaster and Blair County Conservation Districts, and DEP Field Reps. Contact Shelly Dehoff at 717-880-0848 or shelly.dehoff@gmail.com to request copies and arrange mailing, delivery or pick-up details.
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Grants Available for Abandoned Mine, Watershed Restoration, Greenways Projects
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 The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for grants under the Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund Programs covering abandoned mine drainage abatement and treatment, watershed restoration and protection, water quality data, greenways, trails and recreation and orphan and abandoned well plugging programs.
Applications are due July 31 and will be considered at the CFA's November 13 meeting. Click here for more information.
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Susquehanna Greenway Grants Workshop
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 Learn about grants for greenways, parks, trails, river access and conservation at the free workshop being taking place Feb. 19 from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Degenstein Community Library in Sunbury, PA. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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Online Survey to Gauge Opinion about Pennsylvania's Water Resources
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 Pennsylvanians can express their opinions about the state's water resources by filling out a brief online survey conducted by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and several partner agencies.
Researchers are interested in learning what residents believe about the current status of the Keystone State's water and how they think funding and other resources should be prioritized to best protect and manage water resources. The five-minute survey can be completed online before February 28 at www.surveymonkey.com/s/PaWater. A summary of results will be published this spring on the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center website.
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Save the Date: PA Watersheds Conference April 5 & 6
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 The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds announced the PA Watersheds Conference will be April 5-6 at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College. Is your group struggling to keep its volunteers invigorated and engaged? Do you find it hard to get your message across to the community and your local legislators? Do you want to be active within your community, but don't know how to ACT: Advocate, Communicate, Transform? Learn solutions to these challenges at the PA Watersheds Conference.
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