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Conservation Districts in the News
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| Upcoming Events |
October 2, 2014
Franconia Heritage
Telford, PA
Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting
October 8-10, 2014
(October 8 is for new watershed specialists only)
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
PACD North East Region Meeting
October 17, 2014
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes-Barre, PA
PACD North Central Region Meeting
October 21, 2014
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA
PACD North West Region Meeting
October 22, 2014
Erie County Conservation District, Erie, PA
October 23, 2014
Beaver County Conservation District, Aliquippa, PA
October 27, 2014
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA
Annual 102-105 Meeting
October 28-30, 2014
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
Manure Management Manual Train-the-Trainer Workshop
October 31, 2014 (9am-3pm)
Columbia County Conservation District Office, Bloomsburg, PA
November 13, 2014 (9am-3pm)
Salsa's Mexican Grille, Bedford, PA PACD/SCC Winter Meeting February 10-11, 2015 Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting March 10, 2015 (snow date March 12) Elaine Langone Center, 2nd Floor, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Intro to Conservation Planning
March 17-19, 2015 Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA Basic/Refresher Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training March 23-26, 2015 Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 30-April 3, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) Advanced/Topic-Based Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training April 7-8, 2015 Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
April 20-24, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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 Did you know that your PACD region meeting is coming up in October? Attendees will review a proposed statewide policy regarding the distribution formula for districts with wells. After building consensus at the region meetings, PACD will send out the policy 60 days prior to the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting, where it will come before the membership for a vote at Executive Council.
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Maiden Visits all 66 Conservation Districts
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PACD Executive Director Robert Maiden (front) poses with the Crawford County Conservation District board and staff. The visit completed his goal of visiting all 66 conservation districts.
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Robert Maiden Executive Director of the PA Association of Conservation Districts has successfully visited all 66 conservation districts with his stop at Crawford County last week. Maiden has either attended a board meeting, an event, or been on a tour in every district and in many districts completed all three. This does not include the 12 yearly region meetings, or the two annual conferences that PACD hosts.
"Completing the goal of visiting all 66 districts was a team effort," said Maiden. "I want to thank my staff who supported me when I was on the road and continued working tirelessly to provide the many services to the membership at the same time."
Visiting all 66 districts was one of the first goals Robert Maiden set for himself once becoming Executive Director. One of the main purposes of this outreach was to build unity within the membership. Secondly, he wanted to ensure that PACD knew and understood each district and for each district to know and understand PACD.
Maiden added, "In order for PACD to continue to succeed, we must stay united. Over the last three years a majority of our success is due to this unity. We were once perceived as fragmented to the point that we could never agree on anything. We have proven that perception wrong. Districts have many core beliefs in common. In fact, many of our recent PACD statewide policies have all 66 districts unanimous support."
"One round completed, and the next round to begin," Maiden said of his travels. "I look forward to visiting your districts soon."
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Sessions at 2014 JAC Engaged, Encouraged and Energized
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The Communications, Public Relations & Marketing Tips Series
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Amy Kelchner speaks about Crisis Communications during the 2014 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. Her presentation and others are now available to view online.
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Did you miss Emilio Williams' presentation on Sustainable Partnerships and Inclusion?Did you miss out on the lively discussion during the Crisis Communications session with Amy Kelchner? Did you learn about Social Media: Manage or Be Managed By It! with Kathy Snavely? Thought you knew all you did about the Right to Know Law and didn't get a chance to speak with presenter George Spiess? Or did you make each of these sessions but learned so much that you want to review again and/or share with your colleagues?
Well now, you can! Thanks to Jamie Shairrick, with the Allegheny County Conservation District, each of these sessions was etched in history, via video, and we're happy to be able to share them as reference tools for each of you. Jamie, thank you for all of your work in covering each of these important sessions and then compiling the videos. We certainly appreciate all you do!
Everyone, please visit the ACCD PA Youtube channel to view each of these sessions.
Brandi & Shannon
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Clinton County Director Testifies on Soil Health in Washington DC
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by Lisa Blazure, Clinton County Conservation District
 | | Photo of Jim Harbach providing testimony to a Congressional Agricultural Sub Committee hearing courtesy of Clinton County Conservation District. |
Jim Harbach, Clinton County Conservation District Director, testified September 18 at a Congressional Agricultural Sub Committee hearing in Washington DC. Mr. Harbach was one of four panel members invited to speak about the benefits of promoting soil health in agriculture and rural America. NRCS Chief Jason Weller also testified at the hearing.
In regards to soil health, Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson commented, "These are important tools that will enable agriculture to produce the food necessary for an increasing population on less acres, while assisting farmers and ranchers in positive stewardship of the land."
Mr. Harbach has been a district director since 2008. He is a co-owner of Schrack Farms Partnership, a 1,000 cow dairy that farms about 2,200 acres in Sugar Valley, Clinton County. He is a staunch advocate of soil health management and his leadership has convinced the Clinton District to adopt soil health as one of their main agricultural program goals.
Click here for the full proceedings.To read about Schrack Farms Conservation Showcase click here.
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Conservation Districts Lend Support to Second Annual Dive Deeper Conference
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After a day filled with discussion about water resources and education, attendees gather for one final session to view a portion of the "Water Blues Green Solutions" documentary with Frank Christopher of PSU Public Media. Photo courtesy of PACD.
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On Thursday, September 25, nearly 100 individuals with interests in environmental education and water resources convened in Harrisburg for the Dive Deeper II - Youth Water Educator's Summit. Session topics included: Combat Communications for Conservationists; Understanding Drinking Water Sources, Abandoned Mine Drainage Curriculum; Helping Turtles in Your Watershed; and Community Connections to Our Watershed-High School Environmental Forum.
Eric Eckl of Water Words that Work, LLC provided the keynote address, discussing why the public says our work matters. The following conservation districts were on hand at this year's day-long event: Beaver, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron, Crawford, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe and Warren.
For more information about the conference, including how to get involved, contact PSU Extension's Jennifer Fetter at jrf21@psu.edu.
"PACD definitely recognizes the importance of connecting resources," said Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PACD Director of Public Affairs & Education. "We were excited to lend our support today for this worthwhile, engaging opportunity. The first event took place two years ago so we were extremely excited to learn that it was returning in 2014. There is always a lot a dialogue and sharing, which is needed for us to each continue the work of caring for and maintaining our natural resources."
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Calling All Envirothon Coordinators!
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 The Pennsylvania Envirothon will hold its annual county Envirothon coordinator meetings on the following dates and locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always refreshments and lunch will be provided.
- Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - PA DCNR Forbes State Forest District Office (Westmoreland County)
- Thursday, October 16, 2014 - Berks County Conservation District
- Tuesday, November 4, 2014 - Jefferson County Conservation District
- Thursday, November 6, 2014 - Sullivan County Conservation District
Please email or call Lorelle to register for one of the meetings at lsteach@envirothonpa.org or 814-623-8099.
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FY 2015 Conservation Programs Sign-up Dates
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 For Fiscal Year 2015, NRCS has identified the following signup cycles for the Environmental Quality and Incentives Program (EQIP) and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program.
Signup 1: October 17, 2014
Signup 2: December 19, 2014
Signup 3: February 20, 2015
Signup 4: April 17, 2015
Signup 5: May 15, 2015
Signup cycles are based on the availability of funding. Dates for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be announced at a later date and signup for easements is on-going.
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Pollinator Experts to Speak in Westmoreland County Tomorrow
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 | | Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS. |
Join some of the nation's top pollinator experts at the Powdermill Nature Reserve for a day dedicated to everything pollinator - concentrating particularly on pollinators on the farm/in agricultural applications.
Planning Ahead to Promote and Enhance Native Pollinators
Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Click here for more information.
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