PACD History

REPORT OF PACD HISTORY
FROM APPROX. 1940 TO APPROX. 1970

AUTHOR UNKNOWN
WRITTEN CIRCA 1970

THE PREAMBLE

The Pennsylvania State Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors, Inc. was founded to serve as the scientific and educational instrument for improving the quality of work performed by districts throughout the Commonwealth.

The Preamble states that: We, the Directors of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Pennsylvania, believe that the conservation of our soil, water, forests, wildlife and other natural resources is essential to our well-being.

We believe that only a well-fed people can be free, can protect themselves from outside aggression and internal strife, can pursue the arts and sciences which lead to spiritual enlightenment and a constantly advancing physical and mental well-being.

We declare it to be our purpose, as directors of our individual soil and water conservation districts, to conserve the God-given resources to produce an abundance of food for ourselves and for posterity.

We believe soil and water conservation districts are the proper organizations through which farmers and other segments of our society may work together for these common objectives.

As directors of our individual districts, we shall work toward the time when all counties in Pennsylvania have a soil and water conservation district and every farmer has an adequate conservation program installed on his farm, and it shall be our purpose, as such directors, to strive constantly for improved agricultural programs.

The Beginning
The beginning of the Pennsylvania Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors, Inc. dates back to 1940 when there were only four districts in the State. Hartwell E. Roper, Chairman of the Lancaster County Soil and Water Conservation District, was instrumental in organizing the Association, which included Lancaster, York, Indiana and Clarion Counties. The stated purpose of the organization was "to meet regularly to exchange ideas on district operations and management in order to further the work of soil and moisture conservation in the Commonwealth as nearly as possible along the same lines, considering the wide variance in soil and farming practices."

On July 19, 1938, 10 townships in Indiana County organized into the first district in the State. Lancaster County followed when 15 townships organized into a district on July 20, 1938. On September 22, 1938, 18 townships in York County organized into a district and on October 5, 1938, all of Clarion County was organized into a district.

The newly formed districts were organized according to the District Enabling Act passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1937. Under this Act, the local landowners could organize into districts provided the majority of the landowners voted favorably in a referendum. The referendum served to stimulate a great deal of interest in conservation and encouraged the development of conservation leaders.

The Enabling Act also permitted the creation of a State Soil Conservation District Board. The State Board was composed of the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Departments of Forests and Waters, Secretary of the Department of Highways, Director of Experiment Station, and the Chief Engineer of the Water and Power Resources Board. The Board dealt primarily, in the early days, with the holding of hearings and referendums in connection with the organization of soil conservation districts. Major E. M. Wass was the first Executive Secretary of the Board.

Demonstration Projects
The organization of soil conservation districts in Pennsylvania is tied closely with the erosion demonstration projects carried out by the Soil Erosion Service (later changed to the Soil Conservation Service). The first project came to Pennsylvania during the Spring of 1935 when the 121, 414-acre Crooked Creek Watershed, in Armstrong and Indiana Counties, was designated a demonstration project in soil erosion control. In the Crooked Creek Project, over 300 farms were planned as conservation demonstration farms. The Civilian Conservation Corps camps provided labor to help farmers apply the practices on their land.

Some of the practices established with CCC assistance included diversion terraces, contour strip cropping, pasture liming (from CCC operated lime quarries), contour furrows, drop spillways, tree planting, brush dams, wildlife habitat, waterways and gully control structures.

Similar erosion control demonstration projects were carried out in Pennsylvania and were known as the Trough Creek Project, Huntingdon County; Conestoga Packway Project, Lancaster County; Kutztown Project, Berks County; Sunbury Project, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties; Glenn Rock Project, York County; Path Valley Project, Franklin County; the Sligo Project, Clarion County; and the Beaver Run Project, Westmoreland County.

CCC Camps were located in or near each of the demonstration projects and were assigned to the Soil Conservation Service to carry out conservation demonstration practices on the demonstration farms. The camps, supervised by the U.S. Army, also housed a team of Soil Conservation Service specialists, who planned and laid out the conservation measures on the demonstration farms.

The Soil Conservation Service team usually consisted of a soil conservationist, forester, soil scientist, and an engineer. The overriding objective of the demonstration projects was to establish conservation measures on the demonstration farms in the hope that the neighboring farmers and others would observe the results of the established practices and apply the practices to their lands.

During this early period, interest in soil and water conservation was just beginning. Only a few farmers were liming their soils, strip cropping their fields, planting trees, or improving pastures and wildlife areas.

Soil erosion was a serious problem. Many of the crop fields were gullied and had lost considerable topsoil. Steep and erosive areas were being tilled, woodlots were grazed and soil management was still in its infancy. There was a crying need for conservation but there was a stronger tie to farming practices of past generations.

The Conservation Cadre
The erosion demonstration projects had multiple benefits. First, they proved that the job of soil conservation could not be done by the federal government alone, and that soil conservation was the responsibility of the landowner. Secondly, the demonstration projects provided the trained technicians needed to assist farmers in planning and applying conservation on their land.

During the late thirties and early forties, an endless stream of young college graduates passed through the demonstration projects where they learned the ABC's of conservation. They became soil scientists, agronomists, engineers, foresters, district-area and state conservationists. Many of the trainees joined the ranks of the Soil Conservation Service in Pennsylvania and have become career conservationists. They include Ralph Ruble, James Wise, John Noll, V.C. Miles, F. Glade Loughry, Merrill Kunkle, James Rayburn, George Cruze, Austin Patrick, Arthur McIntyre, Donald Dinsmore, Melvin Blish, William Wetzel, Ralph Hunter, Joe Sacco, Norman Garber, Henry Warner, D.E. Hess, Ralph Eckert, Watson Lupher, Robert Reese, John P. Jones, and Martin Muth, Richard Long and Robert Craver.

Early District Leaders
During the late thirties, conservation leaders were few and their activities were largely confined to the problems of the neighboring farm areas. However, there were a few men in several counties that helped influence the progress of soil conservation throughout their own and neighboring counties. They were men like H.H. Snavely and Hartwell Roper of Lancaster County; Frank Dummer and Howard Perry of York County; Clair V. Curll and A.A. Fritz of Clarion County; William Campbell of Indiana County; Clayton Jester of Adams County; Donald Smith of Jefferson County; Dewitt Rugh of Westmoreland County; Robert Crouse of Franklin County; and Mark Witmer of Northumberland County.

The Challenge
The challenge was a land scarred by erosion and a people largely unaware of the results. Conservation demonstrations, farm tours, meetings and the press would help convince the doubters, but the real conviction would come through watching the results of conservation on the neighbor's land. Progress was slow, the farmers were skeptical, the technicians were inexperienced and the nation was in the depths of the great depression.

Six years after the District Enabling Act was passed, the fifth district came into being - Northumberland County - in February 1943. In a referendum, farmers in 19 of the 24 townships of the county voted favorably for the creation of a district.

In March of the same year, two townships in Franklin County were organized and became the last district to be established until after the conclusion of World War II.

The newly organized State Association of Soil Conservation Districts held its first annual meeting in Harrisburg in 1942. A major interest of the Association was the revision and modification of the State Soil Conservation District Act. The Association held several meetings in 1943 and 1944, which helped stimulate the eventual legislative enactment of a new soil conservation district law.

During the period of World War II, the Association remained inactive and for the most part ceased to exist. It was not until 1950 that new interest in a state association began to be felt in Pennsylvania.

The New Law
In the early forties, it became apparent to some of the conservation leaders that Pennsylvania was far behind the other states of the nation in organizing soil conservation districts. They felt that the Pennsylvania Soil Conservation District Act made the organization of districts extremely difficult. They particularly objected to Section 9 of the Act, which provided for districts to establish land-use regulations, and they wanted to discontinue the referendum as the way of organizing soil conservation districts. Some groups sought the repeal of the Enabling Act, while others considered a revision of the law or the passage of a new law to be acceptable to the majority of the people of the state. Hartwell Roper of Lancaster County assumed a leadership role in bringing about the needed changes in the law.

On August 11, 1944, Mr. Roper met with the following people in the Farm Bureau Auditorium in Lancaster to discuss the Enabling Act and determine the needed changes: H.H. Snavely and Brown, Lancaster County; Frank Dummer, Forry and Tower, Howard Perry, York County; Smith and Davenport, Bucks County; and Tom Hoffman, Northumberland County. A second meeting was held on September 8, 1944, in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conference room, at which time several recommendations for revising the Pennsylvania Soil Conservation District Act were made and given to Secretary of Agriculture Miles Horst. The Harrisburg meeting was attended by representatives from Lancaster, York, Franklin, Somerset, Northumberland, Centre, Bucks and Lehigh Counties.

Mr. Hagar, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, worked with the group in developing the proposals and a special committee had been appointed to assist the Secretary of Agriculture with the proposed changes in the Enabling Law.

In their day-long session at Harrisburg, the group hammered out the following seven proposals for amending the Pennsylvania Soil Conservation District Act, which was originally passed in the 1937 session of the Legislature and amended in 1938 as Act No. 366. Most of the following proposals eventually were incorporated in the New Law, which was passed in 1945, commonly referred to as Act 217.

1. Completely eliminate Section 9 of the present Act, which provides for the establishment of land-use regulations. The content of this section has caused considerable confusion and is not essential in actively promoting conservation.

2. Soil conservation districts are to be organized on a county basis. This procedure is consistent with local units of government.

3. Provide county commissioners with the authority to create districts upon the presentation of data and other essential information based on need. The committee recommends that representatives of the County Commissioner's Association be consulted in formulating this phase of the proposed bill. Simplicity and the localization of authority is the basic reason for this recommendation.

4. County commissioners should be free to choose a method or methods in determining the need for creating a district. This may involve the use of a petition, hearing, or referendum upon which to base a decision.

5. Adjust the State Soil Conservation board to include the following membership:

a. Secretary of Agriculture
b. Secretary, Department of Forest and Waters
c. Secretary, Department of Highways
d. Director, Agricultural Extension Service
e. Four farmers appointed by the Governor (Two farmers are to be appointed from a list of four names submitted by the Pennsylvania Council of Farm Organization; and two additional farmers from a list of four names submitted by the organized soil conservation districts.)
f. Advisory member appointed by the Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture.

6. The selection of district supervisors in newly formed districts - four in number - are to be appointed by the county commissioners from a list submitted by the president and secretary of county farm organizations designated by the State Soil Conservation Board; the fifth supervisor shall be selected by and from the membership of the Board of County Commissioners. Thereafter, supervisors will be elected at an annual meeting of farmers called by the district supervisors, from a list of two names submitted by a nominating committee selected by the district. The fifth supervisor will always be designated by the county commissioners and must be a member of the Board of Commissioners. Supervisors in organized districts will be replaced or re-elected as their terms expire.

7. District supervisors shall receive no compensation, other than expenses for routine activities, unless hired by the Board to do a specific job.

In 1945 the General Assembly recognized the weaknesses in the basic law and passed Act 217, the present Soil and Water Conservation District Law. Under Act 217, districts are created with county lines for boundaries and the establishment of conservation practices on a cooperator's farm is completely voluntary. Under this Act, the district is charged to provide for the conservation of the soil and water resources of the Commonwealth, and for the control and prevention of soil erosion; thereby, to preserve the natural resources, assist in the control of floods; prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs; assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors; preserve wildlife; preserve the tax base; protect public lands; and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people.

Districts Grow Under the New Law
Potter County became the first soil conservation district to organize under the new law on November 28, 1945. The Potter County Commissioners, by a resolution, declared Potter County a soil conservation district. In rapid succession, resolutions by county commissioners were passed in the following counties, creating soil conservation districts in:

The tremendous growth of soil conservation districts attested to the success of the 1945 revision of the Soil Conservation District Law. From 1945 to 1950 the number of districts increased from six to twenty-seven. The second expansive spurt occurred from 1955 to 1963 when the number of districts jumped from thirty to sixty-one. The following districts were organized:

* Editors note: Delaware/Forest were not listed in the original version and were added later.

Today, there are 64 counties organized as soil and water conservation districts.

Districts Organize an Association
The present State Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors was organized in 1950, with Clayton Jester as first President. The organization of the State Association took place at the second Annual District Directors Conference in Harrisburg, PA. The following minutes of the meeting document the organization of the State Association:

Old House Caucus Room 326, Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA

At the adjournment of the District Directors Conference, the State Directors, by common consent, designated Donald Smith as temporary chairman for the purpose of discussing a state organization of district directors.

Moved by Jacob Yordy, Lebanon County, and seconded by Ed Fisher, Potter County, that we organize a state organization of district directors from the group assembled. Motion carried.

Moved by Harold Higby, Potter County, and seconded by H.H. Snavely, Lancaster County, that we elect an executive committee consisting of chairman, vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer of the state organization and charge them with the responsibility of appointing a committee to draw up a constitution and by-laws. Motion carried.

Nominations were opened for chairman:
1. Clayton Jester, Adams County, nominated by Paul Stewart, Allegheny County.
2. Donald Smith, Jefferson County, nominated by Ed Fisher, Potter County.

Moved by Jacob Yordy, Lebanon County, and seconded by Donald DeOtte, Monroe County, that the nomination for chairman be closed. Motion carried.

It was agreed that the vote should be by the show of hands. The two candidates were asked to retire from the room.

Moved by Harold Higby, Potter County, and seconded by John Phillips, Erie County, that the candidate receiving the largest number of votes be declared chairman and the one receiving the least number of votes be declared vice-chairman. Motion carried.

Since Don Smith was one of the candidates, Secretary Horst acted as chairman and conducted the election. The results of the voting were:

Clayton Jester - 23 votes
Donald Smith - 15 votes

Secretary Horst declared Clayton Jester to be duly elected chairman and Don Smith duly elected vice-chairman.

Chairman Jester then took charge of the meeting.

Meeting was opened for nomination of Secretary-Treasurer.

1. Harry K. Fowler, Lehigh County, nominated by Donald F. DeOtte, Monroe County.
2. Irwin Carl, Washington County, nominated by Jay B. Dilts, Indiana County. Mr. Karl declined the nomination.

Moved by Howard H. Perry, York County, and seconded by Clarence Waybright, Adams County, that the nominations be closed. Motion carried. Unanimous ballot.

Moved by Jacob Yordy, Lebanon County, and seconded by J.I. Allshouse, Jefferson County, that Chairman Jester represent the state organization at the National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, February 8-March 2. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned by Chairman Jester at 12:30 pm.

The By-Laws of the State Association have been amended on several occasions to permit the Association to update its activities.

By-laws
of the
Pennsylvania Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors, Incorporated

PREAMBLE

A. We, the directors of soil and water conservation districts in Pennsylvania, believe that the conservation of our soil, water, forests, wildlife and other natural resources is essential to our well-being. We believe that only a well-fed people can be free, can protect themselves from outside aggression and internal strife, can pursue the arts and sciences which lead to spiritual enlightenment and a constantly advancing physical and mental well-being. We declare it to be our purpose, as directors of our individual soil and water conservation districts, to conserve the God-given resources to produce an abundance of food for ourselves and for posterity. We believe soil and water conservation districts are the proper organization through which farmers and other segments of our society may work together for these common objectives. As directors of our individual districts, we shall work toward the time when all counties in Pennsylvania have a soil and water conservation district and every farmer has an adequate conservation program installed on his farm, and it shall be our purpose, as such directors, to strive constantly for improved agricultural programs.

B. Therefore, we the directors of the soil and water conservation districts in Pennsylvania, form this Association to be known as the Pennsylvania Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors, Inc., to serve as the scientific and educational instrument for improving the quality of the work performed by the districts by carrying out the purposes and activities stated in Paragraph 3 of the Article of Incorporation.

ARTICLE 1 - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Membership
The membership shall consist of all directors of soil and water conservation districts in Pennsylvania.

Section 2 - Rights and Privileges
Each member shall have equal rights and privileges and will be entitled to vote and hold office and otherwise participate in the affairs of the Association.

Section 3 - Non-Voting Members
The Association may deem it advisable at some future date to provide for non-voting memberships. To bring this about, it will require an amendment to the By-laws

ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATION

Section 1 - Officers
Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-president, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All terms of office shall be from the first Executive Council meeting following the annual meeting and offices shall be filled by active district directors.

Section 2 - Executive Council
There shall be an Executive Council composed of one representative from each legally organized soil and water conservation district. Each officer of the Association and the outgoing President shall be automatically a member of the Executive Council.

Section 3 - Election of Officers
The officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual meeting of the membership of the Association. Filling of unexpired terms for Secretary or Treasurer will be appointed by the Executive Council at a regular or special meeting.

Section 4 - Duties of Officers
The duties of the officers of the Association will be to administer the affairs of the Association in accordance with its By-laws, programs and policies.

Section 5 - Duties of the President
The duties of the President shall be:

1. To preside over all meetings of the Association.
2. To preside over all meetings of the Executive Council.
3. To appoint all permanent committees from the membership at large. Announce the committees soon after taking office.
Appoint such temporary committees for specific purposes as may be necessary. These committees shall be appointed from the membership at large and may be for such purposes as nominating and auditing or other special activities.
4. To maintain adequate relations with the agencies cooperating with the soil and water conservation districts. These include various state and federal agencies.
5. To maintain adequate relations with other organizations and groups.
6. To keep all members informed of progress made and difficulties encountered.
7. To carry on such additional duties as are required to maintain a smooth running organization.
8. To consult with the other officers of the Association on important business arising between meetings of the Executive Council and take such action as seems necessary.

Section 6 - Duties of the First Vice-president
The duties of the First Vice-president shall be:

1. To assist the President in all of his duties.
2. To assist the President by carrying out specific assigned duties.
3. To act for him in his absence.
4. Be familiar with the activities and interests of the Association, particularly with reference to maintaining proper relationship with all agencies, groups and individuals assisting districts.

Section 7 - Duties of the Second Vice-president
The duties of the Second Vice-president shall be:

1. To assist the President by carrying out specific assigned duties.
2. To assist in improving relations among the cooperating agencies.
3. To act for the President in the absence of both the President and the First Vice-president

Section 8 - Duties of the Secretary
The duties of the Secretary shall be:

1. To issue all notices of meetings, elections, membership dues, and committee appointments.
2. To maintain minutes of Association meetings, and such other records as deemed advisable by the President.
3. To serve as custodian of all correspondence, minutes and other records of the Association, with the exception of fiscal records.
4. To act on such routine matters as designated by the President or assigned to him by the Executive Council.

Section 9 - Duties of the Treasurer
The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

1. He shall agree to be bonded by the Association.
2. To receive and have custody of all funds of the Association.
3. To maintain an accurate set of records of receipts and disbursements.
4. To deposit all monies received in a bank to the credit of and in the name of the Association.
5. To pay all bills obligated in the approved budget for the year and to pay all other bills after approval by the Executive Council.
6. To make a financial report at the annual meeting and when requested by the President.
7. Serve as custodian of all financial records.
8. When directed by the President, present his records for audit by the Auditing Committee.

Section 10 - Elections of the Executive Council
The members of the Executive Council shall be selected annually. Each district board of directors shall elect their representative to the Executive Council. This selection will be made at a regular or special meeting after the district board of directors have been elected for the ensuing year. The name of the Executive Council member should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Association at the earliest possible date, and every effort should be made to have it in by January 1. Replacement for unexpired terms will be made in the same way by the district governing-body concerned.

Section 11 - Duties of the Executive Council
The duties of the Executive Council shall be:

1. To represent local districts in the affairs of the Association.
2. To be the channel through which members of the district may voice their needs and suggestions in the State-wide program.
3. To maintain operating policies and set up procedures for carrying on the interests of the Association.
4. To elect replacements for unexpired terms of the Secretary and Treasurer.
5. To assume over-all responsibility for procurement and fiscal activities of the Association. The Council shall prepare and approve a budget for the following year at each annual meeting.
6. To pass on dues, fees or assessments by other organizations.
7. To perform the functions and responsibilities assigned to boards of directors of non-profit corporations in the Nonprofit Corporation Law of Pennsylvania and related laws.
8. The control, direction and management of the affairs and property of this corporation, including all land and personal property belonging to it or which may be paid or transferred to it in trust or by gift, assignment, purchase, grant, lease, bequest, devise or otherwise, shall be vested in the Executive Council. It shall have the powers to carry out the purposes of this corporation as specified in Paragraph 3 of the Articles of Incorporation in these By-laws, and in the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and of the Federal Government; provided, however, that no part of the net earnings of this corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member; and provided further that no substantial part of the activities of this corporation or of any organization to which it contribute shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, or the participation in or intervening in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Section 12 - Meetings of the Executive Council

1. Twenty-five percent of the membership of the Executive Council will constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the meeting.
2. In carrying out motions in the meeting of the Executive Council the vote of the majority present governs.

ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES

The Executive Council shall have power to create by resolution any committee whatever, the members of which need not be members of the Executive Council. The functions of such committees may be managerial or advisory as the Executive Council may determine.

Section 1 - Committee Membership
All standing committees shall include at least three district directors as members.

Section 2 - District Operations Committee
There shall be a District Operations Committee. Some of the responsibilities shall be:

1. Develop long term goals and objectives for the State Association.
2. Prepare an Annual Plan of Operation.
3. Set dates for Executive Council meetings.
4. Work with the local Annual Convention Committee in developing plans for the annual meeting.
5. Study rural and urban problems and recommend policies to individual districts and the State Association.

Section 3 - Education Committee
There shall be an Education Committee. Some of the responsibilities shall be:

1. Work toward securing the position of the conservation coordinator within the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction. Following the employment of such an individual work with the coordinator to see that soil and water activities are included in his activities.
2. Stress the importance of required teaching of soil and water conservation in the classroom activities of elementary and secondary schools.
3. Work toward the end that a course in conservation education will be a prerequisite to teacher certification from colleges within the Commonwealth.
4. Work with other groups interested in conservation to coordinate conservation education in Pennsylvania.
5. Work with colleges, universities and private groups to the end that conservation education is available to adults as well as school children. This can perhaps best be done through the use of conservation camps, laboratories, workshops, etc.
6. Suggest and encourage activities of local districts which may be used in educating the general public to the importance of conservation of natural resources and their responsibility in this area.

Section 4 - Farm Forestry
There shall be a Farm Forestry Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Point out the need for good farm forestry practices in Pennsylvania.
2. Recognize the large number of woodland owners in the Commonwealth and work with the Education Committee on developing programs and materials for reaching this group.
3. Work with the Forest Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Forest and Waters and the Soil Conservation Service in furthering a good farm forestry and reforestation program.
4. Tree planting should be an extensive program in Pennsylvania. This committee could and should promote such a program. This would include not only trees for erosion control and future lumber harvest but also for Christmas tree growers production.
5. Farm forest areas should be considered as a potential base for a recreation enterprise.

Section 5 - Legislation
There shall be a Legislation Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Keep the State Association appraised of legislative actions anticipated or being acted upon in the field of conservation.
2. Give consideration to the kind of new legislation needed to accelerate conservation programs and include soil surveys, watershed planning and application.
3. Keep abreast of Federal legislation in effect or needed to further conservation programs in the Commonwealth.
4. This committee with and through the President of the Association should keep in touch with legislators serving in Pennsylvania particularly when the General Assembly is in session.

Section 6 - Recreation and Wildlife
There shall be a Recreation and Wildlife Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Develop and maintain close working relations with agencies and/or committees of other organizations engaged in this activity.
2. Carry out any studies of the effects of recreation particularly recreational developments on private land as would be beneficial to the individual districts in furthering their program.
3. This Committee could work with the Education Committee and others to bring about a closer working relationship and develop a better understanding between rural people and their city cousins who desire to hunt and fish.

Section 7 - Soil Stewardship
There shall be a Soil Stewardship Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Develop working relationships with church leaders in connection with Soil Stewardship Sunday and Soil Stewardship Week.
2. Work to the end that each district has an observance of Soil Stewardship Sunday and Soil Stewardship Week.
3. Get individuals other than district directors involved in the Soil Stewardship Program.
4. Have the responsibility of properly informing the public about not only soil stewardship but also the objectives of the State Association.

Section 8 - Water Resources
There shall be a Water Resources Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Study the various water and watershed programs and recommend policies for the consideration of the State Association.
2. Keep abreast of Public Law 566 projects and river basin studies.
3. Sponsor the Watershed Man of the Year and the Watershed of the Year contest.
4. Work closely with the Legislation Committee on items pertaining to water resources at the state and national level.

Section 9 - Youth Programs
There shall be a Youth Programs Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Accelerate by giving stronger leadership to its present program for FFA, 4-H and Boy Scouts. This program perhaps should be broadened to include Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls.
2. Work with youth camps of all sorts, private, religious, public, etc. to encourage that conservation education be a part of the learning of these centers.
3. Prepare or compile a list of all youth camps of all types in the Commonwealth and make this material available to all districts for their follow-up on youth activities.

Section 10 - Finance
There shall be a Finance Committee. Some of the responsibilities should be:

1. Secure financial donors to the State Association.
2. Develop a system whereby contributors will get certain recognition in the form of certificates, plaques, etc.
3. Recommend to individual districts plans of action they could take to secure additional monies for its operations not only from county commissioners but also from contributors.
4. Develop a budget to be presented at the annual meeting and if not adopted there it shall be presented and adopted at the first Executive Council meeting.
5. Work toward securing scholarship funds which the State Association could make available to worthy students or other individuals to further their career in soil and water conservation.

ARTICLE IV - ASSOCIATION AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Section 1 - Annual Meetings
There shall be one annual meeting for all members called by the President during the latter part of each calendar year. All district directors of each district will be notified well in advance of this meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be to conduct the necessary business of the Association, conduct an election of officers for the ensuing year, and consider and act upon other activities that the members and the Executive Council deem advisable.

Section 2 - Executive Council Meetings
Regular meetings of the Executive Council shall be held quarterly as determined by the Executive Council. Special meetings will be held at the call of the President.

ARTICLE V - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

The representative of the Pennsylvania Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Directors, Inc. to the council meeting of the National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts shall be a past president who is willing to serve at least two years. Each year the councilman shall be considered for re-election. The alternate nonvoting councilman shall be the current President of the Pennsylvania Association. In case the President is not able to assume these duties, the designation passes successively to the First Vice-president, Second Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI - DUES

Dues to the Association shall be on the basis of the number of landowners who are official cooperators with the member district. The following schedule shall be used.

1 - 199 Cooperators $35.00
200 - 499 Cooperators $40.00
500 - 999 Cooperators $45.00
1000 - 1499 Cooperators $50.00
1500 - 1999 Cooperators $55.00
2000 - Over Cooperators $60.00

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

Proposed amendments shall first be submitted to the Executive Council. After a review and suggested changes by the Executive Council, all members shall be notified in writing of the proposed amendment. Voting on the amendment shall be at the annual meeting of all members of the Association. The By-laws of the Association may be amended by a majority vote of the members voting.

ARTICLE VIII - REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

Officers of the Association or their representatives as designated by the President from among members of the Association, shall be reimbursed within the limits of funds so designated in the budget for their traveling expenses when performing official duties. The amount of such reimbursement shall be set by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE IX - COMPENSATION

The members of the Executive Council and the other officers of the corporation shall not receive any remuneration for their services as such. This provision, however, does not preclude the appointment of subordinate officers and agents or other personnel with such remuneration as the Executive Council may determine.

ARTICLE X - DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

All checks, drafts, or instruments for the payment of money shall be signed by the Treasurer.

ARTICLE XI - LIABILITY

In the absence of fraud or bad faith, the members of the Executive council and other officers of the corporation shall not be personally liable for its debts, obligations or liabilities. The members of the Executive Council and the other officers shall be completely protected and justified in acting upon the opinion or advice, oral or written, of counsel for the corporation.

ARTICLE XII - CORPORATE SEAL

The Seal of the corporation shall be circular in form and shall bear the words PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT DIRECTORS, INC. (or a recognizable abbreviation thereof) in the margin thereof, and the words CORPORATE SEAL, 1963, PENNSYLVANIA in the center thereof.

ARTICLE XIII - DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of the corporation, any assets remaining after payment, satisfaction, and discharge of any existing liabilities or obligations, and after lawful provisions for the administration and disposition of any property held in trust by or for the corporation, and all other acts required to adjust and wind up its business and affairs having been done, the corporation's assets shall be collected and distributed entirely to or among one or more organizations devoted exclusively to educational or scientific purposes and exempt from Federal taxation. No private member or individual shall have any right, title, or interest to any remaining assets of the corporation. No distribution of assets shall go to any organization any part of whose net earnings inure to the benefit of any private individual shareholder; nor shall any assets be distributable to any organization, a substantial part of whose activities is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, or which participates in or intervenes in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

These By-laws were passed at a regular meeting of the district directors of all Pennsylvania soil conservation districts in Harrisburg, November 18, 1954, by unanimous vote. They were amended at the annual meeting of the Association held at Potato City on September 21, 1956; at the annual meeting of the Association held at Washington, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 1960; at the annual meeting of the Association held at Reading, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1962; at the annual meeting of the Association held at Summit, Pennsylvania, on November 13, 1963; at the annual meeting of the Association held at Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1964; and at the annual meeting held at Sharon, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1965.

Officers of the State Association
Here is a list of the officers of the State Association and the location of the annual meetings:

During the 18 years of operation of the State Association, much of its work has been carried out by its Executive Council. The Executive Council comprises the officers of the State Association and a representative of each of the soil and water conservation districts in the State. The council normally meets four times per year for a day and a half session. A number of standing temporary committees handle the work of the Executive Council. The standing committees include: Annual Meeting Committee, District Operations Committee, Education Committee, Finance Committee, Legislation Committee, Recreation and Wildlife Committee, Soil Stewardship Committee, Water Resources Committee, Youth Programs Committee, and the Farm Forestry Committee. Each committee has a number of advisors coming from the state and federal agencies and private organizations having an interest in conservation.

The State Association holds an annual meeting in cooperation with the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The annual meeting program includes a business session of the Association and various speakers and panelists representing the various interests in conservation. The annual meeting is usually attended by 200-300 people.

The State Association has been engaged in many activities relating to agriculture, conservation and other programs relative to the use and development of the natural resources within the Commonwealth. Some of the projects and activities the Association has participated in are the following:

• Work towards the establishment of a soil and water research center in Pennsylvania.
  
• Develop and sponsor FFA, 4-H and Boy Scout Soil and Water Conservation Awards Programs in cooperation with the Sears-Roebuck Foundation.
  
• Sponsor the Louisiana Bakers' Conservation Tour of Pennsylvania.
  
• Hosted the NACD Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
  
• Sponsor the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Conservation Awards Program.
  
• Provide scholarships for agricultural students at Penn State.
  
• Participate in the National Plowing Contest and Conservation Field Days in 1948 and the National Plowing Contest, Conservation Exposition and Forage Progress Days in 1968.
  
• Publish the 1962 and 1969 Conservation Needs Inventory.
  
• Sponsor Outstanding Conservationist of the Year Award.
  
• Sponsor Watershed Man of the Year Award.
  
• Sponsor Watershed of the Year Award.
  
• Sponsor Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year Award.
  
• Sponsor Goodyear Tire and Rubber Conservation Awards Program.
  
• Sponsor Outstanding Conservation Organization of the Year Award.
  
• Member of the State Farm-City Week Committee.
  
• Member of the State Plowing Contest Committee.
  
• Sponsor Soil Stewardship Week.