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News & Notes
April 2008
PACD Spring Region Meetings Focus
on Understanding Director Responsibilities
During PACD's six region meetings this spring, members of the Conservation
Partnership's Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Committee
presented "Understanding Director Responsibilities." This
topic is a result of an initiative from the National Association of
Conservation Districts (NACD) to increase the credibility of conservation
district directors across the country. Pennsylvania volunteered to try
out this pilot program for the NACD Northeast Region.
During the region meetings, the Leadership Development Committee identified
the basic information that a district director needs to know to function
effectively in his/her position. A list of "director functions"
was developed along with a list of existing resources that provide training
on these functions.
The next step will be to develop a training tool for Pennsylvania that
enables a district director to obtain this information in an efficient
and cost-effective manner. Also included in the development of the training
tool will be a verification and tracking system. The final step in the
development of this program in Pennsylvania will be a recognition program
for district directors who successfully complete the training.
For more information on this Leadership Development Committee project,
contact Karen Ely, kaely@state.pa.us.
The region meeting agendas also included updates from PACD, State Conservation
Commission, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Some meetings
also featured region specific topics and speakers. The fall region meeting
dates and locations will be posted on the PACD website (www.pacd.org/events)
as they are confirmed.
PA Conservation Districts Receive
Over $10 million in Growing Greener Grants
In early March, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that $22 million
will be awarded to over 120 projects through the Growing Greener program.
The grants will help restore the state's polluted streams, provide clean
water, and help prevent devastating floods in communities across the
commonwealth.
Twenty-one conservation districts received grants totaling over $4 million.
The two conservation districts receiving the most grant funds were Fulton
and Indiana. Fulton County Conservation District received $558,020 for
three projects including stream restoration, a publicly accessible greenway,
and incentives for no-till farming practices. Indiana County Conservation
District received $540,709 for two projects - one involving implementing
best management practices and the other to abate acid mine discharges.
Visit the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website (www.depweb.state.pa.us)
for a complete list of grant recipients.
PACD received $300,000 for its engineering technical assistance program
for projects that treat acid mine drainage, restore streams, and implement
agricultural best management practices; and $143,000 for Section 319
Nonpoint Source Educational Mini-grant Program to provide workshops
and training including the annual watershed specialist meeting. PACD
also received $5,693,740 for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
(CREP) because PACD administers CREP on behalf of the DEP. This amount
includes cost-share to support farm-based conservation practices such
as forest riparian buffers, wetlands, and grass swales in fifty-nine
counties as well as an administrative fee for PACD.
The DEP is now accepting grant applications for the next Growing Greener
grant round. Applications will be accepted until May 16. For more information
or to download a grant application form, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us,
keyword: Growing Greener.
Opportunity for Statewide Recognition
of a Director or Associate Director and a Conservation District Employee
Award Nominations are Due April 30
The PACD awards program offers an opportunity to recognize a conservation
district director or associate director and a district employee whose
efforts have furthered the district's activities and accomplishments.
Nominations for the Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director (or
Associate Director) Excellence Award and the Conservation District Employee
Excellence Award are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2008.
Eligibility requirements and nomination forms for the two awards are
available on the PACD website at http://www.pacd.org/about/award_progr.htm.
Questions? Contact PACD Communication Specialist Shannon Wehinger at
(717) 238-7223 x18 or shannon-wehinger@pacd.org.
Send in your nominations today!
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