News & Notes August 2007

Conservationists Honored at PACD Awards Luncheon

Each year the PACD hosts a conservation awards program to celebrate efforts that further the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. This year, PACD recognized the 2007 award recipients at their annual awards luncheon on July 17 in Scranton, PA. The awards luncheon was held jointly with the State Conservation Commission awards program.

During the PACD portion of the awards ceremony, the following received recognition:

ANN RUDD SAXMAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT DIRECTOR EXCELLENCE AWARD
Ronald J. Rohall (Westmoreland Conservation District)
This award is given to a conservation district director or associate director for his or her outstanding volunteer efforts that have furthered the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. Ron received the award for recently representing PACD as a member of the PA Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Campaign and helping ensure the enactment of legislation reauthorizing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act. This act will provide funding of at least $1.4 billion dollars over the next fifteen years for cleanup of abandoned mine land in Pennsylvania.

Ron Rohall (left) accepts the Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Directors Excellence Award from PACD President Victor Cappucci during the PACD Awards Luncheon.

PACD PRESIDENT'S AWARD (selected by PACD President Victor Cappucci)
PA AML Campaign - This award is given to an individual, organization, or agency for their outstanding efforts to further the accomplishments of the non-profit organization, PACD. This year's PACD President's Award goes to the PA AML Campaign for their tireless efforts to secure reauthorization of the AML Program after an exhausting, resilient three and one half year legislative campaign in Congress. The AML Campaign succeeded in getting legislation passed and signed into law extending the AML Program. The AML Reauthorization, which amends the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), extends the AML Program for at least fifteen years and will triple AML funds PA receives from reclamation fees collected from every ton of coal produced.

John Dawes (left), chairman of the AML Coalition, accepts the PACD President's Award from President Victor Cappucci during the PACD Awards Luncheon.

PACD EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITION AWARDS
Molly Burns, Administrative Assistant (5 years)
The PACD employee service recognition program acknowledges PACD staff who served the organization for five or more years.

CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARDS
The Wagner Family (Dauphin County)
Mike and Catherine Kittle (Bradford County)
The Clean Water Farm Award, initiated in 1986, recognizes farmers within Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, who manage their daily farm operation while keeping a watchful eye on water quality. The farms' conservation plans address issues that help control potential pollutants such as eroded soil, pesticides, and fertilizers from entering streams or groundwater supplies, and ultimately the Bay. The award, administered by the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office, recognizes the important contribution these farmers make to the Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.

AUXILIARY SCHOLARSHIP
Tom Dakin (Chester County)
Tom is a junior at West Chester University where his major course of study is Environmental Health. In this major, Tom has focused on worker safety and overall health of our surroundings. He plans to graduate in May 2008. Each year the PACD Auxiliary offers a $500 scholarship for Pennsylvania college students majoring in an Agriculture or Environmental related field.

RECOGNITION OF PACD PRESIDENT
Victor Cappucci
Victor was recognized for his hard work and dedication as president of PACD for the past two and one half years. He worked on several projects including putting new PACD bylaws into action, appointing committee chairs and members, and directing the creation of new strategic goals.

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