News & Notes December 2005

PACD Executive Board Proposes Changes to Awards Program

The PACD Executive Board has completed an extensive review and evaluation of the current PACD Awards Program and PACD Poster Contest. Information and statistics used in this review and evaluation are below.

Through its evaluation, the Board has identified the following trends:

• Conservation district participation in the PACD awards program is declining. In 2005 only 11 districts participated in the program;
  
• Conservation district participation in the PACD poster contest is sparse. During the past 3 years, PACD has received an average of only 58 student poster entries from 17 counties per year;
  
• Since 2000, the average level of PACD sponsorship has declined. In 2000, PACD secured 7 sponsors and received $3500 in sponsorship funds. In 2005, PACD secured 3 sponsors and received $1500 in sponsorship funds;
  
• In 2005, the PACD Communication Specialist devoted over 50% of her PACD non-restrictive budgeted time (84 out of 160 hours) to coordinate the PACD Awards Program and Poster Contest.
  

In response to these trends, the PACD Executive Board is making several recommendations, described below, to change the Awards Program. These recommendations will be forwarded to the PACD Operations Committee and to the Executive Council on January 20, 2006.

A. PACD Awards Program

The PACD Awards Program should serve as a tool that facilitates the Association's mission to enhance, support and promote conservation districts. To accomplish this purpose, the PACD Awards Program should be re-focused and simplified to provide the following three awards:

1. Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director (or Associate Director) Excellence Award

A Conservation District Director or Associate Director will be recognized for their outstanding volunteer efforts that have furthered the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award may be submitted by county conservation
district directors, associate directors, and staff or by PACD Executive Board Members. Award recipients will be selected by PACD Executive Board members.

2. Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

A Conservation District Employee will be recognized for their outstanding efforts that have furthered the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award may be submitted by county conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff or by PACD Executive Board Members. Award recipients will be selected by PACD Executive Board members.

3. PACD President's Award

At the discretion of the PACD President, an individual, organization or agency will be recognized for their outstanding efforts that have resulted in furthering the accomplishments of the non-profit organization, PACD. The President may choose to accept suggestions from Board members and staff, or select the award recipient independently.

B) PACD Poster Contest

The current PACD Poster Contest does not serve as a useful educational or marketing tool that supports the mission of the organization. Participation in the program is minimal (54 entries statewide in 2005). The Poster Contest should be discontinued.

Although the PACD is proposing these changes at the state level, conservation districts who wish to continue their local award and recognition programs are encouraged to do so. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Susan Marquart at 717-238-PACD (7223).

PACD Awards Program Statistics

There are seven PACD Conservation Award categories plus:

• Annual Report of the Year
  
• Poster Contest

Conservation Award Nominations:
1997 - 60 nominations
1998 - 40 nominations
1999 - 27 nominations
2000 - 68 nominations
2001 - 39 nominations
2002 - 41 nominations
2003 - 40 nominations
2004 - 36 nominations
2005 - 32 nominations

Poster Contest Entries:
2003 - 64 entries (18 counties)
2004 - 55 entries (16 counties)
2005 - 54 entries (17 counties)

Annual Report Entries:
2003 - 20 entries
2004 - 8 entries
2005 - 5 entries

PACD Award Sponsorship
2000 - 7 sponsors totaling $3500
2001 - 6 sponsors totaling $3000
2002 - 4 sponsors totaling $2000
2003 - 4 sponsors totaling $1750
2004 - 2 sponsors totaling $1000
2005 - 3 sponsors totaling $1500

Funding Available for Training

This fall, the Huntingdon County Conservation District partnered with the Baltimore District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to host a Basic Wetlands Identification Workshop and a Hydric Soils Workshop at Raystown Lake Visitors Center. The hydric soils' training was an offshoot of the wetlands course. It focused on changes to the Field Guide of Hydric Soils in the Mid-Atlantic.

These workshops resulted from the 2004 watershed specialist evaluations where participants expressed a need for training in wetlands. Josh Tryninewski, Huntingdon County Conservation District Watershed Specialist, volunteered to host the training and coordinated funding workshop materials and refreshments with the PACD.

These are just two examples of funding opportunities that have been made available to a conservation district through the PACD's NPS Education grant. Conservation districts are encouraged to contact PACD if they are interested in hosting a technical training session that addresses NPs solutions/best management practices. The Section 319 funding criteria is that the training must include staff from several conservation districts as well as cooperating agencies. If at least ten of the trainees are conservation district staff and directors, the host conservation district can request support and resources from PACD through its Section 319 education grant. Resources can include but are not limited to: nametags, printed materials, refreshments, and lunch (with adequate justification). Contact Kathleen Banski to request funding for training. Email her at kathleen-banski@pacd.org or call 717-238-PACD (7223).

Comment Period for Nutrient Trading Extended

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended the public comment period for PA's Nutrient Trading Program until December 31, 2005. Two listening sessions, co-sponsored by PACD, were held November 14 in State College and November 15 at the Dauphin County Conservation District. DEP reports that these listening sessions were very productive and they have extended the comment period to continue to gather input from the public.

PACD is preparing a paper to respond to DEP's proposed policy and guidelines. Conservation districts can email comments to be included in the paper to PACD Executive Director Susan Marquart at susan-marquart@pacd.org or call her at 717-238-PACD (7223).

An additional listening session targeted toward farmers will be held December 12 at 6:00pm at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. For more information on the PA Nutrient Trading Program, visit www.dep.state.pa.us/river/river_trading.htm.

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