News & Notes April 2005

PACD Bylaws: Where We've Been and Where We're Headed

During the development of the last PACD strategic plan, members set the following goal: "By December 31, 2003, PACD will establish a committee to review its Bylaws, committees, meetings, and policy development process, and recommend revisions." In response to this goal, PACD President Jarrett Miller appointed the PACD Bylaws Committee in July 2004.

The Committee held its first meeting on October 19, 2004 where it reviewed and discussed: the purpose of the committee; background information on the purpose and content of bylaws; bylaws from other organizations; basic requirements for bylaws under Pennsylvania state law; and suggestions from PACD members. The Committee then began to examine the current PACD Bylaws and started considering amendments.

The Committee held its second meeting on December 9, 2004. At this meeting the committee reviewed additional comments received from members, the results of the "What do you think" survey, and continued its review of the current PACD Bylaws and amendments that were incorporated to-date.

The Committee held its third meeting on January 27, 2005 where it continued its review of the PACD Bylaws and amendments incorporated into the document to-date. At this meeting the committee also discussed outreach to members and decided to present the general concepts that were being considered and incorporated into the Bylaws to the members at the PACD Winter Region meetings and in the January issue of the PACD News and Notes.

After the PACD Winter Region meetings were completed, Committee Chairman Kehl and the Executive Director met with the attorney to review the current draft and comments from the PACD Region meetings. The attorney made a number of comments and suggestions. These suggestions were incorporated into a draft that was sent to each member of the Committee.

The Committee reviewed this draft during a conference call that was held on March 4, 2005. During the conference call the Committee made a few minor changes and asked that the attorney make another review before posting the final draft on the PACD website.

The final draft of the proposed PACD Bylaws was posted on the PACD website on March 7, 2005 and introduced at the March 16, 2005 PACD Executive Council meeting. A few minor changes were made and the Executive Council voted to move them to the annual meeting for final approval. Staff is working on finalizing these changes and will post them on the website when complete. A copy of the final proposed Bylaws will be mailed to each district in plenty of time for review before the final voting takes place at the Executive Council meeting on July 27 at the Avalon Hotel, Erie, PA. Please note that the July vote on the proposed Bylaws changes will be a "yes or no" situation since only very minor changes can be made after the Executive Council approved them to move forward for final approval by the members.

PACD Overview of Programs and Funding

PACD created this report for the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to include in their review of Pennsylvania's conservation districts. The Executive Board is sharing this document with PACD members as a tool to learn more about our state association, the services it provides, and where it receives its funding.

Mission and Purpose

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) is a non-profit organization that supports, enhances, and promotes Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts and their programs. Conservation districts work to enhance and promote locally led conservation efforts that support the wise use of the state's natural resources. The PACD primarily serves as the collective voice for Pennsylvania's 66 county conservation districts and provides advocacy, education, technical assistance, training, program coordination and facilitation to conservation districts and their constituents. The PACD works side-by-side with private organizations, business and industry partners, and many federal and state agencies.

PACD Programs

PACD Member Services
The PACD provides services that support, enhance and promote conservation districts such as:

• Representing conservation districts on state and federal committees and organizations;
  
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with partner agencies and organizations;
  
• Seeking increased funding and program support through government relations and lobbying at both the state and national levels;
  
• Providing tools and guides such as Legislative Connection to help conservation districts develop effective working relationships with their legislators;
  
• Hosting an annual awards program and poster contest;
  
• Free use of electronic communication tools such as e-mail and listserves;
  
• Maintaining an information filled, up-to-date website;
  
• Participating in the continuing effort to enhance leadership development among its members;
  
• Publishing News and Notes to keep members informed on issues concerning conservation districts and PACD activities;
  
• Coordinating PACD's Committees;
  
• Coordinating regional and statewide Association meetings; and
  
• Printing and selling the BMP Handbook for Developing Areas.

PACD Educational Assistance
Through its educational grants, PACD is able to offer a number of products and services to its member conservation districts. In general, these educational products and services include:

• Educational mini-grants program;
  
• Workshops and training;
  
• Print materials such as fact sheets and other publications;
  
• Exhibit materials;
  
• Website access to educational resources;
  
• Marketing activities that promote natural resource protection; and
  
• Video lending library.

PACD Engineering Assistance Program
The PACD Engineering Assistance Program was developed in 2001 as a service to conservation districts, watershed organizations and other entities that needed engineering assistance to complete watershed-related projects. With the assistance of state grant funds from Growing Greener and federal grant funds from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the PACD is able to offer the following engineering services throughout the state:

• Inventory and Evaluation;
  
• Topographic Survey;
  
• Soils Investigation;
  
• Design and Specifications;
  
• Construction Quality Assurance;
  
• Technical Reviews;
  
• Training; and
  
• Watershed Assessment.

Administrative Services
The PACD provides administrative services for state and federal conservation programs to provide additional financial support for the Association. These services involve coordinating training programs, contracting with landowners, and making individual payments to land owners and conservation districts for the following programs;

• Plan Development Incentives Program (PDIP);
  
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP);
  
• Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP);
  
• Agricultural Conservation Training; and
  
• Stream ReLeaf Program.

PACD Funding

The PACD's financial activities involve three sources of funding that are categorized as non-restricted, semi-restricted, or restricted funds:

PACD's non-restricted revenues include income generated from conservation district dues, interest on PACD non-restricted funds, rental income from the PACD building and other miscellaneous income such as sales.

PACD non-restricted expenses reflect activities of the Association that can only be supported by non-restricted incomes, such as lobbying efforts, and its direct operational costs including staff wages and benefits, overhead, travel, supplies and meetings. For fiscal year 2004-2005, the PACD's non-restricted budget totaled $113,347.

PACD's semi-restricted revenues and expenses are generated from grants and contracts the association has secured to support its mission. PACD's grant and contract activities involve delivery of educational products/services, engineering assistance and cost-share administration. PACD's current grants and contracts include the Chesapeake Bay Education Grant, 319 Nonpoint Pollution Education Grant, PACD Engineering Technical Assistance Program, Plan Development Incentives Program (PDIP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP), Agricultural Conservation Training and Stream ReLeaf Program.

Semi-restricted finances are not reflected in the PACD's general operating budget. PACD is compensated for its semi-restricted activities on a reimbursement basis. For the fiscal year 2004-2005, PACD's semi-restricted budget totaled $803,558.

PACD's restricted revenues and expenses are related to the association's grant and contractual activities involving cost-share and administrative payments that are made directly to other parties, such as land owners or conservation districts. For fiscal year 2004-2005, PACD's restricted budget totaled $4,312,184.

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