News & Notes February 2001

PACD Announces Agenda For March Meeting

The March PACD Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Grantville, will feature several informative presentations, an innovative watershed specialist training session, and the Capitol Day activities. Conservation district directors and staff are strongly encouraged to attend.

Conference activities are slated to begin on Monday, March 12. Featured activities for the day include a Legislative conference. David Hess, Department of Environmental Protection Executive Secretary, will discuss water management and the position that the DEP has taken in water management legislation. Also, Janet Bowers of Chester County will give a presentation on Chester County’s water resource management plan. There will be a discussion addressing the changes to the USDA Nutrient Management Standard Code 590, including phosphorous as of October 1, and how it will impact conservation district activities. In addition, PACD Executive Director Susan Fox will explain PACD’s proposed funding needs for conservation districts as a briefing for Capitol Day participants. During this session Fox will outline specific items that should be emphasized during the visits with your state representatives, including funding for Chapter 105.

Day two of conference activities, March 13, features Capitol Day. PACD will provide a courtesy van from the Holiday Inn to the State Capitol for district directors and staff meeting with their local representatives. Schedule your appointments in advance.

Following the Capitol Day activities, PACD committee meetings will be held throughout the afternoon. An all-day training session on stormwater management will be presented by the Center for Watershed Protection and the DEP’s Bureau of Watershed Mgt.

The Conference concludes on March 14, following the PACD Executive Council Meeting and State Conservation Commission Meeting. Judging for the PACD 2001 Awards will be conducted throughout the Conference.

PACD’s March Meeting: Time to LEARN:

Leadership – During Capitol Day district leaders will address their local representatives and speak on behalf of their district.
Education – Seminars and training sessions are thought provoking, worthwhile educational opportunities that should not be missed. Association – Attending a PACD meeting reinforces the fact that you are not alone. Coming together with your fellow conservation districts helps strengthen the association as well as your district.
Review – Use the conference experience to reflect on the progress being made across the state, then use this knowledge to review the progress of your local district.
Networking – PACD events and meetings present an exciting opportunity to share information with your peers.

‘Local Motion’ Training Coming to Your Region

PACD has recently announced “Local Motion,” a new training opportunity for conservation district staff scheduled for April 2001. During this one-day program, conservation district teams – composed of a manager, a director, and an additional district staff person, director or other local partnership member, will be instructed on how to develop a business plan tailored to their district.

The program will be held in four different in-state locations from April 9 – April 12. The schedule is as follows:
· April 9 – Days Inn, Danville;
· April 10 – Days Inn, Meadeville;
· April 11 – Four Points Sheraton, Greensburg; and
· April 12 – Best Western Eden Resort, Lancaster

Ray Ledgerwood, of the NACD Center for Leadership Services, will serve as the instructor.

The program is sponsored through a Leadership Development Grant provided by the State Conservation Commission. Districts who send a complete three-person team to the training will receive financial assistance provided by the SCC grant.

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