News & Notes July 2007

New Pilot Format for Future JAC

At the last meeting of the Conservation District Staff Training Coordination Steering Committee, the Committee recommended changing the 2008 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference (JAC) to hold more training opportunities for Conservation District staff, Directors, and Associate Directors. The proposal included holding the JAC in a central location (i.e. State College) and providing additional opportunities on the program for state departments and agencies to provide district staff training, updates on programs, opportunities for transferable training (non-program specific) for district staff and more leadership development training opportunities for Directors and Associate Directors.

The PACD Executive Board discussed the proposal during their May conference call. Because all seven regions have completed their JAC hosting, 2008 will be a transition period for the JAC and the Executive Board felt this was a good time to try a new approach. The Executive Board approved changing the PACD/SCC JAC for a two-year pilot period to include a different format and more training opportunities.

The 2008 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Planning Committee recently met to consider these changes to the JAC and to conceptualize a conference schedule. The 2008 JAC Planning Committee, which consists of representatives from the Conservation Partnership, members of the Conservation District Staff Training Coordination Steering Committee and PACD staff, discussed additional training opportunities and a training track system aimed at different conservation district positions. The different training tracks suggested included a several technical tracks, a Director and Associate Director track, and a management track etc. Each track would be specialized depending on the position but would also include some ability to overlap. These additional trainings would supplement existing training not replace it. Some training suggestions offered at the committee meeting included Farm Bill Programs, Conservation Planning and Nutrient Management Planning, Research and Technology Transfer, Employment Updates and Safety Training. In order to ascertain conservation district training needs and training availability, the committee collected input from District Managers, Directors, and Conservation Partners.

In early July, the 2008 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Planning Committee will meet to review the training input and begin to draft a program for the 2008 JAC. If anyone is interested in helping shape the new and improved JAC, you are welcome to join the committee.

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