News & Notes June 2007

60th PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Update

• The deadline to receive the early registration discount is June 18, 2007.
• Final registration deadline is July 10, 2007.
• Need to update your slate of PACD voting delegates prior to the July meeting? If so, please submit an updated Delegate Designation Form to the PACD office no later than July 11, 2007. Remember: Delegate information is no longer submitted annually. It should be updated on an on-going basis as changes occur. The form is available at www.pacd.org/about/forms.htm.
• Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Details available at www.pacd.org/events/JAC07/sponsorships.htm.
• PACD is accepting donations for the Silent Auction, which benefits the PACD Capital Fund. The auction will be held from 10 am on Monday, July 16, until 5 pm on Tuesday, July 17, during the 60th PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in Scranton, PA. Please deliver any Silent Auction items to the Conference on Sunday evening, July 15, 2007. Details available at www.pacd.org/events/JAC07/silentauction.htm.
  Call PACD at (717) 238-7223 or e-mail molly-burns@pacd.org with any additional questions about the conference.

Get Prepared for the Vote!
Please familiarize yourself with the following subjects to be considered at the PACD Executive Council Annual Meeting on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 9:00 am at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference at the Hilton Scranton. The PACD Executive Council will be asked to vote on the following five items:

1. PACD Bylaws - During the January meeting, the Executive Council discussed several changes to the PACD Bylaws. To view the entire version of the current PACD Bylaws and the entire PACD Bylaws with proposed changes in red visit the PACD website at www.pacd.org/about/bylaws.htm.
2. PACD Policies - The PACD policies that were passed at the January meeting will be voted on for final adoption into the PACD Policy Handbook. View these proposed policies at www.pacd.org/about/policies.htm
3. Action Plans for the New PACD Strategic Goals - In January, the 2007 PACD Strategic Planning Goals were approved by the PACD Executive Council. Each goal was assigned to a specific PACD committee to develop an action plan to accomplish each goal. The Executive Council will vote on the approval of these ten Action Plans. The plans are available on the PACD website at www.pacd.org/about/strategicplan/planning.htm.
4. Proposed PACD Budget and Dues for FY 2007-2008 - The proposed budget and conservation district dues for the fiscal year July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 is available at www.pacd.org/events/JAC07/default.htm.
5. Proposed PACD Operational Policy - A new proposed operational policy for PACD is up for consideration and can be viewed at www.pacd.org/events/JAC07/default.htm.

Renewable Energy Forum
Don't miss the Renewable Energy Forum being held on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 from 10:00 am - 11:45 am in the Steamtown Room. This forum will look at renewable energy issues as it relates to conservation and agriculture. Participants will learn about the current issues and how conservation districts can become engaged in these efforts.
The panel of distinguished speakers and their topics of discussion include the following:

• Dan Desmond, Deputy Secretary for Energy and Technology Development, DEP
  Governor's Energy Independence Strategy and DEP Grant-run Energy Programs
  
  
• Race Miner, CEO, Keystone Biofuels
  Biofuels: What Are They , Their Use and Their Future
  
  
• Dr. Tom Richard, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering
  Applications and Implications of Biomass Energy
  
  
• Mike Pechart, Executive Assistant/Policy Director, PDA
  State and Federal Renewable Energy Industry & Impact and Opportunities of Biofuels on Agriculture and Conservation
  

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