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Dear Conservation District Directors, Staff, Volunteers, Agency
Members, etc.:
Susan Marquart and I have talked about a need to discuss the
future of PACD and Conservation Districts both nationally as well
as state-wide. My involvement with districts began in1980 when
the Idaho Association of Conservation Districts hired me as their
Funding Project Director -- to give the IASCD options for funding
district activities. At that time, districts in Idaho were generally
housed with SCS (now NRCS) district conservationists and any staff
that SCS co-located in that particular office. Funding generally
came through federal programs in Idaho.
I saw that those few districts that purchased military equipment
after WW II, used it and eventually sold it -- at a profit --
had funds to run programs. In one or two instances, district directors/supervisors
even bought property. When a district owned land and buildings,
it was able to charge SCS rent for being in the building -- which
the agency paid. That was the supervisors'/directors' way of being
independent financially from the state commission, other state
agencies, and anyone else who cared about how districts funded
their projects.
So, what I am trying to suggest for PACD and districts in PA
is that we "create" a small committee of creative individuals
who think positively and can identify a "vision" for
the next ten years (or so) which would include funding, direction,
training, outreach to new/potential directors who may not be devoted
to agriculture/farming, but who care about the environment, healthy
food, green space, clean streams, and clean air. Let's bring these
individuals into the district, make them associate directors,
give them opportunities to serve on district committees, train
them about conservation activities, and prepare them for board
assignments when those few farmer-directors can no longer serve.
We need lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists, writers, whoever
can grasp the ideas that come to us all to think about what we
need to survive. We need to be creative and feel the pressure
that, if we do not do this, we won't survive! We need to be actively
involved, and this does not mean peripherally; it means deeply
and intensely committed.
We just developed a strategic plan for PACD, but we need funding
for all the worthy programs we do. We can no longer expect monies
to come from USDA, DEP, or other state and federal agencies as
they DO NOT have the funds. It makes sense, with so much funding
currently going into the Defense Department, the Pentagon, and
the "War against Terrorism," that funding available
for discretionary programs will eventually diminish. That means,
we MUST begin to anticipate this loss of funds and prepare for
what happens when this money is no longer available. In other
words, we need a PLAN!
Is there anyone willing to spend a day creating a vision for
PA and its conservation districts? All I have is an idea, but
I need like minded individuals who are interested in designing
a "blue-print" for a viable and stronger PACD and Conservation
Districts.
If you are interested in making the world a better place for our
children and grandchildren, please check out the PACD website
link below and submit an interest form www.pacd.org/about/committees/long_range_planning_sub.htm.
Sincerely,
Irvil Kear
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