PACD Front Page e-Newsletter

Front Page e-Newsletter

February 1, 2021

PACD Holds Executive Council Virtually

On Thursday, January 28, 2021, PACD held a virtual Executive Council Meeting. There were over 80 participants. During the meeting, the PACD Executive Council gave final approval for a bylaw change to move Armstrong Conservation District from the PACD South West Region to the PACD North West Region.

Also during the meeting, PACD Director of Operations Lisa Jo Suhr was recognized for her 19 years of service to the association, and board and partner reports were given.

Farmer Focus Groups: Delaware Watershed

PACD seeks input from farmers and agricultural landowners from the Pennsylvania portion of the Delaware River Watershed about the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Focus groups will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on February 23 and 25, 2021. Farmers can participate in these discussions whether or not they have enrolled land in the program.

Please share this information with your farmer contacts in the Delaware Watershed.

All farmers who participate in the virtual focus group will receive $125 in return for their time. Registration is limited to 15 qualified farmers on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are aged 55 or older, please register for the focus group on February 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: http://bit.ly/pacd-de-1

If you are aged 54 or younger, please register for the focus group on February 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

http://bit.ly/pacd-de-2

Questions? Contact PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS.

Conservation Districts Invited to Attend Free Virtual Grant-Writing Workshop for PA Environmental Educators

Let’s learn from each other to increase the success of environmental education (EE) grant funding in Pennsylvania! Join successful grant writers and funding agency program officers for this FREE virtual workshop on EE grant-writing tips and tricks. Presenters from Stroud Water Research Center, the PA Department of Education, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Millersville University, and NOAA will introduce the world of funding, describe how to read a request for proposal (RFP), give tips for success, explore where to find EE grants, and facilitate Q&A.

When: Thursday, February 18, 2021, from 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom video conferencing. The connection link will be emailed prior to the event.

Audience: Pennsylvania classroom teachers, non-formal environmental educators, school administrators. 1.5 Act 48 hours are available for Pennsylvania certified teachers. A certificate of participation will be provided for other attendees if needed.

Cost: Free

Registration: Required. Limited to the first 100 participants registered.

Learn more and register today!

News from the Leadership Development Program

Share Your Success Stories and Planning Advice at the Board Leadership Series Forums

Conservation District Directors and Associate Directors – do you have some good news to share about a successful project in 2020? Then plan to join us for the Sharing Success Stories Director Forums on Monday, February 15, 2021, where you’ll get the chance to learn (and brag) about successful conservation district projects from around the state.

For directors at districts that have recently completed, or are considering, strategic planning plan to join us for the Strategic Planning Director Forums on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, where you'll get the chance to network with other districts to share advice and insights on the planning process. Both Forums are scheduled as pairs, so you can choose to attend a Noon or 7 p.m. meeting according to your convenience. The 2021 Board Leadership series also features two presentations on ethical principles and conflict of interest, as well as an interactive planning workshop – click here for more information and to register.

One Week Left to Register for 2021 Staff Conference

Conservation District Staff – there's still time to register for the 2021 Virtual Staff Conference, scheduled for February 8–12, 2021. This year's conference features a keynote on stress management; a two-part workshop on effective conflict management for conservation workers; a session on working with local media; technology forums focusing on productivity apps, video, and drones; and the first annual Conservation District Video Awards. Don't wait. Register now.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Allegheny, Butler, and Washington County Conservation Districts to Host Erosion Control Webinar Series

The 2021 Erosion Control Workshop, presented by Allegheny, Butler, and Washington County Conservation Districts, includes eight webinars, with one held at 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in February. The Erosion Control Workshop is an annual event for municipalities, contractors, consultants, developers, engineers, and other land development professionals. The cost is $15 per webinar.

Identifying and Mitigating Acid-Forming Materials, Tuesday, February 2
PA DEP Regulatory Updates, Thursday, February 4
Application of Managed Release Concept BMP, Tuesday, February 9
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), Thursday, February 11
NPDES Construction Stormwater – Common Deficiencies, Tuesday, February 16
Conservation Districts and MS4 Pollutant Reduction Plans, Thursday, February 18
Hey Engineer! Why Did My Embankment Slide into a Mine?, Tuesday, February 23
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects, Thursday, February 25

Click here for more information.

Photo from Allegheny County Conservation District.

NRCS 2021 Training Opportunities

Several annually occurring events provide Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field employees and conservation districts opportunity to acquire knowledge and competencies about planning and implementing conservation systems. Certified Conservation Planners (CCP) can obtain their continuing education credit requirements in the no-till/cover crop, nutrient management, grazing, wildlife/buffers, and optional categories by attending the preapproved events.

Click here to see 2021 training opportunities.

February Webinar to Feature Pollinator Efforts

The next National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar is scheduled for Noon–1:00 p.m. on February 18, 2021. The webinar will feature the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and its efforts to promote pollinator conservation with its Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz event.

There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, click here. If you have difficulty, please contact NACD Pacific Region Representative Ariel Rivers. ariel-rivers@nacdnet.org

Photo from NACD.