Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS office in Franklin County, Maine: Chief’s Field Award

Maine NRCS State Conservationist Joyce Swartzendruber presents the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Franklin County NRCS office with the Chief’s Field Award --  (from left) Swartzendruber; Thayden Farrington, SWCD Supervisor; Paul Hersey, NRCS District Conservationist; and B.J. Bangs, SWCD Employee  (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)

The Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS office in Franklin County, Maine, have demonstrated an outstanding Earth Team Volunteer Program and commitment to conservation and the Earth Team Program receiving the Chief’s Field Award for the 2007 Earth Team Program.

During the past five years (Fiscal Years 2003-2007), Earth Team Volunteers donated more than 7,700 hours of assistance to conservation in Franklin County.  Duties involved everything from office assistance to field surveying to outreach and education activities with volunteer ages ranging from high school students to senior citizens.

In addition to having local citizens interested in conservation volunteering their time and talents, the NRCS Franklin County office also works with many businesses, groups, and organizations like Upward Bound, Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), National Able Network (ABLE), and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to obtain volunteers.  NRCS gets help with conservation while the groups, organizations, and volunteers work toward reaching their goals.

The Upward Bounty Program at the local University of Maine campus helps over 60 disadvantaged, high potential high school students with skill development and motivation necessary for success in education beyond high school.

SCSEP offers employment training to low-income persons age 55 and older in Maine and four other states.  SCSEP participants earn at least minimum wage while working up to 20 hours a week in eligible host agencies.  Participants contribute to their communities while gaining valuable experience that will assist them in finding unsubsidized employment.

ABLE is a non-profit agency working to serve individuals, families, and communities by bringing together qualified job seekers and businesses.  They provide the training, personal skills, and job search techniques that help people enter or re-enter the work force at every age and skill level.

RSVP recruits and interviews volunteers who are at least 55, matching their skills, talents, interests, and time availability to appropriate volunteer assignments, while improving the quality of life for both the volunteer and the community.

Volunteers from SCSEP, ABLE and RSVP are usually longer term and volunteer more hours than many of the other volunteers providing assistance to the office.  Of the 1,700 hours of service provided by Earth Team Volunteers in FY 07, more than 1,100 of them were provided through volunteers from three programs.

Most of the volunteers work as office assistants and on outreach and education activities.  They assist with telephone answering and taking messages; publication and newsletter printing and distribution; and assist with fund raising, material preparation, and arrangements for outreach and education events such as conservation field days, Agricultural Day at the Fair, and the Regional and Mock Envirothons.  They also assist with the District’s Annual Meeting and annual Shrub Sale while Upward Bound volunteers assist NRCS with field surveying.

NRCS District Conservationist Paul Hersey said that the best way to get volunteers involved is by letting the community know how the program is making a difference.  Hersey also stated that their office has been successful because of their ability to keep volunteers coming back.  “We keep our volunteers because we respect them,” said Hersey.  “We also try to keep in mind what they enjoy doing and what they are good at when we give them assignments.”

Every year the Franklin County office recognizes their Earth Team Volunteers at the district’s annual meeting where they are presented with a certificate from the Maine NRCS State Conservationist.

District Conservationist Hersey said that volunteers are an important part of the office’s conservation team by contributing to outreach programs and other work done in the office freeing-up staff to provide more technical assistance required in the county.

Swartzendruber recognized the Farmington Field Office and the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District with an Earth Team Volunteer Program Special Recognition Award at their 2007 Annual Meeting.  With over 7,700 hours of volunteer hours in the last five years, the Franklin County office has had a very successful program.  Their use of special programs not only helps the agency and the community, but also the needs of the volunteers.

As a result of the “helping hands” of all of these volunteers, the conservation efforts of the Franklin county conservation team are much further ahead towards helping achieve NRCS goals and objectives in the county.