Click here for a printable version of the Fall 08 Report
Fall Update From NCDEA President Cindy Moon
Intro
The NCDEA Officers and Board have been busy working this past quarter. We held officers' and board conference calls. Anumber of task forces are underway with each having a goal to b4ring recommendations to our annual meeting in New Orleans, January 31 - February 4, 2009. One task force is working on ideas to strengthen NCDEA as an organization over the long run. We have another task force working energetically on a training workshop there on Wednesday February 4. We are also cooperating with NACD staff and workin on constructing a good series of concurrent sessions at the NACD meeting.
Awards
Nominations are due for award nominations for Outstanding Conservation District Board Member and Outsanding District Employee annual awards.
The Outstanding Conservation District Professional and Outstanding Conservation District Board Member awards are presented annually to recognize professionalism and dedication in the people behind the nation's conservation district programs. The program began in 1998.
All regions must submit nominations to the national level by November 15. These regional nominations should be sent to the NCDEA Executive Director at 509 Capitol Court NE, Washington, DC 20002. National winners will be notified by December 15.
Scholarship-Reminder
Nominations are due May 1st for the Don Aron Scholarship see the link below to the page on our website for application instructions.
http://ncdea.org/scholarship.htm
National Conservation Partnership
The next National Cosnervation Partnership Leaders' will be meeting November 6-7 in D.C. The leaders of NCDEA, NACD, NARC&DC's NASCA and NRCS come together periodically to address partnership topics. As a part of this meeting plans are underway to plant a tree in the District of Columbia in honor of Olin Sims, deceased past president of NACD.
NASCA annual meeting participation
Former President Rich Baden represented NCDEA at the NASCA annual meeting in Montana. About 65 participants met to conduct the annual meeting, attend field tours, and update the national board on partner activities.
NCDEA products on the new NACD Online store
We will soon have a number of clothing type items available with the NCDEA logo via the NACD online store. Watch for notices about new products at the online store.
NCDEA/NACD cooperate on AgLearn session
We are planning a national webinar for 50 (each state) participants or sites on the many new features of AgLearn October 22 at 2 P.M. Eastern. Watch for enotes or other notices of this upcoming event.
Cookbooks Fundraiser Update
Thanks to all who have purchased a cookbook and also thanks to those who have sold them. A special thank-you goes out to board member Sharon Underwood who led this successful effort. There are still a few available and this fall may be a good time for you to buy one or more for holiday presents and other uses.
Phase II directory status
A notice will be soon sent to state employee associations for a copy of the state district employee directory/contact information. A number of states participated in Phase I last year and furnished this information. This year we plan to compile the remaining states.
District employee access to producer data
There are new developments on the use of producer data in connection with the privacy requirement language of the 2008 farm bill and other considerations. The key is that employees need access to the data to provide conservation services to farmers and ranchers but are under an obligation to only use the information for that purpose. New requirements or procedures to assure privacy are expected this fall and early winter. See also the Computers for Districts page on the NACD website for more information on this topic.
Cindy Moon, President Officers Hold Conference Call April 9th - Followed up on items from annual meeting including fund raising, minutes, financial reports, etc.
- Prepared for board conference call
- Set agenda for mid year board meeting
Board Conference Call - April 24th - Reviewed fundraising Net Profit Report
- Approved minutes and Treasurer’s report
- Prepared for Mid Year Board meeting
- Reviewed status of dues collection
- Had report on Don Aron Scholarship applications
National Conservation Partnership Meeting April 30 - May 1 in D.C. The five partner leaders and staff met in WashingtonD.C. and covered the following subjects: 1. Reviewed the purpose and role of the Mutual Agreements between the USDA Secretary, conservation districts and governors & the Cooperative Working Agreements and other tools used to outline responsibilities of each of the signatories 2. A briefing and discussion on the Conservation Environmental Effects Project (CEAP) 3. Update on progress of the conservation provisions of the farm bill 4. Organizational and Budget updates 5. Partner Information Technology issues 6. Landcare in the United States and the partners involvement in the effort 7. Continued work on the following four over arching objectives identified by the partnerleaders for future coordination and cooperation: 1. Communicating on Conservation 2. Improving Conservation Delivery 3. Training of partnership members and 4. Maintaining and improving coordination efforts among the partners including at the state level (Selected actions for each of these four objectives were also identified) In May NCDEA joined 1054 other organizations to encourage the U.S. House and Senate to pass the farm bill conservation provisions.
June 5-6 Mid Year Board Meeting - Approved a by-law change moving Wyoming Employee Association to the Southwest region from the Northern Plains region.
- Reviewed and accepted amendments to the new Policy and Procedure Manual
- Appointed a committee to recommend how to address the Pass-Through Grant request received from the Southeast region
- Received and approved the recommendations from the Scholarship committee on criteria to use for the Don Aron Scholarship
- Received and approved the recommendation for the 2008 scholarship winner
- Received the seven regional reports
- Conducted another step in the update of the NCDEA strategic plan
- Approved sponsorship of the NACD Legislative Conference Reception
- Reviewed the status of NCDEA members on NACD committees and task forces
- Received reports from partner organizations
- Began the planning for annual meeting in New Orleans including how to assist NACD and how to modify NCDEA scheduled events
Our officers and board members extend a big thanks to all who helped make the activities, reported on here, such a success.
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March 2008 Cindy Moon, President Board Conference Call – January 13th The board addressed a number of topics related to the annual meeting to be held in Reno in conjunction with the NACD annual meeting. Other topics included status on Farm Bill, computers for districts, NCDEA members for NACD committees, appointment of audit committee and updates on the conservation partnership. NCDEA State Presidents’ conference call - January 31st This call was held primarily to get information and input from those state employee associations that had suggestions for the board to consider or use in the conduct of the annual meeting in Reno. The state presidents were also updated on the status of NCDEA projects and activities. Our activities in Reno, NV included: A Sunday afternoon bus tour was a great success. Two full buses of attendees had the opportunity to see a beautiful slice of Nevada via the scenic and historical tour of Carson City and Virginia City. Two NCDEA board meetings were held one on Saturday afternoon and one on Tuesday morning before the NACD general session. In addition to regional reports, nomination and election of new officers, treasurer’s reports, status on projects and fund raising, the board also made plans for a mid year board meeting and continued support to advance the work of conservation districts. Regional board members were installed. Reports and comments from Employee representatives to the NACD committees were also presented. Other topics that were addressed included updating the NCDEA strategic plan in 2008, potential changes for NCDEA state chapter web site hosting, a brief review of the “Urban Survey” recently conducted by NACD, discussions on by law changes regarding regional boundaries, and reviewing policy and procedures for donations or contributions from district employees. We hosted a Tuesday Luncheon – “Thinking Outside the Box” which included about 140 attendees and a speaker on investment advice, remarks from our conservation partners, recognition of our NCDEA employee of the year, Mott Buff from NC (see more information on the NCDEA web site), the swearing in of officers, and the conducting of our annual meeting. We also hosted a Tuesday evening session “Comedy Beyond Boundaries” with an attendance of over 200. Phil Griswold, district employee from New York provided an entertaining dialogue as a part of the meet, greet, and relax session held after the NACD closing Banquet. Then Wednesday we conducted a Workshop: “Operating a Successful District” “What Successful Districts Need To Know” The Panelists for this workshop were: Irene Moore, District Administrator, Jefferson SWCD, OH Michael Brown, Program Administrator, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, DE Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control John MacDonald, President, Oregon Association of Conservation Districts All three had excellent presentations and comments to share with the 30 workshop attendees. We plan to make references and PowerPoint’s from this workshop available on our website. Fundraiser Our fundraisers - raffling a 42” Plasma TV and selling the NCDEA cookbooks - were also a success and will help us stay within our budget for the year. Thanks Our officers and board members extend a big thanks to all who helped make the activities, reported on here, such a success. NACD Committees NCDEA was asked to provide members for the new NACD committees that began their work in Reno. Employee representatives have been provided for the following committees and Resources Policy Groups: Communications – Connie Richmeier, KA Stewardship and Education – Pam Hawkins, NC District Operations and Member Services – Robert Dobbs, NJ Natural Resources Policy – Rick Kirchner, DE Operating with the Natural Resources Policy will be Resources Policy Groups. Two groups already established are: Forest Resources Policy Group – Garth Davis, WA Urban and Community Policy Group – Ed Hoxie, NY. Our officers and board also extend thanks to those employees who have served on the previous NACD committees over the last several years. NACD annual meeting assistance In addition to the activities reported on in Reno above, NCDEA was able to provide considerable assistance to the NACD annual meeting this year for planning and conducting concurrent sessions including providing moderators as well as volunteer staff help for a number of the activities such as the legislative auction.
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