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Portions of Remarks by William Hunt, President, National Organization
of Professional Black
Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees
at its 10th Annual Training Conference
Arlington, TX
December 3, 2002
Good Morning! I'm happy to welcome you all to the 10th annual Training
Conference of the National Organization of Professional Black NRCS Employees.
We're glad you're here and hope you enjoy our conference. A brief advance
caution though; wear your thinking caps tight, be especially attentive because
you're in the midst of an active, soon to be high energy, learning area! We're
100% dead serious about the learning business of our members, this agency, and
how we can make the maximum contribution to the natural resources conservation
mission of NRCS.
We especially appreciate Chief Knight, and so many of our National Leadership
and Chief's Executive Team members being here with us this year. This means a
lot to us and tells us you feel our training agenda and efforts are important to
the agency and we're on the right track. We hope so, because we're feeding
directly from the NRCS menu of agency priorities that the Chief sets each year.
Absent this conference, many of our members might never get this direct exposure
to you, Chief Knight, your top headquarters staff, and most of our Regional and
State Conservationists. Most just don't normally travel in these higher-level
management circles. They're too busy back home doing the excellent technical
field work that makes this agency great and so great to work for. However, some
of this agency's future leaders are probably sitting in this audience with us
today.
This Organization recognizes we don't have a moment or a single ounce of grey
matter to waste. That's why we are starting now to get our members properly
prepared for the future. We believe strongly and passionately in the important
work we do for our country and this agency. We believe anything less than our
best is unacceptable. We refuse to be less than top quality employees working
for a world-class conservation and natural resources organization. That's why
our desire and determination for professional self-improvement are so strong!
We have lots to offer our country, this agency, USDA, and our conservation
partners. You haven't seen our best yet! Mostly because many haven't been asked
nor had the opportunity for increased service. The diversity of backgrounds,
education, and work experiences we bring to the conservation table can be a
powerful source of strength. We are still a relatively untapped resource. I hope
we don't need any more special Civil Rights Implementation Team (CRIT) and Civil
Rights Action Team (CRAT) studies, Civil Rights Committee reports, Small Farm
Commission reports, producer forums, and other reports before we fully recognize
and release the collective strength we already have within NRCS.
We need to market better some of what we're already doing right! We, as an
Organization, are just "chomping at the bit" to help! Workforce Diversity and
Outreach is NRCS's strong suit. We simply need to continue to work together and
play our hand right, properly utilizing all NRCS professional employee
organizations. All NRCS employee organizations and their members are willing and
cooperative partners. We each bring some unique experiences and community-based
connections to the table for the benefit of conservation, our program delivery,
and improved customer outreach and service. This Organization and its members
are determined to be part of that solution, not part of the problem.
That's why we will continue to push for more outreach for producers and better
training for ALL our members until we are confident we are ready to put on the
whole armor of leadership and stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow
employees to provide the highest quality certified technical assistance and
professional leadership needed to:
1. Fully implement the new farm bill ,
2. Carry out all components of the President's Management agenda,
3. Improve our agency's workforce diversity and outreach accomplishments,
4. Help identify, maintain, and strengthen our agency core infrastructure and
technical assistance needs,
5. Share leadership responsibility for effectively utilizing the locally led,
voluntary, incentive and science-based, conservation planning approach to
deliver quality NRCS programs and services,
6. Be knowledgeable and proactive in identifying and recommending to management
opportunities to eliminate program and other bureaucratic red tape,
7. Be fully accountable for our agency and individual work actions,
8. Promote only common sense, cost-effective, environmental and economically
defensible conservation solutions using standards in our FOTG and E-FOTG,
9. Use and teach others electronic and other means to keep our general public,
traditionally underserved and other farmers, partners, customers, Technical
Service Providers, and Congress informed of who we are, what we do, and how to
fairly receive NRCS and USDA Program assistance and,
10. Work through Community-Based Organizations,1890, 1994, HACU, as well as 1862
Land Grant Universities, to inform, educate, and empower minority, American
Indian, female, and majority private sector, and
11. Work with technical service providers to meet Congressional technical
assistance requirements of the 2002 Farm bill .
Our quest is to be totally inclusive. As President Lincoln said during USDA's
creation on May 15, 1862, ours is the people's Department; all the people; none
left behind!
* * *
. . . we want more of our members to share in these leadership opportunities. As
I often repeat "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few". We have many
committees and much important Organization work that remains undone. Volunteer
your time and talents. Both you and The Organization (and NRCS) will benefit
from practicing your leadership skills. In fact all our Committees and 21
Chapters have worked hard this year and are ready for another top quality
training experience. We raised the bar last year in Memphis and now that we're
in The Lone Star State, we're seeking new heights! We want to go where we've
never been before in a heightened atmosphere of greater technical competence,
confidence, and achievement for all our members in partnership with our other
NRCS employees and partner agencies. Not just rhetoric but demonstrated
on-the-ground performance!
We will give a full days work for a full day's pay; the same as we do back home
or at any other NRCS-assisted outside training session. In fact I personally
challenge all our members to give back even more-- 8 hours a day isn't enough!
As President of this Organization, I pledge to all our agency managers and
leaders that every hour of every working day while we're here will be devoted to
professional, leadership, and technical training to help us do our NRCS work
better. If anyone is here for any other reasons, we ask you to leave, and not
interfere or disrupt important learning opportunities for our members.
As NRCS managers, we are about increasing our knowledge, skills, and abilities
to better do the job we expect our members, and your employees, to do when they
return home. And we agree your expectations are totally reasonable! As our
agency farm bill and other workloads expand, we believe management and employees
themselves must INVEST more in employee training. Dollars used for training to
build quality up front is an investment in the greatest resources this agency
has-- its people. In times of tight operating budgets, we need to do more to
ensure that the job gets done right the first time because we won't have the
time, nor can we afford the remedial public relations or technical assistance
time and expense to do it over!
Speaking of investment, let me crow a little about the investment you members
have made in the future of this Organization and our mission of career and youth
development, outreach to our under-served farmers and communities, and
self-sufficiency. First, last August we forged a new partnership with The
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. The Organization
solicited voluntary financial support from our Chapters and some individual
members and collectively we raised and sponsored a $2500 table at their 35th
Annual Celebration in Birmingham. Thanks to the 15 Chapters and the 5
individuals who contributed $25-$100 each. Special acknowledgement and thanks
from the entire Organization go to the Alabama Chapter, State Conservationist
Bob Jones, and Regional Conservationist Charles Adams for your attendance, help,
and support with the staffing of the 2002 Farm bill display at this meeting,
including the weekend. As a result of these contacts, Mr. Ralph Paige, Executive
Director of the Federation, will speak to us at tomorrow's luncheon.
We want to find ways our Organizations can work better together to improve the
plight of Black Farmers who are rapidly becoming extinct. By USDA NASS count, we
have lost almost 99% of our nation's Black Farmers in my dad's lifetime-- 80
years. A crisis -- you betcha! Also an emerging crisis in rural land ownership.
What's happening to our wealth, and more importantly, sense of place? We'll hear
more on this during the Agriculture Committee and other conference presentation
by Mr. Al Drain.
Secondly, we celebrated the voluntary commitment of 48 new Organization life
member s last year. That was quite an achievement considering we only had 3 over
the first 8 years of our existence -- first lady Denise Brooks, Sarah Marshall,
and Jim Tatum. With your Executive Board's concurrence, in 2002, I set a goal of
59 new life members for a targeted year-end total of 110. Some on the Board
quietly questioned my sanity at the time. Folks, I'm happy to report, you
members responded to this appeal in overwhelming fashion. Our 110th member is
Mr. Ed Thompson. But then, you blew us off the map! There is no quitting in you
folks!! You told us loud and clear not to underestimate you or your resolve.
Today I'm happy to announce that, in typical agency fashion, you exceeded our
goal, and we now have 68 new members. Mr. Charles Love is our 119th life member
of your organization Give yourself a hand!! You did it; you deserve it. Now that
we have a taste of success under our belt, I'm convinced we can do even better
in 2003.
We have already identified 73 high-priority members we know should already be
with us as life members! We know some of you are looking for a great year-end
tax deduction. The Organization now has 501(c)(3) status. There is no better
investment than in This Organization and your future. The amazing thing about
our life membership growth list is that it contains so many of what I call
ordinary people. Ordinary people who are making an extraordinary effort on their
and others behalf. Yes, we have some State Conservationists and Regional
Conservationists, but it's truly amazing how many of our life members are
secretaries, clerks, soil conservationists, soil scientists, public affairs
specialists, information technology specialists, retirees, beginning district
conservationists, etc. When these extraordinary members are willing to make
these kinds of sacrifices, it tells me we must be getting it right!
And folks, it's not even about raising money. It's about your unqualified
support to the mandate you gave this Board in December 2000. We, and you, have
taken it to heart. With your support we've remained focused on the goals of:
1. More professional development training opportunities for our members, with a
special emphasis on youth,
2. Enhancing and improving our professional Organization stature with NRCS,
USDA, Partners, and others, and
3. Securing and achieving our Organizational financial self sufficiency.
* * *
. . . this year we're trying something new and, we believe, much needed. We've
introduced and invited all State Conservationists and high school and college
students to our first Student/Career Fair. All students and others, 16 years of
age or older, are asked to participate if they are interested in working as
Student Interns or permanent employees of NRCS anywhere in the country. We are
seeking to connect these interested persons to our agency via the Student
Educational Employment Program or as USDA Career Interns. Thanks to the help of
our State Conservationists and their Human Resources staff, 1890 liaisons, and
personal contacts initiated by our various NRCS employee Organizations, the Fair
started yesterday at noon and will continue through today.
Our goal is to assist minority, American Indian, female, and people with
disabilities, who are interested, to find work with our agency. We also want to
help management increase opportunities to achieve AEP and Workforce Diversity
goals. Unlike regular Federal Job or Career Fairs, we already know these persons
are looking for work in the natural resources field specifically. A win-win
situation, we think. And with our new Career Intern hiring authority, jobs can
virtually be offered on the spot!
We will assess how it works this year and what improvements are needed so that
we can improve the connectivity in future years. Please give us your feedback
and support by visiting and listening to recruiters and students. Members and
guests, we're privileged to be here for this important learning opportunity.
Open your ears as wide as possible, your mouth as little as possible, engage
your brain as much as possible, be attentive, punctual and as cooperative as
possible and I guarantee by the end of this week you will know significantly
more about our agency work and your important role in it than when you arrived.
Our goal is to always exceed your expectations.
With that, I officially declare The Organization's 10th annual training
conference duly open for new and expanded mission-critical Training and career
development opportunities. This is your conference! Chances are very great
you'll get out of this training what you put into it, so get connected early and
often! We want you to leave here a satisfied customer. Enjoy the learning
journey! Thank you, and have a great learning week!!
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