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NCDEA Updates
Message from Connie
Richmeier
June 2010
Printable
Version
Greetings,
What an exciting
time to be a part of NCDEA.
In January and
February we held our annual meeting in conjunction with NACD at Orlando,
FL. We were able to recognize two conservation district employees, Bob
Dobbs, of NJ and Tommy Brooks of NC with our annual employee award. We
also recognized Jerry Scheele of WA as conservation district supervisor of
the year. In addition we had two very successful field tours and a
fundraiser one evening of the meeting. On the last day of the conference
we also hosted a one half day training workshop for district employees and
supervisors.
In mid March NCDEA was invited and served on a panel at the NRCS
2010 Joint Professional Employees Organization and Special Emphasis
Program Managers Training Conference in Kansas City. Also participating in
a partnership panel session was NACD President, Steven Robinson NASCA
President, Mark Clark, and NRCS Chief Dave White.
In late March, The National Conservation Partnership Leaders Quarterly
meeting was held in Baltimore, MD. The Maryland Association of
Conservation Districts along with Elmer Weibley, District Manager with the
Washington Conservation Soil Conservation District, attended as well as
representatives of their state conservation agency. Accomplishments
regarding the Chesapeake Bay Initiative were presented to the national
leaders. The Maryland leadership spoke of the thousands of rivers within
the six state watershed and how the Chesapeake Bay Initiative was defining
the partnerships in the watershed. From landowners, local conservation
districts, state and federal partners, all are sharing in the setting of,
goals, program delivery, and the successes in resources management.
In April, NCDEA was also invited and attended the White House Conference
on the Great American Outdoors. Two key discussions were held on
conserving working land for the benefit of all Americans and Connecting
people to our lands, water and wildlife. President Barack Obama presented
remarks and signed the American’s Great Outdoors memorandum. This
Conference was a supported by the Department of Interior, Department of
Agriculture, Environmental Quality Protection Agency and the Council on
Environmental Quality.
Also in April, NCDEA participated in a number of events in conjunction
with celebrating the 75th Anniversary of NRCS including co
hosting a dinner with past Chiefs of the NRCS. NCDEA also attended the
national 75th Anniversary event in which a panel of past chiefs
spoke of past programs and accomplishments. NCDEA was honored to
participate in this historic event.
Your NCDEA Board held two conference call meetings since my last update
and we are preparing for the Midyear Board meeting to be held June 10-11,
2010 in Phoenix, AR.
NCDEA also held two State Presidents calls - May 18 and 25, 2010.
We have appointed a new committee for Policy & Procedures which is being
chaired by Treasurer Linda Smith.
NCDEA has received several
Don Aron Scholarship applications which will be reviewed by the
Scholarship Committee in Phoenix.
NCDEA is involved
with the planning of the upcoming National Leadership training Conference
in Louisville, KY the week of Dec 13, 2010. Please watch for more
information to be released soon.
NCDEA received
the Legacy of Conservation Award for outstanding leadership in the field
of conservation signed by Sec. Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of USDA.
Connie Richmeier,
NCDEA President
March 2010
Printable
Version
Greetings,
We started the
new year with a bylaw change that added a Regional Rep to serve on the
Executive Committee. Sharon Underwood was elected by the board to serve
as a member of the NCDEA Executive Committee. We also welcomed a new Vice
President, Irene Moore from OH in the North Central Region and said
goodbye to Tim Riley from DE in the Northeast Region. Thank you to Tim
Riley for your dedication to NCDEA! We are a stronger NCDEA because of
Tim’s leadership and dedication.
NCDEA was honored to present three awards at the NCDEA Annual Meeting,
Robert Dobbs,
Camden County Soil Conservation District, 2010 National Conservation
District Professional
Tommy Brooks, Lee Soil and Water Conservation District,
2010 National Conservation District Professional
Gerald Scheele, Spokane County Conservation District,
2010 National Conservation District Board Supervisor
Congratulations on your outstanding leadership in the field of
conservation.
NCDEA held 2 tours in Orlando Fl, in conjunction with the NACD Annual
Meeting, an Open Air Safari Coach Tour and the Harry P. Leu Garden Tour.
We held a Tuesday evening social called ‘Singing with the Likes of
Sinatra’ to support the Don Aaron Scholarship program. We also held a
‘Creative Tools for Successful Districts’ Workshop on Wednesday, February
3, 2010.
In March I attended the quarterly National Conservation Partnership
Leaders’ Meeting in Baltimore, MD. The Maryland Conservation Partnership
presented their efforts on the Chesapeake Bay activity. With thousands of
rivers and streams in one watershed and thousands of miles of shore line
this effort could be the focus of conservation activities that will be the
pilot for the county. I would like the thank Elmer Weibley, District
Manager, Washington County Soil Conservation District, Hagerstown, MD for
his work with the Chesapeake Bay Project and contributions made during the
meeting.
We have begun working with the NCDEA
committees and started work on the Mid Year Board Meeting. We are looking
forward to yet another busy year of growth through the partnership and
NCDEA. This year I would like to work on leadership development and
building a strong professional NCDEA. I would also like to continue to
work on keeping our partnerships strong.
Connie Richmeier,
NCDEA President
January 2010
What an honor it has been to work with you
and for you as your NCDEA President. We are very fortunate to have a board
and executive director that are dedicated to delivering conservation
programs, maintaining positive working relationships with our partners and
the professional development of Conservation District employees.
In conjunction with the NACD Annual Meeting held in New Orleans, NCDEA held
two bus tours on Sunday. Attendees had an opportunity to see a beautiful
scenic Oak Plantation while the other tour took two buses though the Bayou.
NCDEA held two board meetings: 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 report, 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 NCDEA
representatives to the NACD committee reports were also presented. Other
items addressed included updating the NCDEA Strategic Plan, by-law changes
regarding regional boundaries and review of policy and procedures.
We hosted a Luncheon on Tuesday – “Partnerships For Tomorrow”. The keynote
Speaker, R. Neil Sampson, talked on the importance of our conservation
partnership. We heard remarks from our conservation partners; gave
recognition to our NCDEA employee of the year, Phil Griswold from New York
(see more information on the NCDEA web site); and our NCDEA District Board
Member award recognized Pat Sueck of Pennsylvania. Along with the conducting
of our annual meeting, new officers were sworn in.
Wednesday NCDEA conducted a Workshop, “Building A Positive Future For Your
District” for 50 attendees: The Panelists for this four part workshop were:
Irene Moore, District Administrator, Jefferson SWCD, OH
Jerry Scheele, District Chairman, Spokane County CD, Spokane, WA
Don Underwood, Executive Director, Mississippi SWC Commission, Jackson, MS
Robert Dobbs, District Manager, Camden County SWCD, West Berlin, NJ
Cliff Lundin, Chairman of the Sussex County SCD, Andover, NJ
Peter Vigil, District Manager, Taos SWCD, Ranchos de Taos, MN
Brent Van Dyke, District Supervisor, Lea SWCD, Hobbs NM
and NACD Alternate Board Member from NM.
In addition to the activities reported on in New Orleans 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.
NCDEA held several conference call meetings, to guide the actions of the
association, in addition to the mid year Board Meeting which was held in
Columbus, OH.
I attended three National Conservation Partnership Leaders meetings in
Washington DC and Charleston, West Virginia. A new partnership agreement was
signed in Charleston, WV. We are working on a National Leadership Training
to be held this year as well as other conservation issues relating to the
partnership.
NCDEA provided members to the NACD foundation committees.
Communications – Cindy Moon, IL
Stewardship and Education – Pam Hawkins, NC
District Operations and Member Services – Connie Richmeier, KS
Natural Resources Policy – Rick Kirchner, DE
Operating with the Natural Resources Policy Committee, 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
A third is a Coastal Resource Policy Group and we will name a member for
this one in the near future.
Tim Riley, Vice President, NCDEA, was appointed to the NRCS Employee
development committee. We have also been asked to serve on short term task
forces and sub- committees in addition to our own NCDEA committee work.
I also attended and participated in the NACD Legislative Conference and the
National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) meetings.
NCDEA completed work on a new Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2012. We are
excited for new challenges ahead of us.
Tim Riley and I will begin calling or meeting, face to face with each state
employee association presidents to strength our working relationship and to
learn what issues and opportunities exist in each state,
We completed streamline visits in two states with a third one to follow next
year. I would like to thank Cindy Moon, Rhonda Vetsch, Mendel Wade, and Rich
Duesterhaus for the outstanding work they did with the streamline projects.
Your national board is dedicated to building the professionalism of district
employees, serving our customers and continuing to help districts provide an
important part of the conservation delivery system.
As my first year draws to a close, I see many opportunities for NCDEA.
Connie Richmeier,
NCDEA President
NCDEA
Streamlining Visits with Kansas Field Offices
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Cookeville, Tennessee Field Office |
Kiowa County, Kansas Field Office |
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Osborne County, Kansas Field Office |
Ness County, Kansas Field Office |
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