National Association of Conservation District Employees

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 75^th Anniversary of NRCS including co hosting a dinner with past Chiefs of the NRCS. NCDEA also attended the national 75^th 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

Cookeville, Tennessee Field Office Kiowa County, Kansas Field Office

Osborne County, Kansas Field Office Ness County, Kansas Field Office

Archived President Notes