|
November 18, 2008
New NACD Publication Features District Projects
"Our Land, Our Water: Case Studies in Local Successes" is
an exciting new publication from NACD. Published in
partnership with NRCS, the report features 25 inspiring
stories of watershed- or community-scale projects led by
conservation districts. The stories cover rural, urban,
near-wilderness and various mixed land uses as well as
different stages of projects. Each story demonstrates
common threads of success such as engaging all
stakeholders, broadening partnerships, seeking consensus
and showing accountability.
The publication is a testimony to the importance of locally
led conservation, which many of those interviewed described
with the sentiment, "This is our watershed...we are all
part of the problem and the solution." While there are many
more untold stories, we hope this exciting publication
brings more ongoing attention to our land and water.
The 56-page special report is available for download
from NACD’s website at http://nacdnet.org/resources/reports/.
NACD Staff and Officers On the Move
It is the season for state meetings, and NACD is traveling
all over the country to participate in as many as is
feasible. In the past ten days, NACD officers and staff
have had a part in state and district meetings in Vermont,
Massachusetts, Colorado, Alabama, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and
Iowa. Where staff or an officer is not able to be present,
NACD Executive Board members and Board members have
represented the National Association in California, North
Dakota and Kansas.
While these meetings occur in different states and regions,
the issues pertinent to districts and state associations
remain the same. NACD officers and staff travel to these
meetings in an effort to provide updates on NACD’s
activities, learn about the challenges facing districts,
congratulate districts on their successes and learn about
ways we can continue to refine and strengthen our service
to our members.
Staff and officers will continue a heavy travel schedule
over the next two months as states host their annual
conferences. Even if an officer does not make it to your
state this year, they are always just a phone call or email
away. Through constant communication, we can continue to
speak with one voice as America’s Voice for Natural Resource
Conservation.
USDA, DOI, EPA Transition Teams Announced
Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transition
teams for President-Elect Barack Obama have been
announced. Overseeing the efforts of all three transition
teams is David Hayes, chair of the Environment, Land
and Resources department at the law firm Latham and
Watkins. Hayes served as Deputy Secretary at DOI
during the Clinton Administration.
Chosen to lead transition efforts at USDA are Bart
Chilton, currently a commissioner with the Commodities
Futures Trading Commission, and Carole Jett, a former
NRCS employee. Chilton has previously served with the
Farm Credit Administration and was deputy chief of staff
to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman in the Clinton
Administration, government relations staff for National
Farmers Union and an advisor to Senator Tom Daschle
(D-SD). Jett recently retired from NRCS after a 33-year
career with the agency. In her most recent capacity with
NRCS, she served as National Farm Bill Coordinator
where she oversaw the agency’s efforts on the 2002
and 2008 Farm Bills.
Leading transition efforts at DOI are Keith Harper and John
Leshy. Harper is a member of the Cherokee Nation of
Oklahoma and practices Native American law with the firm
Kilpatrick Stockton. Leshy is a law professor at the
University of California, previously served as staff on the
House Natural Resources Committee and was a member
of the DOI transition team for the Clinton administration.
And leading efforts at EPA are Cecilia Estolano, Lisa
Jackson, and Robert Sussman. Estolano is currently
CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los
Angeles and has previously served as staff advisor on
air and radiation at EPA. Jackson is Commissioner of the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and
previously managed Superfund in EPA’s New York regional
office. Sussman is a Senior Fellow at the Center for
American Progress and previously served as Deputy
Administrator at EPA from 1993-1994.
NACD looks forward to the work of the transition teams
during this important phase of the new administration.
Redding Takes a Turn as America’s Voice for Conservation
NACD President John Redding spent five hours last Thursday
morning serving as America’s Voice for Natural Resource
Conservation at the National Association of Farm
Broadcasting’s (NAFB) annual Trade Talk event in Kansas
City, Mo. Set up in an expo style, the event provides
trade- and agriculture-based organizations and government
agencies a chance to speak out on their respective
priorities in interviews with farm broadcasters. In what
seemed to be a “media marathon,” Redding participated in
more than a dozen interviews, emphasizing the importance of
the locally-led conservation delivery system and
highlighting the exciting work of conservation districts. He
also discussed the recent election, climate change,
conservation in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Conservation Reserve
Program and conservation districts’ work in urban and
community areas.
Hundreds of interviews were conducted during the event,
portions of which will appear in and be aired on television,
magazine, radio and web stories for months to come. Farm
broadcasters can provide an excellent vehicle to deliver
local conservation district messages as well. Locate your
local producer on the NAFB website at http://www.nafb.com and contact them today!
Early Registration for NACD’s Annual Meeting Ends Friday!
Don’t miss out on your chance to save a little money on
your registration fee for the 2009 NACD Annual Meeting.
There isn’t much time left! Early-bird registration ends
this Friday, November 21. This year’s meeting will take
place February 1-4, 2009 in the beautiful city of New
Orleans, La. Themed “Building a Better Tomorrow,” the
conference will focus on today’s changing times and how
districts and partners can play a key part in planning for
the future of natural resource conservation.
Confirmed general session speakers include Ray Vaughan,
Executive Director of WildLaw; Jim Hubbard, Deputy Chief
for State and Private Forestry, Forest Service; Dr. James
Kennamer, Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs,
National Wild Turkey Federation; and Jay Grymes, Chief
Meteorologist for WAFB Baton Rouge and LSU Ag Center
Climatologist. Breakout session topics will include climate
change, conservation for small acreage resource concerns,
finding opportunities in challenging times, the 2008 Farm
Bill and more. Additional details about the conference
agenda, speakers, and breakout sessions are now available
online at http://nacdnet.org/events/annualmeeting/program/.
Trust us when we say you don’t want to miss this meeting!
Registration forms must be postmarked by this Friday to be
eligible for the discounted rate. So what are you waiting
for? Go to http://nacdnet.org/events/annualmeeting/registration/ and register today!
Three Potential District Funding Opportunities Available
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), along
with multiple partners, has a funding opportunity available
through its “Bring Back the Natives: A Public-Private
Partnership for Restoring Populations of Native Aquatic
Species” program. The program focuses on the restoration,
protection and enhancement of native aquatic species. The
grant requires a $2 non-federal match for each federal
dollar requested by applicants. Qualified applicants
include non-profit organizations as well as federal, state
and local agencies. The deadline for pre-proposals is
December 1, 2008. For more information is available on the
NFWF website.
USDA Rural Development is currently calling for applicants
for the USDA Solid Waste Management Grants for Rural Areas.
The objectives of the program are to reduce or eliminate
pollution of water resources and improve planning and
management of solid waste sites in rural areas. Qualified
applicants are non-profit organizations, public bodies,
federal and/or state acknowledged Native American tribes
and academic institutions. Applications can be submitted
between October 1 and December 31 of each calendar year. For
more specifics on eligibility, program limitations and
application requirements, please visit the USDA Rural
Development website at http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/SWMG.htm.
EPA is currently seeking applications for its 2009
Environmental Education Grants program. To be eligible,
projects must promote environmental stewardship and help
develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers,
and citizens. Any local education agency, college or
university, state education or environmental agency,
non-profit organization may submit a proposal. Grants
requests are not to exceed $200,000. Grants for $50,000 or
less are funded by EPA’s ten regional offices while grants
more than $50,000 are funded by EPA’s national
headquarters. Non-federal matching funds of at least 25
percent of the total cost of the grant project are
required. The deadline to apply for the 2009 is
December 18, 2008. For additional information and
guidelines, go to http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html.
|
Connecting to Facebook
