National
Conservation District
Employees Association
District Employees Put Conservation on the Land
2006 NCDEA Regional Reports Index
Northern Plains Regional Report
844 District Employees in Region
5 State Employee Associations in Region
5 Employees on State Technical Committees
Officers
President – Jim Cochran, Wyoming
Vice President –
Secretary/Treasurer – Julie Goss, Montana
Regional Representative – Jeri Trebelcock, Wyoming
Past President – Sandi Scott, Kansas
KANSAS
Gayla Speer, State President
Melinda Vogt, VP, Harvey County
Patti Winters, Secretary, Lincoln County
Donna Grenleaf, Treasurer, Kiowa County
Kansas has 224 employees currently
Each KACD-EO Area held a meeting or training individually. Some topics covered at the various meetings were KACEE’s Wet in the City, Rain Gardens, Communication, Networking, Livestock Waste Systems, Quickbooks, Outlook, Power Point, Eagle Valley Raptor Center, and office closings. Area II is having quarterly meetings for the District Employees to share information and receive training.
- At this time thirteen (13) KACD-EO Advisors have been appointed to serve on KACD standing committees.
- KACD-EO sponsors a scholarship program, which assists and encourages district employees to further their education while improving their job skills. There was one scholarship awarded this year.
- On September 13, 2006, the KACD-EO Executive Committee supported KACD by working the Conservation Partnership booth at the Kansas State Fair.
- The KACD-EO Executive Committee held three meetings during 2006. Meetings were tailored to planning for statewide events, employee development, and the KACD and KACD-EO Annual Meetings.
- Connie Richmeier. District Manager with Finney County Conservation District is serving as NCDEA Treasurer
- KACD-EO Executive Committee was in charge of the Conservation District New Employee Orientation that is designed for employees with less than two years experience. Denise Benteman, Kari Harris and Cheri Miller conducted the orientation session. We continue to support a mentoring atmosphere with new district employees.
- The KACD-EO Annual Meeting was held on Monday, November 20, 2006. Each area held an election for one representative to serve on the KACD-EO Executive Committee. There were awards presented to three employees for 25 years service and one for 40 years service to Kansas Conservation Districts.
- KACD-EO held two meetings in the past year. The meeting was held at KACD convention last November. Each of the 5 areas in Kansas held meetings varying from 1 to 2 days in length. The topics and training will include Wet in the City, Rain Gardens, office management, and cost-share training updates.
- Several District Managers have received Quickbooks training from the State Conservation Commission.
- There has been one application for the EO scholarships thus far this year.
The next KACD-EO meeting is scheduled for November 20 at the KACD Convention.
MONTANA
Montana Association Conservation District Employee Organization has been busy this past year. The administrators decided to create a educational handbook filled with ideas for education projects. This handbook will include educational materials for conservation districts to utilize and will have activities ranging From elementary outdoor classrooms to adult range schools, this handbook will give the tools needed, time required and ages recommended. The handbook project was formed because of the turnover we have in conservation districts, the amount of time that is required to develop educational materials and as a way to network. This book will be available to every Montana Conservation District and will be updated annually.
The EO also had a very successful convention meeting. We had many different agency personnel there to report and help with any questions. Dave Kascht of NRCS has continually supported the EO and answered many questions about the CCE computer, security checks and the purchase of new systems. MACD, DNRC CARDD, MSCA, NACD and NRCS answered questions relating to grant management, Common Computing Environment Computers, NRCS security clearance background checks, conservation district law.
We are currently struggling finding funding for health benefits. We have finally found an insurance company willing to form a pool for MACD. This has been a great step and the committee has worked hard to gain this step. Now the big leap: financial help to districts to offer this insurance. The plans still have a high deductible but are reasonably cost effective. This effort will continue through the legislative sessions and hopefully in the next year or 2 we will succeed. The problem that we faced with the new health insurance was that District personnel could not afford the benefits and Districts can not afford to cover all or even part of the employees benefit package.
The EO has met with the Director of Montana DNRC in hopes to build a relationship of communication. This luncheon was successful as many issues were covered and an understanding of the funding was discussed. Montana Conservation Districts are successful because of Montana DNRC CARDD division. We hope this is a start to a better communication with DNRC on a state level.
The EO was able to send Shonny Nordland to the Leadership Conference this year. Shonny is instrumental and a key force in the success of the Envirothon. She has always represented Montana well and we look forward to her report.
Continuing our quest for training classes in photo shop, word, excel, and digital photography will be held in the next year.
NEBRASKA
- Once again the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts had a busy year assisting the 23 Natural Resources District Office’s. Following are a few of our accomplishments:
- Hosted the districts two day Legislative Conference with 300 attendees. An evening reception was held for Nebraska’s 49 state senators.
- Coordinated the districts annual meeting in Washington DC with over 60 participants. While in DC the NARD hosted meetings with the Nebraska delegation.
- Other conferences and training sessions were held throughout the year to include; Groundwater Program Conference, Groundwater Certification Training and Tree Planting Workshops.
- Assisted with planning high school contests including Range Judging, Land Judging and Envirothon.
- Hosted the two day annual meeting with over 300 participants. Different employee training sessions were offered during theses two days.
In promoting NRD’s, we assisted them by participating in the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Career Fair day, Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days. The five promotion displays we assisted the NRDs in creating, were used at these promotions.
NORTH DAKOTA
The employee association has a total of 66 members this past year. 22 of those members are regional members also. We start acquiring dues from the employees at this time for the following year. All is voluntary on their part. We have a total of three directors from each of the five areas across the state. I will give you some of the activities that have taken place since last year at this time.
NDCDEA Auction
We had the chance a few years ago to try this and it has been very successful for the Association in achieving their goals. Thanks to all the Soil Conservation Districts and agencies that contributed and to Nancy Olson for gathering the list of items for the auction. Proceeds from the auction go towards education programs/training needs for SCD employees, along with organized programs. The NDCDEA contributed $1400 to the winner of the ND Envirothon contest, West Fargo High School team, to help with expenses to the National Envirothon contest. Contributions were made to the TREES Program (The Regional Environmental Education Series), Mouse River Envirothon, and a $500 scholarship award to a high school student, Katie Conkin. Ten percent of last year’s earnings and an item donated proceed went to the NDASCD Auxiliary. ND Natural Resources Trust item proceeds were also donated back to the program.
NDCDEA Appreciation Award
Last few years we have been honoring individuals who have contributed a lot of their time and effort in providing guidance and leadership to SCD Employees. Last year’s winner was Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservation Specialist, with the State Soil Conservation Committee. This year’s winner will be announced later at this convention.
North Dakota Conservation District Employee Association Training and Tree Promotion Workshop
This two day event is sponsored by the Employee’s Association and ND Forest Service. In cooperation with the ND Forest Service and our Association, the agendas have been closely aligned to compliment each other. Employees have the opportunity to share ideas, learn from others, and meet other SCD employees across the state. Mini sessions are developed to provide the training needs in various lines of topics that are related to the conservation goals of Districts and to employees. The Forest Service provides training in the promotion and benefits of trees in North Dakota. During this year’s workshop, attendees were able to tour the Lincoln Oakes nursery and NRCS Plant Materials Center in Bismarck.
NDCDEA Web Site (www.nd.ncdea.org)
Great informational tool developed for those who would like to know more about the Employee’s Association and to locate mentors in helping with specific areas of need. Whether it be the Quickbook’s accounting program to tree planting ideas. It includes news, messages, directory pages, photo gallery, minutes from previous meetings, NDCDEA By-laws, directors, membership brochures, and much more. Nedra Hoberg is the webmaster for this site and she has done a great job in keeping up with it.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Members: 84
President: Nancy Barrick
Vice-President: Tina DeHaai
Secretary/Treasurer: Tami Moore
State Technical Committee Rep: Kathy Chase
- The SDACDE held in conjunction with the SDACD a Leadership meeting in February with a motivational speaker speaking on getting supervisors involved, a presentation on “What Employer’s need to know about Employee Hiring & Firing.” The Conservation District owned Big Sioux Nursery Annual meeting is held in conjunction with the Leadership meeting.
- Each Area holds an employee meeting /workshop at least once a year. Each area takes turns hosting and organizing with the SDACD the Annual convention.
- The Records Retention is now approved and in place.
- Each year the SDACDE awards two scholarships to deserving students who plan on entering into a field that is agricultural related.
- South Dakota hosted the Northern Plains Regional Meeting this past June.
- SDACDE continues to give welcome packs to new employees.
- The new logo developed by SDACD has been received highly and is used on the employee fundraising efforts on selling caps, coats, shirts and other items. We also hold a 50/50 drawing raffle at our annual convention. The new logo is also used for our stationary, news articles, business cards and other media needs.
- The exciting project we have developed this year to implement in all Districts in 2007 is our new Database Record. Six Districts were part of pilot group of employees who tested the system this past six months. The system is very simple to use and is a great way to keep timekeeping records and where the time was spent.
WYOMING
President--Lisa Shaw
Vice President Rex Lockman
Treasurer Michelle Cook
Secretary Annette France / Dawn Arnell *
Area I Rep Wendy Wagnor / Debbie Hepp *
Area II Rep Cary Allen
Area III Rep Janet Hallstead
Area IV Brenda Ashworth
Area V Glen Leavengood
WACD Liaison Jeri Trebelcock
NRCS Liaison Bruce Petersen
* Terms were not completed by the original elected representative and were filled by voluntary action or appointment. Thanks to these two ladies for picking up the slack.
There are seventy-four district employees in Wyoming. Dues are $15 and some are paid by the district where others are paid for out of their own pocket. Currently 71% are paid members.
Accomplishments
- Training was held in Riverton at the WACD Convention. Dan Frank presented Administrative Law. Carol Nichols was awarded a special award for 30 years of longevity.
- Glen Leavengood represented conservation districts on the Wyoming State Forestry Living Snow Fence Committee.
- Dawn Arnell published the WCDEA newsletter and distributed it to all employees.
- Jeri Trebelcock was elected as the NCDEA Regional Representative for the Northern Plains Regional Team.
- Jim Cochran was elected as the Northern Plains Regional President.
- Jeri Trebelcock, Michelle Cook and Jim Cochran attended the NACD National Convention in Houston, TX.
- Michelle Cook attended the NACD Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.
- WCDEA hosted Employee Training in Cheyenne. It included training on developing good Annual Reports and Plans, reporting to WDA and WACD on the new financial policy, developing applications for the Wyoming Wildlife Trust, Legislative Training and the development of “Employee Certification”.
- Lisa Shaw attended the Northern Plains Regional Meeting in South Dakota.
- Jeri Trebelcock attended the NCDEA Summer meeting in Phoenix.
- Lisa Shaw served on the WACD Awards section committee.
- Jeri Trebelcock, Lisa Shaw and Jim Cochran participated in the National NCDEA conference call.
- WCDEA submitted Jeri Trebelcock for a national award.
- WCDEA held a silent auction to raise funds for awards, scholarships and employee training. In 2005 the auction raised $1,066. In 2006 we raised $1,046.00
Employee Certification
RESOLUTION
SUPPORT EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING
SUBMITTED BY THE WYOMING CONSERVATION DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
Whereas, the Wyoming Conservation District Employees Association's (WCDEA) mission is to promote the professional growth and development of their membership
Whereas, through voluntary training opportunities and accountability WCDEA's certification program will establish and maintain a consistent level of excellence for district employees statewide
Whereas, via partnerships with WCDEA, Wyoming Department of Agriculture and the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts voluntary training and testing programs will be developed, scheduled, and administered to achieve district employee certification
Whereas, individual Boards of Supervisors will be assured through a certification program that district employees are knowledgeable and proficient in executing their statutory responsibilities and authorities
Therefore be it resolved, the Conservation District Boards/WACD endorse that the WCDEA develop and implement a voluntary, employee driven certification program that covers the statutory responsibilities and authorities of Conservation Districts. Training and test questions will be developed in concert with WCDEA, WDA, and WACD. To achieve certification each employee will be required to pass the test with an 80% accuracy or better.
Support for this effort passed the 2006 WACD convention in Rock Springs.