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In This Week’s Edition . . .

• Executive Director’s Report
  • Celebrate Stewardship Week
  • IASWCD on Twitter
  • IDNR Position Open
  • SWCD Staff
  • And Finally . . . Telling the District Story
• Action Needed on State Budget for Clean Water Indiana Funds
• Watershed Moment
  • IDEM, INDOT and IDNR Work to Match Groups with Potential Wetland Restoration Sites
  • Indiana Watershed Networking Sessions: Integrating Watershed Planning and Implementation at the Local Level
• Farm Bill Programs for You & Your Community: Direct Farmer-to-Consumer Marketing
• Job Positions Available
• American Water Offers Environmental Grant Program
• AgLearn Information
• Upcoming Workshops / Seminars
• Your IASWCD Officers, Board and Staff

A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle

Celebrate Stewardship Week! Stewardship Week begins this Sunday, April 26 and continues through May 3. Don’t forget to reach out to your local media outlets and encourage them to cover your events throughout the week. Our celebration takes place on Monday morning, April 27, at 9:15 a.m. EDT when we’ll gather to dedicate a tree in memory of former NACD President Olin Sims. Join us on the grounds of our office headquarters at the Farm Bureau Building here in Indianapolis as we celebrate conservation with members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership. >> Click here for the media advisory that went our earlier this afternoon about the event. In case it is raining, we’ll gather in Hall D on the first floor of the Farm Bureau Building for the event. We hope to see many of you here next Monday!

IASWCD on Twitter. You can also read about the Association’s Stewardship Week event on Twitter. What is Twitter, you ask? Well, Twitter is a free service for friends, family, and co–workers to communi-
cate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to a simple question such as “What are you doing?” When you write messages on Twitter, it is called a “Tweet.” Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters (not words) in length which are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow anybody to access them. SWCDs in USDA Service Centers will not be able to sign onto Twitter from a CCE computer. You will find the Association on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/IASWCD. We’ll post events and comments about conservation news and issues on Twitter. This is a new social media tool, so we’ll see how we do! You’ll see other organizations that are on Twitter by following the IASWCD.

IDNR Position Open. The IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife's Aquatic Resources Education Coordinator (Go FishIN Coordinator) position in currently posted in the state job bank and open for application until May 5. Click here for the job description. This position supervises one other full time staff member and two part time staff. They coordinate the state's Federal Aquatic education Grant and supervise the Go FishIN education program, which trains formal and non-formal educators to teach children how to fish and aquatic ecology. The job posting number to search for in the state job bank is 563005. If you have questions about the position or want to forward a cover letter and resume in addition to the electronic application, contact: Warren Gartner, Conservation Education Supervisor, Division of Fish & Wildlife, 317.547.3104.

Quickbooks. I have had a few people ask about installing Quickbooks Pro 2009 on CCE computers. I have been informed by NRCS that it can be installed, but needs a signed waiver of approval. You will need to contact your primary NRCS IT specialist for assistance with this waiver request. IT info is:

• NW – open; contact one of the other area IT specialists
• NE – John Beatrice; john.beatrice@in.usda.gov
• SW – Lisa Bacon; lisa.bacon@in.usda.gov or Denise Sigworth; denise.sigworth@in.usda.gov
• SE – Steve Antras; steve.antras@in.usda.gov

And Finally. Don't forget to visit our Telling the District Story Web pages. You'll find great information about Districts and what they are doing in their respective counties. Read about LaGrange County SWCD's first Pasture Walk of 2009. In the coming week's look for stories from DeKalb, Elkhart, Dearborn and Switzerland counties. DeeDee has been traveling to both ends of the state to learn more about the excited programs and initiatives these Districts are involved in. She'll have these stories on the Web and featured in the Weekly Update in weeks to come.

Have a good week,
Jennifer

Action Needed on State Budget for Clean Water Indiana Funds

The state budget conferees have been officially named, so now is the time to make contacts concerning Clean Water Indiana (CWI) funding in the state budget.  Senators Kenley and Broaden and Representatives Crawford and Espich make up the committee along with the following advisors: The House advisors are: Dennis Avery (D-Evansville), Randy Borror (R-Fort Wayne), Terry Goodin (D-Austin), Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette), Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City), Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven), Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) & Eric Turner (R-Marion). The Senate advisors are: Gary Dillon (R-Pierceton), Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield), Lindel Hume (D, Princeton), Teresa Lubbers (R-Indy), Earline Rogers (D-Gary) & Karen Tallian (D-Portage).

We need your help to contact them urging them to retain the CWI funding that was in the Senate version of the final budget.  This is the $1 million dollars for Clean Water Indiana from the general fund ($500,000 per year for the next two years). This money is very important to Districts to continue to provide conservation on the land in the form of CREP, grant programs, and many other benefits to Districts as determined by the State Soil Conservation Board.

Here are legislators’ phone numbers and email addresses. We appreciate any help you can provide.  If you have time, let me know if you were able to make contact at jennifer-boyle@iaswcd.org.

Watershed Moment
By Elizabeth Trybula, IASWCD Watershed Information Specialist

IDEM, INDOT and IDNR Work to Match Groups with Potential Wetland Restoration Sites

SWCD Districts; a new partnership between INDOT, IDEM and IDNR is providing a great opportunity to connect local landowners and watershed efforts with restoration resources.

Organizations that disturb wetlands through construction or other activities are required to restore or create new wetlands to offset the impact. In order to increase the probability that new wetlands will survive and to offset the amount of time it takes for the area to mature, groups must create more wetlands than they disturb. Finding areas to restore has proved challenging in the past. 

For that reason, IDEM and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) unveiled a public portal for a new Volunteer Mitigation interactive site located online here>>. The site is intended to connect property owners willing to provide land for mitigation with organizations that must complete mitigation as part of their project. The goal is to easily identify potential sites and streamline wetland restoration and creation.

To better inform potential users of this new tool, a free Seminar will be held on April 28 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. in Indianapolis at the Government Center South Building in Conference Room C. For those unable to travel, a simultaneous Webinar will be cast for you to view. Use this form to register, available online here>>. Registrations are due no later than this Friday, April 24th.

For additional information, visit the INDOT Web site here>>  Questions should be directed to E.J. McNaughton (IDEM) or Kelly Myers (INDOT). 

Indiana Watershed Networking Sessions: Integrating Watershed Planning and Implementation at the Local Level

Click here to see an AGENDA.
 
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable, relevant tools for integrating watershed planning and implementation at the Local Level. Learn how to go beyond your basic watershed plan and move into strategic action resulting in change. Jill Hoffman, from Empower Results, will cover topics such as getting membership active, connecting with other organizations to increase impact, getting your message to the community, and much more.  
 
When and Where
May 12 - Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie
May 13 - Rensselaer Public Library, Rensselaer
May 14 - Ellettsville Fire Department Station #7, Ellettsville
 
Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with registration starting at 9:30 a.m.

REGISTER TODAY -   Click here to REGISTER NOW

Registration will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 4. The registration fee is $15 and includes lunch and snacks. 
 
Networking sessions are a product of a partnership between IASWCD, IDEM and CTIC. 

Farm Bill Programs for You & Your Community: Direct Farmer-to-Consumer Marketing

This is short notice, but the IASWCD just became aware of this grant opportunity on Tuesday, April 21. If you have questions about the grant, contact the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The deadline for applications is midnight, April 27, 2009.

The USDA recently announced the availability of $5 million dollars for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), a competitive grants program to improve and increase direct farmer-to-consumer marketing. Community-supported agriculture programs, farmers markets, roadside stands, and other direct marketing strategies are supported.

Grants will provide assistance with organizing, marketing, training, business plan development, community outreach and education and other activities that improve direct marketing opportunities. For example, previous grant funds have been used for educational workshops for farmers market managers and the farmers/vendors; acquiring permanent signage for markets to identify location and operation hours; purchasing supplies for underserved farmers and markets; and conducting promotional campaigns through newspaper, radio, and television advertising.

Priority will be given to proposals that incorporate:

• Development of new electronic benefit transfer (EBT) programs to use for federal nutrition programs at farmers markets.
   
• Training and educational programs for new direct farm marketers on the benefits, challenges, and logistics of agricultural direct marketing in a given region. Topics could include small business development, marketing techniques, identifying market opportunities, or mentoring programs for women, minorities, immigrant, transitioning, and new farmers. Remember to focus on recruitment and retention of new farmers to participate at farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer farm marketing outlets.
   
• Development of professional expertise for farmers market managers, farmers/vendors, boards, and organizations to effectively manage and/or operate farmers markets and other direct marketing enterprises.
   
• Eligible applicants include farmer-owned cooperatives, nonprofits, agricultural cooperatives, local governments, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, public benefit corporations and Tribal Governments.

The minimum award per grant is $2,500, and the maximum is $100,000. An applicant is limited to no more than one grant in a grant-funding year. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 27, 2009.

Learn more about the Farmers Market Promotion Program and how to apply with the application guidelines at the Agricultural Marketing Service Web site >> Click here.

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

OFFICERS:

President: Paula Baldwin, Marion Co.
Vice President: Ray McCormick: Knox Co.
Secretary: Jeff Meinders, Ripley Co.
Treasurer: Brian Campbell, Elkhart Co.

REGION DIRECTORS:

Board Roster / Region Map
North-Northwest: Larry Strole, Newton Co.
South-Northwest: Kenny Cain, Montgomery Co.
North-Northeast: Tom Crowe, Allen Co.
South-Northeast: Bobby Hettmansperger, Wabash Co.
North-Southwest: Bob Weaver, Johnson Co.
South-Southwest: Alan Weyer, Dubois Co.
North-Southeast: Brad Dawson, Dearborn Co.
South-Southeast: Brad Ponsler, Jennings Co.

IASWCD STAFF:

Executive Director: Jennifer Boyle, 317.692.7519
Watershed Information Specialist: Elizabeth Trybula, 317.692.7514
Communications Manager: DeeDee Sigler, 317.692.7374
Project Assistant: Jaclyn Casale, 317.692.7325