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For the Week of September 22-26, 2008
In This Week’s Edition . . .
A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle
IASWCD Poster Contest Winners.
Winners have been selected to represent Indiana in the NACD 2008 Poster Contest. The five winners are:
- Ingrid Miller from Franklin County representing grades K-1
- Mary Pennington from Franklin County representing grades 2-3
- Rachel Burke from Posey County representing grades 4-6
- Hannah Vormohr from Franklin County representing grades 7-9
- Lee A. Wiwi from Franklin County representing grades 10-12
Posters from these winners will now be sent to NACD to compete in the national contest. National winners will be recognized at the 2009 NACD annual conference in New Orleans. Thank you to everyone who submitted a poster and we wish good luck to the posters moving to the next round.
Midwest Cover Crops Council Web site Completed. The Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) Web site is ready for viewing! MCCC’s Web site contains lots of information and resources for cover crops. In addition to the cover crops information currently on the Web site, there is also a brief survey for those currently utilizing cover crops. This is so the MCCC can gather knowledge about what cover crops are being used in different regions which will help others select cover crops to use for their land. The Web site can be found at http://www.mccc.msu.edu/
NACD Represents Districts in Carbon Workgroup. NACD recently participated in a meeting of the 25 x ’25 Carbon Workgroup, represented by Illinois Board Member Terry Davis. The group 25 x ’25 was formed to advance the goal of providing up to 25 percent of America’s energy needs from renewable sources by the year 2025. NACD’s Climate Change policy, adopted in July, supports opportunities for conservation Districts in efforts such as the 25 x ’25 Carbon Workgroup. NACD has been asked to assist in identifying carbon trading opportunities and help develop a position paper. More information can be found on the 25 x ’25 Web site at http://25x25.org.
Hoosier Heartland Workshop Date Change. The Hydraulics and Hydrology workshop given by Hoosier Heartland RC&D Urban Committee has been rescheduled to October 23rd and 24th. Information on this event can be found in the weekly update by clicking here or on the brochure here.
Reminder/District Photos Requested for Annual Conference. We’re asking Districts to submit your best digital photos to be used in designing our Annual Conference logo for 2009. The theme is The Power of Conservation: Building a Sustainable Future. We would like you to submit a photo(s) that depicts what your SWCD is doing to build a sustainable future in your county. Submit your photos to DeeDee by October 15 to deedee-sigler@iaswcd.org. If you submit high resolution photos, please use a zip file to send them (or send them on CD).
Reminder/Register Now for the Indiana District Employees Association Conference. >>Click here for the brochure on this exciting agenda for District staff. It is a great agenda filled with excellent content. I hope as SWCD staff you will take time to attend this valuable conference! IDEA has produced an informative FAQ on the conference to provide answers for SWCD staff. >>Click here for this flyer.
2008 IASWCD Dues. A special thanks to Districts that have supported the IASWCD with payment of their 2008 dues: Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Benton, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, DeKalb, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Fulton, Gibson, Grant, Green, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Johnson, Kosciusko, Knox, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Porter, Posey, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Switzerland, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Union, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Warrick, Washington, Wayne, Wells, White and Whitley. Please take the time to read over the important information in the dues brochure on how your dues support SWCD activities in the state.
Have a good week!
Jennifer
Watershed Moment: Congress Approves Great Lakes Compact
The Great Lakes Governors today applauded members of Congress for boldly acting to protect the Great Lakes--St. Lawrence River Basin. Specifically, members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Congressmen John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan), James L. Oberstar (D-Minnesota), Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Michigan) and Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio) passed a joint resolution providing consent to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.
Today’s House action follows similar action by the U.S. Senate on August 1 led by Senators Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio). The resolution now goes to President Bush who has committed to sign it. These actions complete a historic process to protect the Great Lakes.
In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reached agreement on the Compact. The Compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection. The eight Great Lakes States reached a similar, good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the Provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency. During 2007 and 2008, each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures ratified the Compact. Today’s Congressional action completes the legislative approval process.
The Compact includes the following points:
- Economic development will be fostered through sustainable use and responsible management of Basin waters.
- In general, there will be a ban on new diversions of water from the Basin but limited exceptions could be allowed in communities near the Basin when rigorous standards are met.
- Communities that apply for an exception will have a clear, predictable decision making process; standards to be met; and, opportunities to appeal decisions. These processes and standards do not exist under current law.
- The States will use a consistent standard to review proposed uses of Basin water. The States will have flexibility regarding their water management programs and how to apply this standard.
Regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency will be developed, and they will be reviewed every five years. Each State will develop and implement a water conservation and efficiency program that may be voluntary or mandatory.
- There is a strong commitment to continued public involvement in the implementation of the Compact.
A broad, bi-partisan consensus has been built in support of the Compact. The Compact was developed in collaboration with regional partners who have also played a key role in its implementation. Members of Congress, Mayors, local government officials and stakeholders have all been instrumental.
The Great Lakes are a national treasure—important to our nation and the world as both an environmental and economic asset. Our national economy depends on the Great Lakes for industrial uses, hydropower, maritime commerce, agricultural irrigation and many other uses. The Great Lakes are also a globally unique and important environmental resource. The Compact will ensure that the Lakes are used sustainably in order to continue to provide benefits to us all.
Additional information is available at www.cglg.org.
Funds still available from HOME for Hoosier farm families
SWCDs: if you have farmer customers affected by the June 2008 floods, funds are still available to these farm families through Hoosier Organic Marketing Education (HOME), an Indiana-based non-profit organization. HOME received a $17,500 grant from Farm Aid and OpUSA for emergency flood relief. These funds are only for Indiana farm families living in the declared disaster counties as a result of the June 2008 flood.
Each eligible farm household may receive up to $300 for food, clothing, utilities and/or health care needs. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2009. HOME will distribute the funds on a first come, first served basis.
To be eligible, the farm family applicant must meet the following:
- Be a farmer in an Indiana county that was declared a disaster due to the June floods, and
- Agree that the funds will be used solely for food, clothing, utilities or health care needs related to the Indiana floods of June 2008.
HOME will distribute the funds in a cash payment of $300. Potential farm family applicants should contact HOME immediately for an application or go to their Web site.
Posey County Educator named Rural Teacher of the Year
Lois Gray, a science teacher at New Harmony School in New Harmony has been selected as the National Rural Teacher of the Year.
Gray has been a teacher for 20 years, teaching all the science courses for junior high and high school students at New Harmony. Her efforts at the school also include being the science club sponsor, Envirothon coach, junior high academic bowl coach and coordinator for the gifted and talented program. She is also very involved in the community, serving on the New Harmony Parks and Recreation board and the New Harmony Garden Club. Prior to teaching, she was a park naturalist at Spring Mill State Park and worked as a reporter for the New Harmony Times.
Gray advanced to the national contest after winning the Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year award. For winning the Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year award, Gray will receive with a $1,000 check from Indiana Farm Bureau at a meeting of the membership of the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association on September 30 in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association selects the Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year based on recommendations from other educators, students and parents; impact on student achievement; and collaboration with other professionals along with other criteria.
Gray will be recognized as National Rural Teacher of the Year at the National Rural Education Association convention in San Antonio on Oct. 27-29.
Michiana Area Master Gardeners and Elkhart County SWCD Tree Sale
Order forms are now available for the 2009 Michiana Area Master Gardeners and the Elkhart County SWCD tree seedling sale. There are sixteen different species of deciduous and conifer seedlings available. Trees may be purchased in packs of 5, 10, or 25. An “Early Bird” special is being offered on orders placed on or before December 1, 2008. Customers can deduct ten percent off their total order amount. The final order deadline is March 13, 2009. All orders must accompany payment and be in the SWCD office by the deadline dates. Tree pick up will be April 18, 2009, at the Sheep/Swine Arena, on the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen.
The SWCD will be more than happy to send you an order form. Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Elkhart County SWCD, Attn: Elkhart County Tree Program, 17746-B County Rd. 34, Goshen, IN 46528. An order form may also be obtained by visiting the Elkhart County SWCD Web site or the Michiana Master Gardener’s Web site. Contact the Elkhart County SWCD with any questions at 574-533-3630 ext. 3.
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
OFFICERS:
President: Jim Droege, Posey Co.
Vice President: Paula Baldwin, Marion Co.
Secretary: Ray McCormick: Knox Co.
Treasurer: Jeff Meinders, Ripley 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: Ray Chattin, Knox 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
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