A Message from J EFF M E I N D ERS , I A S W C D p r e s id e n t In 24 months, the State of Indiana will celebrate its bicentennial. Two hundred years of statehood is a great achievement. Such momentous occasions provide time to reflect on our past and look forward to the future. We’re also preparing to celebrate the national 75th anniversary of conservation districts in 2015. Another important milestone to recognize in 2015 will be the 45th anniversary of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, formed as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 1968 by local supervisors. A board of directors was created to provide leadership, education and training for the 92 local Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Indiana. We hired our first executive director in 1993. Since then, as you can tell by the scope of our Annual Conference and the programs and services we offer, the Association has grown over the years as we provide significant influence on natural resource policy in Indiana and across the region, and nationally. With that growth, our mission has evolved as well. We exist to enable the conservation of the natural resources of Indiana. We seek to improve the environment and quality of life for future generations by serving the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, our Indiana Conservation Partners, and the users of Indiana’s natural resources through leadership, communication, advocacy, and capacity building programs which emphasize our competitive advantages of being flexible, innovative, credible, and influential. We are sustainable by having a diversified fund development effort that includes funding sources such as memberships, foundations, corporate and government grants; and earned income. I N D I A N A A S S O C I A T I O N OF soil and water conservation D I S T R I C T S 225 S. East Street, Suite 740 We seek to achieve: • To enable the local Districts and their leadership to be successful • To improve the environment and quality of life for citizens of Indiana • To improve the conservation of our natural resources Will you make a commitment to this conservation movement? Join with us and become part of something solidified in the enhancement of our soil and water resources where it counts the most, your local Soil and Water Conservation District. Sincerely, Jeff Meinders Jeff Meinders, Ripley County IASWCD President Indianapolis, IN 46202 Ph: 317.692.7325 Fx: 317.423.0756 [email protected] www.iaswcd.org President: Jeff Meinders, Ripley County SWCD Vice President: Paul Cummings, Owen County SWCD Secretary: Jamie Scott, Kosciusko County SWCD Treasurer: Bobby Hettmansperger, Wabash County SWCD Executive Director: Jennifer Boyle Warner Soil Health Program Manager: Lisa Holscher Project Assistant: Elizabeth Rice Communications Manager: DeeDee Sigler Communications I N F O R M I N G A N D E D U C AT I N G The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) used various tools to inform our members and the public about soil and water conservation issues. In 2013, the IASWCD: • Delivered the bi-weekly Conservation Update eNewsletter; • Communicated District successes through media and news releases; • Provided an eNewsletter for state legisla- tors to communicate SWCD and conser- vation news; • Provided continuous updates of the resource-packed Association website at www.iaswcd.org; • Promoted outstanding conservation efforts through awards programs: oRiver Friendly Farmer: 46 recipients oFriend of Conservation: 3 recipients oConservation Farmer of the Year: State winner oDistrict Showcase Tour: 2 recipients oSWCD Supervisor of the Year: State winner • Communicated news releases and other important natural resource information to a broader audience through Twitter and Facebook on a regular basis; • Served as co-coordinator on the ICP Path- way to Water Quality exhibit committee and successfully celebrated the 20th anniversary of PWQ; • Launched a Facebook and Twitter account for Pathway to Water Quality; and • Redesigned the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative website (www.ccsin.org) Advocacy T O L E G I S L AT O R S , T H E P U B L I C , A N D T O PA R T N E R S Key efforts from the IASWCD this year: • Successfully secured $1 million/year in general fund revenue for the Clean Water Indiana program; • Successfully reinstated the full dedicated fund (cigarette taxes) for the Clean Water Indiana program; • Updated SWCDs on a weekly basis during the legislative session; Capacity Building • • • Actively participated on the Indiana Conser- vation Alliance and represented Soil and Water Conservation Districts at the 2013 Conservation Day event held at the State- house. Actively participated in NACD’s Natural Resources Policy Committee on national issues; and Maintained the Clean Water Indiana web page. STRENGTHENING DISTRICTS Key efforts from the IASWCD this year: • Provided the monthly Development eNewslet- ter to SWCDs and watershed organizations around the state; and maintained the Conser- vation Development Resource web page; • Successfully garnered $50,000 in sponsor- ships for the 2013 SWCD Annual Conference which helps offset the cost of conference for attendees; • • • • Partnered with ISDA and NRCS to provide information and training at regional meetings; Supported and assisted with the SWCD Chair/Vice Chair workshop; Supported and assisted SWCDs and water- shed groups with funding and resource devel- opment; and Served as instructors for the SWCD Leader- ship Institute series. Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative • Conducted numerous soil health workshops: o50 Events with 3,690 attendees o12 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Farmer Events with 885 attendees o4 Intro to Soil Health with 88 attendees o4 CIG Advanced Trainings with 144 attendees oAdvanced 3-day training with 136 attendees oAdvanced Farmer Roundtable provided research and technical assistance needs to the Midwest Cover Crop Council • Technical Assistance (TA): oOne-on-one TA provided to 56 individuals oMentoring program relaunched • Soil Health Investigations: oReplicated strip trials on 17 sites totaling 148 strips. oOver 1,200 aggregated samples pulled (approximately 15,000 individual cored stalks; measurements by 50-60 people) oInitial results and implications presented at the CCSI Hub Annual Meeting • Media • o Website relaunched, Soil Health Events Calendar established o Grew presence on social media sites Face- book and Twitter o Produced 12 news releases specific to CCSI events CCSI partners include: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, Conserva- tion Technology Information Center, Purdue Extension, USDA Natural Resources Conserva- tion Service, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Board, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Mar- keting Council, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Wabash and Dubois County Soil and Water Conserva- tion Districts Leadership P R O V I D I N G C O N S E R VAT I O N L E A D E R S H I P F O R S W C D S The IASWCD Board of Directors and its staff strive to provide consistent and quality leadership for Districts. This year the Association: • Served on the State Soil Conservation Board’s subcommittee to advise on pilot projects for the Conservation Beyond 2016 Task Force; • Successfully hosted the 70th Annual Confer- ence of Soil and Water Conservation Dis- tricts, January 8-10, 2013, with over 400 in attendance; • Represented SWCDs on the Leadership Insti- tute subcommittee; the State Technical Commit- tee, the Indiana Conservation Partnership Leaders meetings; State Soil Conservation Members Board meet- ings, and other state level committees; • Represented SWCDs at the national level on various NACD committees. Three Board members visited with our Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C.; and • Served on the Watershed Leadership Academy Advisory Council. SERVING DISTRICT NEEDS Everything the IASWCD does is for its members. In 2013, the IASWCD: • Provided a Supervisor Scholarship Program offering assistance to 15 supervisors to attend the 2013 and 2014 SWCD Annual Confer- ence; • Successfully garnered a contribution agree ment valued at $349,000 with NRCS for • • Districts to complete Conservation Reserve Program status reviews; Conveyed important NRCS information to Districts through a contribution agreement for communication services; and Provided liability insurance coverage for Districts