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
info@iaswcd.org
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 legislators to communicate SWCD and conservation news;
• Provided continuous updates of the
resource-packed Association website at
www.iaswcd.org;
• Promoted outstanding conservation
efforts through awards programs:
o River Friendly Farmer: 46 recipients
o Friend of Conservation: 3 recipients
o Conservation Farmer of the Year:
State winner
o District Showcase Tour: 2 recipients
o SWCD 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 Pathway 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 Conservation 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 eNewsletter to SWCDs and watershed organizations
around the state; and maintained the Conservation Development Resource web page;
• Successfully garnered $50,000 in sponsorships 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 watershed groups with funding and resource development; and
Served as instructors for the SWCD Leadership Institute series.
Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative
•
Conducted numerous soil health workshops:
o 50 Events with 3,690 attendees
o 12 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG)
Farmer Events with 885 attendees
o 4 Intro to Soil Health with 88 attendees
o 4 CIG Advanced Trainings with 144 attendees
o Advanced 3-day training with 136 attendees
o Advanced Farmer Roundtable provided research and technical assistance needs to
the Midwest Cover Crop Council
• Technical Assistance (TA):
o One-on-one TA provided to 56 individuals
o Mentoring program relaunched
• Soil Health Investigations:
o Replicated strip trials on 17 sites totaling
148 strips.
o Over 1,200 aggregated samples pulled
(approximately 15,000 individual cored stalks; measurements by 50-60 people)
o Initial 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 Facebook and Twitter
o Produced 12 news releases specific to CCSI
events
CCSI partners include: Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education Program, Conservation Technology Information Center, Purdue
Extension, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Indiana State Department of
Agriculture, State Soil Conservation Board,
Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Association of Soil and
Water Conservation Districts, and the Wabash
and Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation 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 Conference of Soil and Water Conservation Dis-
tricts, January 8-10, 2013, with over 400 in
attendance;
• Represented SWCDs on the Leadership Institute subcommittee; the State Technical Committee, the Indiana Conservation Partnership
Leaders meetings; State Soil Conservation Members
•
•
Board meetings, 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 agreement 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