VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF SOIL WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

2017ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA

DECEMBER 3, 2017 – DECEMBER 5, 2017

PORTSMOUTH RENAISSANCE HOTEL

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2017

9:30am – 12:00pm / VASWCD Board of Directors Meeting
Holley Ballroom IV – 1st Floor
The VASWCD Board Meeting is open to all attendees, not just Board Members. We encourage you to attend and learn more about the activities of your VASWCD & VASWCD Educational Foundation. Attend to also learn more about the action items that will be brought before you at the Tuesday VASWCD Business Meeting.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm / VASWCD Board of Directors Luncheon
Foggy Point Private Dining Room – 1st Floor
1:00pm – 3:00 pm / VASWCD Board of Directors Meeting
Holley Ballroom IV – 1st Floor
The VASWCD Board Meeting is open to all attendees, not just Board Members. We encourage you to attend and learn more about the activities of your VASWCD & VASWCD Educational Foundation. Attend to also learn more about the action items that will be brought before you at the Tuesday VASWCD Business Meeting.A review of the proposed VASWCD Legislative Agenda will be reviewed during this afternoon session of the board.
3:30pm – 4:30 pm / Area Chair Meeting – Washington Room (1st Floor)
3:00pm – 7:00pm / Registration Open – Portsmouth Ballroom Foyer (2nd Floor)
Exhibit Space Set-Up/Open – Portsmouth Ballroom VI-VIII and Foyer (2nd Floor)
Silent Auction Display – Holley Ballroom I-III (1st Floor)
Watershed Roundtables(1st Floor)
6:30-7:30PMSouthern Rivers –Madison Room / 6:30-7:30PM PotomacCouncil–Amphitheater
7:30pm – 9:00pm
Sponsored with Potomac Council
Music/DJ Entertainment
Provided Courtesy of
Andrew Gilmer, Clinch Valley
/ Opening Reception w/ Sponsors– Sponsor/Exhibitor Room – Portsmouth Ball V-VIII (2nd Floor)
Open to All; Come Make Contacts with SWCD Supporters; Enjoy Music, Light Fare & Cash Bar
$1,000+GOLD SPONSORS
Moore Financial Services / Chesapeake Bay Foundation / Roundstone Native Seed
Conservation Services / Smithfield Foods / DCR / Dominion / VCAP
$500 SILVER SPONSORS
Virginia Farm Bureau / LotScapes / Lee Supply Co.
Three Rivers SWCD / Virginia Dare SWCD / VA Cooperative Extension
Colonial Farm Credit / EEE Consulting / Agri-Drain Corporattion
Loudoun SWCD / Virginia Credit Union / Bander & Smith
Henricopolis SWCD / EnviroScape / Hanover-Caroline SWCD
Mid Atlantic Chapter – International Erosion Control Assn. / Virginiaforever
Mid-Atlantic Data & Communications / VACDE
$250BRONZE SPONSORS
NRCS-USDA / KEMPS Consulting/NOVA SWCD / Clinch Valley SWCD
Twisted Holly Service, LLC / Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay / Potomac Council
American Farmland Trust / Peter Francisco SWCD / DEQ

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

7:00 am – 4:00 pm / Registrationin Portsmouth (2nd Floor) Foyer
7:00am – 8:30 am / Exhibits & Silent Auction DisplayOpen / Continental Breakfast – Portsmouth (2nd Floor) Foyer & Sponsor Room
8:00 am – 9:30 am / Opening Session – Portsmouth Ballroom I-V (2nd Floor)
Call to Order –VASWCD President
Presentation of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem
Conference Welcome Remarks & Parade of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Anthem/Speaker: Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director Giles County
Speaker: Glenn Chappell, II, PhD – Virginia State University
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe
9:30 am – 9:45 am / Morning Break- Transition Between Classes–Beverage Service Available (1st & 2nd Floor)
9:45 am - 10:50 am / “Director Track”
VCAP Program
Holley Ball IV-VIII
(1st Floor) / “Technical Track”
Innovative Cover Cropping
Case Study Amphitheater
(1st Floor) / “Education - Admin Track”
IT Security Awareness Training
Madison Room
(1st Floor)
10:50 am – 11:00 am / Break – Transition Between Classes –Beverage Service Available (1st& 2ndFloor)
11:00 am – 12:00 pm / “Director Track”
Virginiaforever
Holley Ball IV-VIII
(1st Floor) / “Technical Track”
Virginia Learning Center
Case Study Amphitheater
(1st Floor) / “Education - Admin Track”
Developing & Managing Volunteers
Madison Room
(1st Floor)
12:00 pm – 12:15 pm / Visit Exhibit Space Check those Bids
12:15 pm – 2:45 pm / Awards Luncheon –VASWCD President Presiding –Portsmouth Ball (2nd Floor)
KEYNOTE: Secretary of Natural ResourcesMolly Ward
Awards Program:
Clean Water Farm Awards
Friend of Conservation Awards
State Conservation Education Award – Teachers of the Year
BMP Forestry Award
Urban VCAP Award
Earth Team Volunteer Awards
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm / Check those Bids in Holley Ball I-III & Visit the Exhibit Space in Portsmouth
3:15pm – 4:15 pm / VASWCD Area Meetings
Area I – Linda Campbell, Chair –Madison Room (1st Floor)
Area II –Jim Gehlsen, Chair –Case Amphitheater (1st Floor)
Area III – Herb Dunford, Chair – Portsmouth Ball (2ndFloor)
Area IV – Pete Farmer, Chair – Jefferson Room (1st Floor)
Area V – Wilkie Chaffin, Chair – Holley Ball IV-VII (1st Floor)
Area VI – Margie Davis, Chair – Lee Room (1st Floor)
4:15 pm - 4:30pm / Afternoon Break - Beverage/Snack Service Available – Portsmouth Foyer (2nd Floor)
4:30pm – 5:30pm / Water Quality Update – Portsmouth Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Each PanelRepresentative will Provide a 5Minute Update Followed by Attendee Questions
Natural Resource Conservation Service
USDA – Farm Service Agency
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Department of Forestry
Department of Conservation & Recreation
Department of Environmental Quality
National Association of Conservation Districts
5:30pm – 6:00pm / Check Your Bids! – Holley Ball I-III (1st Floor) - Silent Auction Closes at 6:00pm
5:45pm – 7:00pm / Board Dinner–Invite Only-5:45–6:20PM; Board Mtg 6:20-7PM–Admiral Ball (2nd Floor)
8:00pm – 10:00pm / Networking Reception, Auction Check Out & Musical Entertainment –Holley Ballroom I-VI

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

7:30 am – 12:00 pm / Registration in Portsmouth Foyer (2nd Floor)
7:00 am – 8:30 am / Exhibits Open/Auction Item Collection by 10AM / Continental Breakfast – Portsmouth Foyer & Exhibit Room
Starting at 7:30AM join us for breakfast discussion. Various tables will be designated for certain topic discussions and we encourage you to have breakfast with fellow attendees and discuss a particular issue. Table topics: (1) New to SWCD Session – Highlights History of SWCD, Partnerships, and other helpful items ideal for those new directors or staff (2) Piedmont SWCD: VDOT Signage Pilot Project (3) NACD Urban Ag Grant Projects (4) Meet your Sponsors
8:00 am – 9:45 am / Morning Session – Portsmouth Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Call to Order–VASWCD First Vice President/Announcements/Exhibit Bingo Prize Drawing
Speakers–Eric Seymour - National Weather Service w/ Tammy Stephenson,DEQ
Teaser Topic – Ken Conger, Conger Photography
Keynote Speaker: Dennis Treacy, Smithfield Foods/VAForever/VA Tech/Chamber of Commerce
9:45 am – 10:00 am / Continuous Beverage/Snack Service Available; Pick-Up Auction Items – First Floor
10:00 am - 11:15 am / “Director Track”
Parliamentary Procedure
Holley IV-VII Ball - (1st Floor) / “Technical Track”
Managing Invasives
Case Study Amp-(1st Floor) / “Education - Admin Track”
Ensuring a Successful Audit
Madison Room - (1st Floor)
11:15 am - 11:30 am / Transition - Visit Exhibits;Pick-Up Auction Items
11:30 am - 1:00pm / LUNCH– DIRECTOR/PARTNER LUNCHEON & VACDE LUNCHEON
Director/ Partner Luncheon – Speaker:Ken Conger, Photographer - Portsmouth (2nd Floor)
After a rewarding career as a Virginia game warden and Alaska park ranger, Ken has carried his motivation and enthusiasm for wildlife protection over to his passion of wildlife photography. His annual treks to remote locations are to be inspired, obtain unique images, and hopefully to educate as well as encourage viewers to connect with nature as well as consider conservation. A published author and award-winning photographer, Conger will present a buffet of spectacular photos captured during his adventures to the Amazon, Artic, and America.Ken compliments his photos with stories, animal facts, audio and short videos.
VA Association of Conservation District Employees Luncheon –Holley Ball IV-VII (1st Floor)
The VACDE will meet to discuss annual business, and recognize outstanding members. The mission is to provide professional development, leadership, and a voice for communicating issues and solutions on behalf of district employees.
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm / Transition, Visit Exhibits, Afternoon Break – Continuous Beverage/Snack Service Available
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm / “Director Track”
Chesapeake Bay Updates
Holley IV-VII Ball - (1st Floor) / “Technical Track”
Conservation Outreach: Women Landowners
Case Study Amp – (1st Floor) / “Education Admin Track”
Ag in the Classroom: Program Overview
Madison Room - (1st Floor)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm / Afternoon Break – Continuous Beverage/Snack Service Available
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm / FOUNDATION & ASSN. ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
(ALL DIRECTORS TO ATTEND)Portsmouth Ball IV - (2nd Floor) / “Technical Track”
Technical Tools: Managing Water & Small Farm NM
Case Study Amp - (1st Floor) / “Education Admin Track”
Ag in the Classroom:
Make & Take Session
Madison Room - (1st Floor)
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm / InviteOnly DonorSocial – Admiral Ball (2nd Floor)- Sponsored by Moore Financial Services
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm / Cash Bar, NetworkingMusic Entertainmentby Portsmouth Public Schools–Portsmouth I-V
6:00 pm – 9:00pm / VASWCD Annual Banquet–VASWCD President Presiding –Portsmouth Ballroom I-V
Kick-Off Musical Entertainment by Portsmouth Public Schools and Raffle Announcements
Foundation Donor Recognition
District Annual Meeting Exhibitor Award
Distinguished Service Award
Soil & Water Conservation District Service Pins
VACDE Outstanding District Professional Award
Chaffin Outstanding Employee Awards
Bobby Wilkinson Award – Director for Outstanding Achievement
After the Banquet / Join us in the Foggy Point Loungefor networking w/ friends and a drink before wrapping up.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

9:00am – 1:00pm / Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board Meeting
Holley Ballroom IV (1st Floor)
The Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board was established by the General Assembly to help guide the delivery of soil and water conservation services to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Each of the VASWCD’s six areas has a representative that serves on the board. The board’s responsibilities include:
  • Oversight and support of Virginia’s SWCDs, including financial support, coordination, information exchange, formation of districts, adjustments to SWCD boundaries as well as other specified duties.
  • Oversight and enforcement of dam safety, floodplain management programs and regulations