OACD

Happy Holidays
From O.A.C.D.

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE OKLAHOMA ASSN. OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

MAKE PLANS FOR OACD ANNUAL STATE MEETING:

The 2010 OACD annual meeting is right around the corner!!! This year we will again have intensive break-out sessions for District Directors and Employees. We will again be at the Reed Center in Midwest City and are planning a great agenda.

HOTEL INFORMATION– The Headquarters Hotel is the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel. This facility is connected to the Reed Center itself. The Reservation number for the Sheraton is 405-455-1800.

The satellite hotels, all within 100 yards of the conference center include the Hawthorne Inn at 405-737-7777, The Holiday Inn Express at 405-736-1000 and the Hampton Inn and Suites at 405-732-5500 and the Comfort Inn at 405-733-1339. The rooms at each hotel are $84. The cut-off date for all hotels is January 22. When you call just ask for the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting rate.

The date for the meeting is February 21, 22 and 23 of next year.

Pre-registration packets will be sent soon to our local offices. For more information contact OACD Executive Director Clay Pope at claypope@pldi.net
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ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT TILL CHRISTMAS!!!

WHAT DO YOU GET THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING?

Help them reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing your friends and loved ones carbon credits through the Oklahoma Carbon Initiative!!!! You can help your friends help the environment and it rewards landowners who practice good conservation!!!! For more information, call Sarah Pope, OACD Carbon Initiative Director at 405-210-8950 or contact her at sarahmariepope@gmail.com

Also remember that our history book, “OUT OF THE DUST” makes a great gift!!!! Just $10 for a softcover book, $15 for a hardcover!!!!
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CONSERVATION DAY AT THE CAPITAL:

Mark your calendars for Conservation Day at the Capital. This year Conservation Day at the capital will be on March 8, 2010. The program begins with the awards ceremony in the morning at the Capital Blue Room with displays in the rotunda all day. More information will be coming to you later about this event. Keep watching for updates!!!

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NACD ANNUAL MEETING FEBRUARY

Are you ready for Orlando? If not, you need to get that way soon! Conservation leaders from across the nation will gather in early February in Orlando, Fl. for NACD’s 64th Annual Meeting. The conference will focus on the theme “Committed to Conservation.” The meeting will include priority-setting board meetings, dynamic general sessions, a Live Auction to raise funds for NACD’s legislative efforts, tours of local conservation efforts and sights, networking opportunities, an Expo and much more. For more info visit NACD’s web site!!!!!!

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OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!!! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND HELP SET THE STAGE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SPRING FOR CONSERVATION!!!!

The Oklahoma Legislature will soon be back in session!!!! This year more then ever we need to make sure that conservations voice is heard at the State Capitol. As you know, the state is facing a budget shortfall of historic proportions.
The last time we saw huge state cuts, natural resource agencies (agriculture, conservation, water board, etc.) took a larger cut than everyone else. WE CANNOT AFFORD FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, IN FACT WE NEED AT LEAST $2.2 MILLION IN NEXT YEAR”S BUDGET TO MAKE OUR BOND PAYMENT TO AVOID FURLOUGHS.
Now is the time for you to call your representatives, senators and the governor’s office. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR BOND PAYMENT FULLY FUNDED IF WE ARE TO AVOID FURLOUGHS!!!!
The key is that if we have furloughs, not only will most of you be financially affected, we also will be hampered in our ability to protect the lives and property of folks below flood dams (no employees, no one to do operation and maintenance). Farmers and ranchers will be limited in their ability to take advantage of NRCS programs (no staff to help with farm bill delivery, fewer applications get processed–fewer producers can take advantage of new programs like CSP which puts dollars in their pockets, let alone cost-share programs). Water quality work in areas like Northeast Oklahoma will be put on hold (again, no staff, no work).
We need to call our legislators NOW and let them know how important it is that we have our bond payment covered in full!!!!
The House Switchboard is 405-521-2711.
The Senate Switchboard is 405-524-0126.
The number for Governor Henry is 405-521-2342.
WE ESPECIALLY NEED TO YOU CALL THE OFFICE OF REP. DALE DEWITT, REP. KEN MILLER, SEN. MIKE JOHNSON AND SEN. DAVID MYERS AND GIVE THEM THIS MESSAGE.
WE NEED TO BUILD OUR CASE NOW—IF WE WANT TO AVOID FURLOUGHS WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS ARGUMENT NOW, BEFORE SESSION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE TO FURLOUGH, PEOPLES LIVES, INCOMES AND WELL BEING WILL BE PUT AT JEOPARDY!!!!!!
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OKLAHOMA CONSERVATION IN THE NEWS!!!!!

Below are some of the recent news stories about Conservation in Oklahoma. As you view this newsletter online, you can access these stories through the links below (Just go to the link and press control and right click your mouse!!).

OACD will continue to work to tell the story of the good work the Landowners of Oklahoma, in partnership with Conservation Districts, District employees, District Directors, NRCS and the Conservation Commission do to protect our states soil, water, air and wildlife habitats!!

Conservation Success Stories “In The News”
Double Creek Celebration featured on Oklahoma Horizon
Silent Sentinels Protecting Oklahomans video

$16Million in Stimulus Funds for Oklahoma Dams
KWTV Channel 9 video

OETA-TV News Report on the Locally Led Cost Share Program
You can view the clip by going to http://news.oeta.tv and clicking on the “Archives” tab. In the “Oklahoma News Report Video” index window, scroll down to the 10.12.09 ONR report. The Cost-Share feature is at the 4:45 minute mark of the newscast.

Control of Eastern red cedar in Oklahoma urged
Associated Press story in the Tulsa World
Oklahoma lawmakers eye threat from cedars
Story in the Daily Oklahoman

Working With Farmers to Install Best Management Practices is Improving Water Quality in Green Country
Water Quality Success Story on Ron Hays’ Oklahoma Farm Report

ANNOUCING THE OACD LEGISLATIVE ACTION NETWORK

OACD is working hard to represent the Conservation Partnership in the halls of the State Capitol and with our policy makers in Washington D.C. To more effectively do this, we are launching a new and exciting program to help guide our legislative efforts and better coordinate our activities—the OACD LEGISLATIVE ACTION NETWORK.

We need one DISTRICT DIRECTOR appointed from each district to serve as the legislative action network contact for OACD. It needs to be someone interested in public policy, someone who is not shy, and someone who has e-mail and checks it every 48 hours!!!

Does that sound like you?

Our plan is to have one contact in each district that will serve as our direct link to their district board on issues at the state capitol and in Washington D.C.

Their responsibilities will be:

1. keeping their district members up to speed on current events affecting conservation
2. communicating with their legislators and members of congress on issues affecting conservation
3. establishing a relationship with their legislators and congressional member—asking them to come to the district office, taking them on tours of local conservation work, answering their questions on issues affecting conservation
4. Be available to occasionally come to the capitol, go to local congressional town hall meetings, etc.

Members of the network will receive weekly updates on state and federal issues. Members will receive special briefings at state meetings on political trends, issues and outreach.

Are you interested?

WE NEED ONE DIRECTOR APPOINTED FROM EACH DISTRICT TO SERVE IN THIS NETWORK. WE NEED THE NAMES OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE CONTACT BY DECEMBER 24, 2009.

Please send your info to claypope@pldi.net We need your name, number and e-mail. If you have questions, please call Clay Pope at 405-699-2087 or claypope@pldi.net

CONSERVATION RULE CHANGES ANNOUNCED AT OACD AREA MEETINGS.

Below is information that was given out at the OACD Area Meetings in November concerning the rules of our conservation contests for 2009. Please make sure you take a look at this info before you submit your entries this winter!!!

CONSERVATION CONTEST CHANGES
Effective this year—OACD is changing its Outstanding District, Outstanding District Director and Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator Awards
The rules for submission are still the same, but the method of judging has changed.

DEADLINE: All entries are due on DECEMBER 18, 2009. Entries are to be sent to your OACD Area Director, NOT THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION!

One winner for each award will be chosen from each OACD area. These winners will be recognized at the state meeting. Out of these five area winners, one will then be chosen as the winner of the State Award and recognized at Conservation Day at the Capitol.

The winners of the state awards will receive:

Outstanding District – $2,500 cash award – sponsored by Chesapeake Energy

Outstanding District Director – $1,000 cash award – sponsored by the Noble Foundation

Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator – $1,500 cash award – sponsored by the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma.

Outstanding Educator Awards – Chesapeake is again sponsoring our outstanding educator award with $2,000 cash award and a framed certificate going to one teacher in each Congressional District. Nominations are submitted to Karla Beatty, OCC Education Coordinator

Deadline to Submit Nomination: December 31, 2009

The Excellence in Communication Awards, recognizing conservation districts and news media for outstanding efforts to communicate conservation messages to the public and sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District, Oklahoma Press Association and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Entries will continue to be sent to the OCC Information Officer marked “Excellence in Communication.”
Deadline to Submit Nomination: December 18, 2009

If you have any questions, please contact Clay Pope at 405-699-2087 or claypope@pldi.net

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THAT’S ALL FOR NOW. WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE STATE MEETING IN FEBRURARY!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OACD!!!!