Northeast Region Report

Regional Representative: Richard Mickowski New Castle Conservation District Newark, Delaware

1430 Number of District Employees in Region (estimated) 04 Number of Employees on State TLCs 05 Number of State Employee Associations in Region 03 Number of State Employee Committees

Officers President Richard Mickowski, DE Vice President Ed Hoxsie, NY Secretary Ines Grimm, NJ Treasurer Mary Currier, NH Past President Tim Riley, DE

Ed Hoxsie serves as the employee representative for NCDEA on the NACD Urban and Community Policy Group. Rich Kirschner serves on the NACD Natural Resources Policy Group. Rick Mickowski serves as the Northeast Representative to NCDEA and Tim Riley serves as Vice- President of NCDEA.

Legal Status of Regional CD Employees Association NACDE is a non-profit organization with 501 (C6) status incorporated in the state of New Jersey and a recognized member of the Northeast Conservation Partnership.

Annual Meeting The 2009 annual meeting will be held in Solomon’s Island, Maryland on July 27, 2009. NACDE will organize and hold the Sunday tour to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to view the “Dig It – Secrets of Soil” exhibit. We will also hold our annual meeting and awards program luncheon. NACDE is also responsible for a panel discussion on District Supervisor training/certification and well as the State of the States District sharing session.

Fundraising Activities NACDE held two HydroCAD workshops in conjunction with the Sussex Conservation District in Delaware in November 2008. More workshops are being scheduled in 2009 for New Jersey and New York. This is the primary fundraiser for the organization. The bus tour held at the regional meeting is also a fundraiser.

Training and Professional Development Programs NACDE has a long-range goal of holding a regional training workshop. We plan to sub-contract a consulting firm that is being established by a former District employee. Several states hold training workshops for their employees during the course of the year.

Delaware CDEA held its annual meeting in October 2008 with a tour of a tilapia fish farm, a large housing development to view stormwater management practices and lunch. DCDEA is holding its annual water quality tour on June 17, 2009 with a canoe trip on the Blackbird Creek, part of the Blackbird Creek Reserve. An orientation handbook is still in the preliminary stages. Employees work at various events throughout the year including the Delaware Envirothon, Water Fest, various festivals, Adopt-a-Highway program, school programs, and the Barn Dance fundraiser for the Envirothon.

Maryland is hosting the NACD Northeast Region meeting in July 2009. NACDE hopes to meet with District Employees in Maryland to discuss the potential start of an employees association or committee. Many Maryland employees are involved in the planning of the regional conference.

New Hampshire CDEA held two HydroCAD workshops in late April and May.

New Jersey CDEA held a plant identification course in May 2009 and several forestry, hydrology, and other training related to erosion and sediment control. Employee awards were presented to Angelo Caruso and Karen Rowe.

New York SCDEA The 2009 Water Quality Symposium was held March 10-13, 2009. The 2009 Conservation Skills Workshop is scheduled for September 28-October 2, 2009. Officer elections were held in March 2009. Steve Lorraine is the new President and Jim Lieberum (current NACDE delegate from NY) was elected Vice-President of their employee association.

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Employee Committee met in January 2009. Some items discussed included Erosion and Sediment training, funding for Watershed Specialists, Non-monetary incentives for District employees, and funding for District programs. They are looking for additional members to fill three vacancies on the committee.

Rhode Island – Gina De Marco, RI delegate to NACDE was one of the main authors for the church leaders guide for the 2009 Soil and Water Stewardship materials.

Communications The NACDE newsletter “The Nor’Easter” is in production for a 2009 spring/summer issue. An email directory is maintained and used for communications.

States in the Region Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont