Coordinator’s Report

September 13, 2004

Project Activity

Rural Economic Vitality: 

• Attended Soybean Study Group Meeting, July 29, 2004; August 25, 2004 and wrote minutes.
• Drove  with Jim Nichols to Pennsylvania to do soybean crusher tour August 10, 2004. 
• Provided list of potential grants to fit soybean project at August 25 meeting.

Open Space Farmland Preservation: 

• Requested letters on behalf of the Council from all SWCD to be sent to Joe Maroon and Tayloe Murphy to ask their help in coordinating FRPP funds with state easement purchase fund availability.  Requested similar letter from other partners (Valley Conservation Council, Potomac Conservancy) and Council sent a letter as well.
• Met with Clarke County easement program manager Chuck Johnston, Bud Nagelvoort, and Winkie McKay-Smith to discuss potential RC&D roles in funding Clarke’s Purchase of Development Rights program August 19.
• Met with subcommittee of Page County Planning Commission to discuss importance of PDRs and why consider putting them in Comprehensive Plan (they are currently updating) August 18.

Water Quality/Quantity

• Worked with Rockingham County’s new stormwater manager on possibility of doing DCR Low Impact Development grant, due in August, for parking lot treatment at County Government Center.  Was postponed until parking lot is improved.
• Sent letter of support on behalf of the Council for Pure Water Forum proposal to VEE.
• Talked with Black’s Run Greenway group on assisting  with TEA grant, due Nov. 1

Nutrient Management

• Met with Hobey Bauhan about forthcoming poultry litter proposal.
• Met with Waste Solutions Group twice (August and Sepember) to discuss upcoming Forum.
• Worked with Waste Solutions Group to advance CPI proposal for $100,000 to cover Forum  planning and implementation costs.
• Attended Waste to Energy Information meeting hosted by Bobby Clark & Bob Peer Aug. 31.

Education and Information

• Worked to refine project proposal packet
• Attended Biofuels planning session August 31 to see about bringing biofuels/alternative energy and associated farm bill opportunities workshop to the Valley.
• Met with representatives from the City of Harrisonburg and city planner Stacy Turner about Tree City for Harrisonburg (two meetings)

Grants/Funding

• Submitted Beirne Carter Grant for $250,000 for farmland protection/FRPP match
• Submitted three letters of inquiry to three foundations regarding FRPP match
• Organized meeting and met with Cecily Kihn regarding potential funding for Council
• Searched and researched grant possibilities
• Assisted with CPI grant for $100,000
• Researched possible grants for soybean crusher project
• Attended VDOT’s Transportation Enhancement Act summer information meeting

General activities

• Met with all committees at least once to work through goals/mission
• Drafted and revised annual plan
• Wrote and revised all committee goals/mission sheets; annual budget; assisted with proposed Council policies and procedures; project proposal sheets, minutes/notes from all meetings.  Sent out all meeting-related materials to Council members, associate members and interested others.
• Participated in teleconferences for VA State Association Legislative Committee and  Forestry Committee
• Went to Washington, D.C., one day to meet national USDA NRCS staff and National Association of RC&D Councils staff in their respective offices

NRCS Activities

• Am assisting with planning for all-employees meeting in November, participated in related conference call
• Ethics training on-line
• All-Virginia coordinators meetings in Staunton

Members/Associate Members

• Attended at least one meeting for each SWCD to introduce myself and talk about RC&D
• Met with VCC’s land protection committee to talk about RC&D
• Met with Northern Shenandoah Valley District Commission Executive Director Steve Kerr
• Attended Pure Water Forum Board Meeting to introduce myself and talk about RC&D