NEWS RELEASE:  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        

May 7, 2007

Shenandoah RC&D Wins Statewide Awards

VERONA, VA – The Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council received several key awards Thursday, April 26, 2007, for its outstanding work related to natural resource protection and program support at the annual meeting of the Virginia Association of RC&D Councils meeting held in Staunton, April 25-27. These are state-wide awards that will be advanced to the regional level.

The Shenandoah RC&D Council won the Outstanding RC&D Project award for its ongoing work with the Waste Solutions Forum. The Waste Solutions Forum is an innovative, grassroots effort to bring together key players from the agricultural community, environmental groups, academia, as well as local, state and federal organizations and agencies, to find economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions to excess animal manure and poultry litter in the Shenandoah Valley.  Inspired by the shared vision that both clean water and thriving agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley are not only possible, but imperative, Forum participants set aside differences and moved beyond talking about the problem to developing a concrete strategy and action plan.  Because of its success, the Forum serves as the starting point for long-term collaboration and partnerships to change the nature of manure and litter management in the Commonwealth, starting in the Shenandoah Valley.

The Shenandoah RC&D Council also won the Outstanding Performance by a Council Member for Jim Nichols’ work with the Shenandoah RC&D Council. In 2002 Jim Nichols, who is from Waynesboro, was formally appointed by the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District to head up a steering committee to examine the feasibility of applying for designation as a Resource Conservation and Development Area in the Shenandoah Valley.  He pulled together representatives from the three Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the area, including Headwaters, Shenandoah Valley and Lord Fairfax, as well as representatives from a variety of non-profit organizations including Valley Conservation Council, local Planning District Commissions, Farm Bureau and the Shenandoah Pure Water Forum.  These members met to discuss the concept of RC&D and ultimately decided to apply for designation.  The founding philosophy discussed by that steering committee regarding the RC&D program is intact today and exemplifies a balanced approach to RC&D Council business.  That approach can be summed up by this sentence Jim is fond of repeating: “The Shenandoah RC&D will not do anything that our local SWCDs should be doing.”  This has resulted in an approach to projects that can be described as value-added and visionary. Mr. Nichols is a visionary.  He wants to see RC&D do large, more regional, whole watershed projects.  The RC&D will only get involved in a project if it can be “value-added,” assisting with something that wouldn’t otherwise get done.

Kathy Holm, Shenandoah RC&D Coordinator and Natural Resources Conservation Service employee who lives in Harrisonburg, was presented with a USDA Certificate of Merit for sustained outstanding performance in Fiscal Year 2006.  She won this award for her assistance with projects completed and grant dollars awarded for Council projects.

The Shenandoah RC&D Council is a non-profit, locally-directed program that promotes economic growth and environmental quality.  It sets area goals and objectives, and brings together partners, technical assistance and financial resources to complete projects to meet its goals and objectives.

Other awards received included the following: Outstanding Performance by an RC&D Council- Black Diamond RC&D; Outstanding Performance by a Coordinator- Blaine Delaney (Black Diamond RC&D); Outstanding Supporting Organization- Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services- (nominated by Eastern Shore RC&D; Butch Nottingham  and  T. Robin Bucks both with VDACs accepted the award); Outstanding Youth Involvement- Agriculture Safety Day Camp (Old Dominion RC&D); Outstanding Staff Person- Stacia Childers (Eastern Shore RC&D); Exemplary Assistance by an Individual- Holly Boyd & Beth Kirby for developing  a school Nature Trail  (South Centre Corridors RC&D); Hall of Fame - Sherry Swinson (Old Dominion RC&D).

###