How to Work with Government Building & Maintaining Relationships

Involve & Inform Keep lines of communication open Keep lines of communication open –Invite legislators and local officials to annual summer tour, flood control dam inspections and fall Awards banquet –Send monthly meeting agenda the week before District board meeting (as well as a public meeting notice at the start of each calendar year.) –Provide newsletters to government officials, producers and agency personnel, as well as annual reports, ACKNOWLEDGING SUPPORT from localities

Involve & Inform –Attend local public meetings to keep abreast of current local issues and address natural resource concerns –Encourage participation in Districts Strategic Plan development –Take an active role in locality Comprehensive Plan reviews & development of ordinances –Make displays available for government offices

Working with our Legislators Attend VASWCD Legislative Day in January Attend VASWCD Legislative Day in January Work closely with Associations Legislative Committee chair Work closely with Associations Legislative Committee chair Respond to legislative alerts from Association with , phone contacts and written correspondence Respond to legislative alerts from Association with , phone contacts and written correspondence Work with NACD legislative contact on federal issues, including Farm Bill, dam rehabilitation and conservation funding issues Work with NACD legislative contact on federal issues, including Farm Bill, dam rehabilitation and conservation funding issues

Budget requests to localities Make formal written budget requests in a timely manner Make formal written budget requests in a timely manner –Categorize requests (operations, employee compensation, watershed) –Describe what funds will be used for –Calculate benefit ratio (for every $ received, __X__ benefit in services) –Include current financial reports, Annual Plan of Work, & Annual Report –Meet one on one with local govt. officials/staff –Report income generated in-house (through sales/rentals, etc.) and by grants

SWCDs – We have a mission! Market your SWCD Market your SWCD Make sure local governments & legislators know who we are and that we have a mission Make sure local governments & legislators know who we are and that we have a mission –Directors are elected officials, and are the local voice for natural resource issues –Districts are established by state law and are a viable source of technical expertise in the arena of conservation.

Tips For Running Effective Meetings

An Efficient Agenda Day, Date, Time, Place Meeting Call to Order Meeting Call to Order Declaration of Quorum Declaration of Quorum Additions to Agenda Additions to Agenda Approval of Minutes (Date) Approval of Minutes (Date) Treasurers Report (Date) Treasurers Report (Date) AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS –DCR-Division of Soil & Water Conservation –USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service –Virginia Cooperative Extension –VA Dept. of Forestry –U.S. Forest Service –Planning Commissions –VA Dept. of Environmental Quality –VA Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries –VA Dept. of Health –Shenandoah RC&D –Augusta County Agricultural Coordinator

Agenda (cont.) DISTRICT REPORTS: DISTRICT REPORTS: –Dam Safety & Maintenance –Finance-Legislative-Personnel –Education –Agriculture & Cost-Share –Forestry & Riparian Buffer Easements Easements –Land Use Water Monitoring Water Monitoring OTHER BUSINESS OTHER BUSINESS

Minutes Packets Send out minutes/agenda/related documents the week before the next meeting. Send out minutes/agenda/related documents the week before the next meeting. Send as attachments by , whenever possible Send as attachments by , whenever possible Post agenda to web-site Post agenda to web-site Encourage written agency reports in the interest of time (to be used as attachments to minutes) Encourage written agency reports in the interest of time (to be used as attachments to minutes)

Committee Structure Dam Safety & Maintenance Dam Safety & Maintenance Finance-Legislative-Personnel Finance-Legislative-Personnel Education Education Agriculture & Cost-Share Agriculture & Cost-Share Forestry & Riparian Buffer Forestry & Riparian Buffer –Easements (Sub-Committee) Land Use Land Use –Water Monitoring

Encourage Commitment from Individual Directors Committee structure Committee structure –Committees are set up based on Strategic Plan goals –Encourage participation based on individuals interest/expertise –Schedule committee meetings on annual calendar –Decisions/recommendations made in Committee - brought to the full Board

What makes a quality SWCD? Trained, professional staff who work as a team Trained, professional staff who work as a team Dedicated Directors Dedicated Directors Active, involved Associate Directors Active, involved Associate Directors Good working relationship with agency partners Good working relationship with agency partners Mutual respect Mutual respect