NACD's 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California kicked off Sunday morning with meet and greets for a variety of grants and programs, including NACD’s Outreach and Technical Assistance and Urban Conservation grantees, and Soil Health Champions Network.
NACD's Committees and seven regions also convened for afternoon meetings to plan upcoming initiatives, provide program updates, and connect face-to-face.
Later in the afternoon, the NACD Board of Directors held their second meeting of the week. In addition to conducting regular business, board members heard an update on equity and outreach efforts from NACD’s Equity and Program Outreach Analyst Dr. Loutrina Staley. The meeting concluded with a Conservation Partnership Panel, featuring leadership from conservation partners including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Association of State Conservation Agencies, the National Conservation District Employees Association, and the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.
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NGLI HOSTS FIRST MEETINGS FOR 2024 COHORT
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The fourth cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) met for the first time this weekend and will reconvene throughout the week. NGLI was established to equip conservation leaders with skills and resources to further their personal, civic, and organizational leadership development. NGLI participants will meet for four training sessions this year, with a capstone session and graduation at next year’s NACD Annual Meeting.
The 2024 cohort participants are:
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Vincent Thompson – Kentucky
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Excell La Fayette, Jr. – Oklahoma
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Kelli Bowen – North Dakota
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Kirk Daniel – Tennessee
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Glenn Takai – Guam
The 2023 cohort will be graduating today at the Leadership Luncheon. Be sure to attend to hear more about this group's accomplishments!
To learn more about the 2024 cohort, visit the National Conservation Foundation’s website!
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CONSERVATION SHOWCASE OPENS WITH WELCOME RECEPTION
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The Conservation Showcase opened with a welcome reception yesterday. Attendees were able to explore the showcase, connect with exhibitors, and learn about their innovative work in conservation. The Conservation Showcase will be open today from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m., 10:30 - 12:00 p.m., and 2:15 - 5:00 p.m., so be sure to stop in and check it out!
The Showcase is a great place to network with conservation partners and members of industry and learn about the newest technologies and most relevant issues affecting natural resources management and conservation districts. Some of our exhibitors this year include Case IH, the Soil Health Institute, NCF-Envirothon, Agri-Drain, Pheasants Forever, and many more.
While in the conservation showcase, also be sure to stop by the President’s Association Silent Auction!
Learn more about this year’s exhibitors here.
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The day will start with a showcase and coffee hour, sponsored by Prince George’s SCD, from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. in Silver Pearl 2/3.
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The Opening General Session is from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Pacific Jewel Ballroom.
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NACD’s Auxiliary business meeting will be from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Coral 1.
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We’ll all reconvene in the Pacific Jewel Ballroom at 12:00 p.m. for the Leadership Luncheon.
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The NCF Board of Trustees will convene from 2:15 to 5:00 p.m. in Driftwood 2.
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Breakout sessions will run in 25-minute sessions in rooms Coral 1 – 4 between 2:30 and 5:00 p.m.
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EPA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Programs will meet for an hour starting at 2:30 p.m. in Coral 5.
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NACD Resolution Hearings will be conducted from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. in Shorebreak and Seaglass.
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Sentinel Landscapes’ networking with federal partners event will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Coral 5.
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The evening will conclude with NCF’s Live Auction from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Pacific Jewel Ballroom.
Additional information can be found in the programs and meeting app.
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Breakout Sessions Start Today
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Breakout sessions start this afternoon!
These informational sessions focus on the work of conservation districts and their partners across the county.
The four themes for this year’s breakout sessions are:
- Community Outreach
- Climate Resilience
- Conservation Capacity & Partnerships
- Diverse & Small-Scale Agriculture
You can find a full list of breakout sessions in our program or on the meeting app.
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Drop Off Your Auction Items!
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If you have items to donate to the NCF Live Auction, don’t forget to drop them off in the Conservation Showcase Hall by no later than 10 a.m. this morning! No auction items will be accepted after this time.
NCF’s Live Auction is tonight at 7 p.m. in the Pacific Jewel Ballroom. Come ready to bid on the items here.
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Complete a Survey on Reforestation
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Complete this voluntary survey to help the NACD and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) better understand conservation district and district partner involvement in reforestation.
The survey will help NACD and its partners refine programs, advocate for funding, and inform technical assistance for reforestation on private lands.
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Download the
Event Mobile App
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Don't miss the mobile Annual Meeting app hosted by Sched! The app allows you to see the full event schedule, session descriptions, speaker profiles, and more. After you've set up a public profile, you will be able to create a personalized schedule and you can message and network with other attendees right from the app.
To download it, you can scan or click the QR code, or download the Sched app (Apple) (Android) and search NACD to join the event.
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Have you been taking photos during the 2024 NACD Annual Meeting? We want to see them!
Email them to us at nacdnews@nacdnet.org, tag us at @NACDConserve, or use #NACD2024 on social media to submit your photos to our Smiling Faces Reel. Some photos will be displayed during Tuesday evening's Appreciation Banquet!
Check out all of our photos from the week here.
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Questions?
The registration desk is open in the Seascape Foyer from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today. Stop by for questions, tickets, and more!
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