CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL:
ELLEN COBB
|
|
Ellen Cobb was NACD's first executive leader. At its first meeting in 1946, NACD’s founding board of directors appointed Cobb as executive secretary. She was one of 19 conservation professionals present at that first meeting.
From South Carolina, Cobb attended the meeting with her colleague E.C. McArthur – the board’s first chair. In the preceding years, Cobb and McArthur worked together in South Carolina to organize a state association for conservation district supervisors. A Soil Conservation Service (SCS) employee, Cobb attended multiple meetings, kept careful notes, and maintained lists of key contacts – effectively building South Carolina’s first conservation professional network that would become its state association.
Ellen Cobb was the only woman present at the founders’ first meeting, which included prominent state association directors from 17 states. In an iconic black and white picture from that meeting, she is seated at the head of the table (pictured above).
|
|
BUTTE SWCD RECOGNIZES LONGTIME EMPLOYEE FRANCES PERKES |
|
Frances Perkes has been with Idaho's Butte Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for over 35 years.
Since her start as a clerk for the SWCD in 1984, Frances has worn many hats and currently serves as the district's office manager. Born and raised in the local area, she has always had an agricultural connection with the Butte SWCD region.
"Frances has been instrumental in running the conservation district’s youth outreach programs such as the annual poster and speech contests, the SWCD’s 6th-grade natural resources tour and the statewide NCF-Envirothon competition," said Stephanie Barnes, Butte SWCD administrative assistant.
|
|
WINNEBAGO COUNTY SWCD SUPPORTS IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS THROUGH MONARCH FIESTA EVENT |
|
In early September of 2019, the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Illinois hosted a Monarch Fiesta to celebrate the start of the migration of monarch butterflies from Northern Illinois.
With over 150 community members in attendance, the conservation district encouraged children and adults to participate in several activities, including a pollinator walk, face painting, and even a release of 40+ monarchs that were tagged so the district could follow their journey to Mexico.
|
|
NACD'S PRESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION VIDEO SERIES:
WADE TROUTMAN, WASHINGTON STATE
|
|
As part of our 75th Anniversary celebration, NACD is proud to present our Presidents Association Video Series. In early 2020, we sat down with Presidents Association members, who reflected on their time with the national association, the importance of conservation districts and locally-led conservation, their vision of NACD's legacy and more.
This edition features Wade Troutman of Washington State. For over 40 years, Troutman has been involved with conservation districts, serving as State President, as Pacific Region Representative for NACD's Executive Board, and was NACD's Pacific Region chair for four years.
"There will always be a need for conservation," Troutman said. "New problems always come along, and NACD's legacy is on how to solve these new environmental challenges, and to do it in a locally-led way. It really does make a difference."
|
|
Interested in submitting a story? We're still accepting stories for this special 75th Anniversary newsletter all year round!
You can submit stories as many times as you want. Please provide a short summary of what you are submitting, your contact information and your district/state association's information, and NACD will reach out to you for further information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
