The Executive Board has hired an individual to make updates to the AACD website to provide districts information in a timely manner and keep them abreast of new developments. This will get us up to date quickly as we have been aware of the poor quality of the website for some time. Plus, AACD was chosen by the UALR School for Information and Technology to help us improve on our website and make it much more district friendly. The Service-Learning Project: Information Technology Program selects three nonprofit organizations each fall semester. The professors and students will look at our current website, draft a new website and make suggestions on how we could improve it. We are excited to see what these young and creative minds can develop. Hopefully you will see a draft of the website at the 2004 Annual Meeting for your input.

Districts should have received packets this week on the 2004 Annual Meeting at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs , Arkansas on December 8 – 9, 2004 . The meeting will include 18 educational workshops on a variety of topics. We will have one workshop on youth activities such as the youth conservation workshop, Envirothon and the forestry contest. Ed Swaim, Attorney for ASWCC and Carole Hughson, CFO for ASWCC will discuss district operation and financial management. Senator Blanche Lincoln will be the featured speaker at the ASWCC Luncheon on Dec. 8 th . AACDE will be hosting a Mardi gras festival event with food, fun and Bingo. We realize that district director training is mandated by law and we meet this mandate while enjoying ourselves and visiting with other directors. Some of the best ideas come from sharing with each other, plus Hot Springs at Christmas time is delightful. An updated tentative 2004 Annual Meeting Agenda has been attached for your review.

Note: The Annual Meeting Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at the ASWCC offices in Little Rock at 10:00a.m.

That was the focus of the upcoming AACD Strategic Planning Work Session on November 5 – 6, 2004 at Russellville , Arkansas . The AACD Executive Board was joined by our partners from ASWCC, NRCS and AACDE as well as several district directors statewide. The session objectives were to:

•  Envision a stronger, more effective AACD and the actions necessary to build the organization, and develop a strategic plan with priorities for staff and funding resources.

•  Develop a 12 month action plan with commitments and time schedule for priority initiatives and methods to build support among member districts.

The Executive Committee will report on the results of the work session at the annual meeting.

The Executive Committee would like to thank those individuals who took the time and effort to submit nominations for our annual awards. Those awards will be presented at the Awards Luncheon on December 9 th .

I have been meeting with Sebastian County and ASWCC staff regarding a 319 grant for conservation education. Sixteen counties will be part of this project and we hope it will be just the beginning. It is our desire to implement the project in every county. The counties were selected based on location, focus of grant, etc. AACD was able to provide matching funds for this project from profits made on the SC NACD Conference held earlier this summer. Meetings are being held to meet with the selected districts and review the requirements and components of the project.

AACD continues to partner with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to provide funding for the Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Project and the Quail Special Project. AACD administers the AGFC funds for these projects. We appreciate the partnership that we have and hope to continue to build on it. If you have questions about the programs check with your District Conservationist.

Please make an effort to attend all of the 2004 Annual Meeting on December 8 – 9, 2004 at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs . The future of conservation depends on committed and informed district directors and district employees. One certainty in life is that nothing stays the same not even conservation districts and with changes comes the need to educate ourselves. We have 18 thirty minute workshops designed to help you address conservation concerns and embrace the opportunities that come with change.

On a personal note, I want to thank all those individuals who offered their prayers and comments during the recent weeks. As a nurse I know the outcome of my father's illness and what to expect but as a daughter I feel very helpless and lost. I appreciate your patience and support in the weeks ahead.

Warmly,

Debbie Moreland
President

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