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VASWCDEF Bylaws

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Educational Foundation was organized in 1990 as the 501c3 nonprofit arm of the VASWCD.

Section 1 – Name and Offices

The Corporation’s name is the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Educational Foundation and may be referred to herein as the “Foundation.” The Foundation will operate under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

The principal office shall be in Mechanicsville, in Hanover County, Virginia. The Corporation may have offices and places of business at such other places within the Commonwealth of Virginia as shall be determined by the directors.

Section 2- Purposes
The purpose of the Corporation shall be exclusively educational in the field of the conservation of natural resources, primarily in the following three areas: (1) the establishment and administration of funds for awards, scholarships, recognition, or expenses for college graduate or undergraduate education, or appropriate technical training, for deserving students residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia, (2) conducting panels, forums, lectures, seminars and training programs, and (3) providing appropriate awards or recognition for exceptional conservation activities by district staff whose job duties include at least some conservation education.

Section 3- Annual Meeting
The annual Meeting of the Corporation shall be held in the Commonwealth of Virginia during the first week of December of each year, or at such place and time as the officers and directors designate by proper notice. The officers and directors of the Corporation will report on the previous year’s activities and plans for the next year at the annual meeting.

Section 4 – Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President, and must be called by him or her upon receipt of a written request from twenty-five percent of the directors.

Section 5 – Notice of Annual or Special Meeting
Notice of the annual meeting or of a special meeting stating the time and place and purpose or purposes thereof shall be given to each member not less than ten, nor more than forty days prior to the meeting.

Section 6 – Members and Voting
The members of the Corporation shall be the directors of the Foundation. At each Foundation meeting, all directors in attendance who are eligible are entitled to vote with respect to all business of the Foundation.

Section 7 – Quorum
At any meeting of the directors of the Corporation, fifty percent (50%) of the directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 8 – Directors
a. Number of Directors – The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and controlled by a Board of Directors consisting of (a) those persons who are the officers and directors of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD), (b) elected officers of the Corporation, and (c) one non-voting Ex-Officio representatives from each of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
b. Tenure – Officers and other directors of the VASWCD shall serve Foundation terms which coincide with the terms of office with the VASWCD. Foundation officers who are not directors of the VASWCD shall be elected for a one year term and may be re-elected. Any director may resign at any time.

Section 9 – Officers
The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, Vice President and a Secretary/Treasurer, who shall be elected annually by the directors. All vacancies occurring among any of the above officers shall be filled by the directors. Any officer may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors at a special meeting of the directors called for that purpose.
a. The President – The president shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
b. The Vice President – The Vice President shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President. The vice President shall also generally assist the President and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the directors.
c. The Secretary/Treasurer – The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep minutes of all proceedings of the directors and shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices to the directors; he or she shall affix the seal of the Corporation to deeds, contracts, and other instruments in writing requiring a seal; he or she shall have charge of the minute books and such other books and papers as the Board may direct; and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary.

The Secretary/Treasurer or his/her designee shall also have the custody of all funds, securities, evidence of indebtedness and other personal property of the Corporation, and shall deposit the same in such bank or trust company as shall be designated by the directors of the Corporation. He or she shall receive and give receipts and acquaintance for monies paid in on account of the Corporation and shall pay out of the funds on hand all bills, payrolls and other just debts of the Corporation of whatever nature upon maturity of the same; he or she shall enter regularly in books of the Corporation to be kept by him or her for that purpose, full and accurate accounts of all monies received and paid out by him or her on account of the Corporation, and he or she shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer.

Section 10 – Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer shall have the general management and control of the business affairs of the Corporation. All actions taken by the Executive Committee must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Section 11– Seal
The directors shall provide a suitable corporate seal which shall be in the charge of the Secretary/Treasurer and shall be used as authorized by the directors.

Section 12 – Depositories
The funds of the Corporation shall be deposited in such bank or trust company, and checks drawn against such funds shall be signed in such manner, as may be determined from time to time by the directors

Section 13 – Notice
Any notice required to be given by these By-Laws may be given by mailing or electronically transmitting the same to the person entitled thereto at his or her address as shown on the Corporation’s books and such notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time of such mailing or electronic transmission. Any notice required by the By-Laws to be given may be waived by the person entitled to such notice.

Section 14 – Committees
The President shall have the authority to establish such committees as may, from time to time, be needed. The President shall also have the authority to appoint members to such committees, and the committees and members thereof shall exist at the pleasure of the President. The following shall be Standing Committees to the Corporation: the Executive Committee, the Education Committee, the Investment Committee, and the following Scholarship/Awards Committees: College Scholarships and Chaffin Awards.

Section 15– Power of Director to Amend
The board of Directors shall have power to make, amend and repeal the By-laws of the Corporation by a vote of a majority of all the directors, at any regular or special meeting of the Board. Any such amendments shall be consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Section 16 – Prohibitions
The Corporation shall not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, political affiliation, veteran status, gender, age, sexual preference, or disability if otherwise qualified in connection with any of its activities. No individual director of the Corporation shall receive any private gain as a result of the activities of the Corporation.

Revised and Approved September 26, 2013.

Envirothon History

The Virginia Envirothon, a recognized outreach program supported by the state legislature in code, is a natural resources competition through which high school students around the Commonwealth compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. In preparation for the event, teams of students spend the year studying soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and a current specific environmental issue. Students also apply their knowledge of these topics and problem-solving skills through an oral presentation in which they solve real-life environmental problems.

The Virginia Envirothon Academic Competition was established in 1995.  Since then, Envirothon has been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award by the Petroleum Council. The Commonwealth of Virginia has repeatedly placed in the top 15 overall teams at the International Envirothon competition.  The 2006 Virginia team placed first at the national competition and placed sixth in 2007.  In 2011 our students took home a 7th place finish and in 2012 the Virginia team placed 8th overall and 1st place in the aquatics topic. In 2018, our Virginia team placed third overall with first-place scores in wildlife and oral presentation. In 2019, our Virginia team (Jamestown High School) placed first overall and first place in Forestry.   Each member took home a $3,000 scholarship. 

Envirothon has undoubtedly increased public awareness and personal improvement on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay and all of our local watersheds. Students also gain an understanding of our food sources and the need for better protection and conservation of our environment.

By incorporating the Envirothon curriculum into classrooms, Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Virginia and across the nation are taking a notable lead in responding to the public school system’s need for a strong, hands-on approach to environmental education.

Beginning with the 2011-2012 Envirothon program, Dominion Energy became the flagship supporter of the program. (Press Release) Fueled by Dominion Resource’s generous sponsorship, the Envirothon program will undoubtedly continue to grow. Cindy Balderson, Philanthropy Manager for Dominion Power and The Dominion Foundation shared the excitement of the new partnership stating,   “We believe the students’ participation in Envirothon activities will prepare them for college and beyond, as they study environmental issues and become advocates and stewards of our natural resources.

 

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ENVIROTHON WINNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL:

2023 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • Jamestown High School represented VA at the NCF Competition in New Brunswick, Canada and placed 13th overall.

2022 VA Competition- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
  • 3rd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • *Louisa County High School represented VA at the NCF Competition at Miami University, Oxford Ohio and placed 12th overall

2021 VA Competition- virtual due to COVID-19 Pandemic

  • 1st Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • *Louisa County High School placed 14th overall at the NCF virtual Envirothon Competition.

2019 VA Competition- Ferrum College, Ferrum Virginia

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • *Jamestown High School placed 1st overall, and 1st in Forestry at the NCF-Envirothon Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina.

2018 VA Competition- Ferrum College, Ferrum Virginia

  • 1st Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD*
  • 2nd Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Louisa County High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • *Jamestown High School placed 3rd overall, 1st Place for Oral Presentation, and Tied for 1st in Wildlife at the NCF-Envirothon Competition

2017 VA Competition- Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place– Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Northern Virginia SWCD

2016 VA Competition-Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA

  • 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD

2015 VA Competition-Longwood University, Farmville, VA

  • 1st Place-Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern Virginia SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD

2014 VA Competition-Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA

  • 1st Place-Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place-Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
  • 3rd Place-Eastern Mennonite High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD

2013 VA Competition-Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

  • 1st Place- Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 2nd Place- Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd Place- Northern Neck 4-H, Northern Neck SWCD

2012 VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Eastern View High School, Culpeper SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High Places 8th at Canon National Competition and 1st in Aquatics Ecology Station

2011 VA COMPETITION – Camp Hanover, Hanover, VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Hidden Pond Nature Center, Northern VA SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Northern Neck 4H, Northern Neck SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High School Places 7th at Canon National Competition

2010 VA COMPETITION – Skelton 4H, Wirtz, VA

  • 1st Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place –Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD

2009 VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4H

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Jamestown High School, Colonial SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Albemarle High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD

2007 VA COMPETITION

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 3rd Place – ALBEMARLE High School, THOMAS JEFFERSON SWCD
  • *Harrisonburg High School places 6th at Canon Envirothon

2006 VA COMPETITION

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Nandua High School, Eastern Shore SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD
  • *Fort Defiance High School wins and places 1st at Canon Envirothon

2005 – Fort Defiance High School Places Second at Canon Envirothon

2004 – VA COMPETITION – James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

  • 1st Place – Augusta County 4H, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Rockbridge High School, Natural Bridge SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Powhatan High School, Monacan SWCD
  • *Augusta County 4H Homeschool places 2nd at Canon North American Envirothon Competition…..

2003 – VA COMPETITION – Airfield 4-H Education Center, Wakefield VA

  • 1st Place – Fort Defiance High School, Headwaters SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Halifax High School, Halifax SWCD

2002 – Virginia State Arboretum, Winchester VA

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Osbourne Park High School, Prince William SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Central High School, Lord Fairfax SWCD

2001- Smith Mt. Lake 4H Educational Center , Wirtz , VA

  • 1st Place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd Place – Amelia County High School, Piedmont SWCD
  • 3rd Place – Franklin County High School, Blue Ridge SWCD

2000 – Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox, VA

  • 1st place – Albemarle Environmental Club, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 2nd place – Central High School FFA, Shenandoah County
  • 3rd place – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD

1999 – Seashore/First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach

  • 1st – Harrisonburg High School, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
  • 2nd – Albemarle/Monticello High School, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
  • 3rd – New Kent High School, Colonial SWCD


1998 – Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Front Royal

  • 1st – Thomas Jefferson SWCD – Albemarle High School
  • 2nd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Harrisonburg High School
  • 3rd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School

1997 – Camp Blue Ridge, Montebello

  • 1st – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School
  • 2nd – Piedmont SWCD – Fuqua School
  • 3rd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School 

1996 – Hungry Mother State Park, Marion

  • 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
  • 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
  • 3rd – Shenandoah Valley SWCD – Turner Ashby High School


1995 – Douthat State Park

  • 1st – Eastern Shore SWCD – Nandua High School
  • 2nd – Daniel Boone SWCD – Thomas Walker High School
  • 3rd – Appomattox River SWCD – Dinwiddie High School

Virginia Association of Conservation District Employees

Register to become a 2023 VACDE member here!

 


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The VACDE is an organization consisting of Virginia soil and water conservation district employees, directors, and partner agency personnel.

Our MISSION is to provide professional development, leadership, and a voice for communicating issues and solutions on behalf of conservation district employees. Our VISION is to be a professionally accepted and integrated work force of employees dedicated to the conservation of natural resources.

The VACDE sponsors and conducts an annual summer training session at Graves Mountain Lodge, which focuses on the training needs of district administrative, educational and technical employees.  The trainings will help employees meet continuing education requirements. Scholarships provided by the VACDE and in partnership with the VASWCD are available for training opportunities.


Goals

  • Provide training, professional development, and recognition opportunities for all employees.
  • Demonstrate leadership in addressing employee problems and issues.
  • Improve communication between district employees, directors, the VASWCD, and partners.
  • Expand VACDE membership.
  • Provide Benevolence Fund to assist district employees in times of financial hardship.

VACDE Activities 

The VACDE participates in and conducts numerous activities that benefit not only employees, but also SWCDs statewide. VACDE activities include:

  • Through a nomination process, the VACDE selects an outstanding conservation district employee and presents that employee with the Outstanding Conservation District Professional Award along with a monetary gift (at the VASWCD Annual Meeting).
  • The VACDE provides service awards to members for length of service.
  • The VACDE sponsors and conducts an annual summer training session. For many years, the training session has been held at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, Virginia. This three-day event focuses on the training needs of districts’ administrative, technical, and educational employees. The training topics are determined by employee input.
  • The VACDE offers scholarships to individual training events including the Graves Mountain training and VASWCD Annual Meeting.
  • The VACDE provide suggestions to the VASWCD for employee training at the annual meeting.

Become a VACDE Member

For additional information on the VACDE, additional projects and programs, membership information/form and more reference the  VACDE Brochure. 

Register to become a 2023 VACDE member here!

The VACDE established in 2014 a Benevolence Fund to aid and assist all currently employed Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District employees, who are members of the VACDE, as needed during times of financial hardships. All associate member dues – those collected from directors, associates and partners, etc – are directly put towards building the benevolence fund for district staff in need. If you, a district staffer, would like to consider applying for assistance please review and download the Benevolence Fund Request Form and Guidelines for the Benevolence Fund/Program.


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