Join us! It is our pleasure to invite you to the 2022 Annual Meeting & Summer Training Conference scheduled for Sunday, July 17th – Tuesday, July 19th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield! This years theme is “Building Resilience: What’s Old is Now New”.
The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), is a grass roots organization formed in 1948. It is made up of and serves Illinois’ 97-member Soil and Water Conservation Districts, or SWCDs. Soil and Water Conservation Districts work to protect Illinois’s greatest assets – the rich, fertile soils and water resources of the state through strategic conservation efforts. SWCDs, working in conjunction with agricultural as well as environmental stakeholders, have for decades over played a central role in efforts to protect and sustain the viability of Illinois’ natural resources for future generations. Each year, member districts gather to conduct association business, attend training seminars, network, and socialize!
Conferences in recent years have had nearly 400 attendees. The two-day conference can provide you with the opportunity to network with conservation professionals, landowners, partnering organizations, and government agencies. It also provides a venue to discover new services, technologies, and programs – register today!
DETAILED SCHEDULE:
Sunday, July 17th
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Evening Social: “Evening on the Lake”
Monday, July 18th:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Event: Opening Ceremony
Speaker(s): Ivan Dozier and Scott Halpin
9:00 AM – 9:40 AM
Topic: Climate Change Mitigation
Speaker: Dr. Michael Woods
Organization: Illinois Department of Agriculture
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Auxiliary Meeting
9:40 AM – 10:40 AM
Topic(s): Solar Information
Speaker(s): Joel Tatum
Organization(s): American Farmland Trust
– and –
Topic(s): Benefits of Pollinator Habitat and Soil Regeneration
Speaker(s): Kate Green
Organization(s): Resource Environmental Solutions
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Topic(s): A Lesson on Succulents (Make and Take Activity)
Speaker(s): Various
Organization(s): AISWCD Ladies Auxiliary
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
Topic(s): Regenerative Agriculture
Speaker(s): Rick Clark
Organization(s): Farm Green, Clark Land and Cattle
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Event: AISWCD Awards Luncheon
Speakers: Various Speakers
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM:
Topic(s): Carbon Credit Panel
Speaker(s): Various Speakers
Organization(s): Various Organizations
1:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Topic(s): Garden Rock Painting Activity
Speaker(s): Various
Organization(s): AISWCD Ladies Auxiliary
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Topic(s): Carbon Credit Marketing
Speaker(s): Jean Brokish
Organization(s): American Farmland Trust
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Refreshment Break
3:15 PM – 4:10 PM
Topic(s): Watershed Planning: What is it, and Why Bother?
Speaker(s): Chris Davis and Jeff Boeckler
Organization(s): Illinois EPA and Northwater Consulting
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Topic(s): Producer Led Watershed Groups
Speaker(s): Jean Brokish
Organization(s): American Farmland Trust
5:30 PM – End
Event: Farm Family Awards Dinner and Auction
Speaker(s): Cyndi Young
Organization(s): Brownfield Network
Tuesday, July 19th, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Event: Stewardship Breakfast
Speaker(s): Caroline Krug
Organization(s): Land Improvement Contractors Association National
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Topic(s): TNI Training and Successful Grant Management
Speaker(s): Larry Glover-Meade and Ashley Curran
Organization(s): USDA-NRCS and AISWCD
– and-
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Topic(s): STAR Updates and 4-H Green Communities Program
Speaker(s): David Nguyen, Morgan Cauble, Dale Shumaker, Curt Sinclair
Organization(s): STAR, AISWCD, and Illinois Extension
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Topic(s): Department of Agriculture Updates
Speaker(s): Brian Rennecker
Organization(s): Illinois Department of Agriculture
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Refreshment Break
10:45 AM – 11:10 AM
Topic(s): Breakout: Acceptance of Conservation by Commodity Farmers: A Case Study
Speaker(s): Cassidy Dellorted-Blackwell
Organization(s): The Land Connection
-and-
10:45 AM – 11:10 AM
Topic(s): Breakout: Illinois Urban Manual
Speaker(s): Patrick McPartlan
Organization(s): Kane-DuPage SWCD
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Topic(s): Breakout: GATA Training Information
Speaker(s): Heather Bosie
Organization(s): Illinois Department of Agriculture
-and-
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Topic(s): Breakout: ILICA: Your Conservation Partner Resource
Speaker(s): Ryan Arch
Organization(s): Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA)
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
SWCD Director and Employee Forums
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Refreshment Break
1:30 PM – End
74th Annual Meeting & Foundation Annual Meeting
REGISTER:
Please click HERE to complete the registration form. Registration forms may be emailed to info@aiswcd.org or mailed via postal mail to:
AISWCD
4285 North Walnut Street Road
Springfield, Illinois 62707
Lodging may be obtained by contacting the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center – the base room rate is $85 per night.
We’re sorry, but we do not accept electronic payment for registration at this time.
SPONSORS:
The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts would like to thank the Illinois Department of Agriculture for it’s sponsorship of meals at the 2022 Annual Meeting and Summer Training Conference.
Additional sponsorships opportunities exist! Please consider becoming a table sponsor whereby your organization’s name and logo will be featured on a table where conference attendees will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner! The cost is $200.
Please email info@aiswcd.org with the subject “2022 Table Sponsor” along with the sponsoring organization’s name and artwork to reserve your table sponsorship!
EXHIBITORS:
Make an introduction! If your business or organization is looking to introduce your programs, products, or services to conservation leaders, this is the place to do so!
Exhibitors will be placed in visible, high traffic areas along with other vendors. These areas provide special value – it is where conference attendees take breaks, refresh, and socialize! Each exhibitor space includes one skirted table and two chairs, and one lunch ticket per day. Acknowledgement will also be provided in printed materials and online! The cost is $350 for non-profits or agencies and $500 for private or commercial businesses.
Please email info@aiswcd.org with the subject “2022 Exhibitor” to reserve exhibitor space today!
MORE INFORMATION
Contact AISWCD by calling Steve Chard at 217-744-3414 or info@aiswcd.org!
