OACD State Meeting 2012 - Announcement

Reed Conference Center

The 74th Annual State Meeting of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts will be held at the Reed Center in Midwest City on Feb. 26-28, 2012. The focus will be on continuing education for district directors and employees through intensive breakout sessions. Registration will open at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Trade Show – A trade show featuring agencies, organizations and businesses will be held in the open area on the second floor of the conference center. Trade show hours are 1to 5p.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday.

Auctions – Again this year silent and live auctions will be held with the proceeds to be split among OACD, OACDE and the OACD Auxiliary to benefit their education, training or other activities. The Silent Auction will take place on Sunday and Monday and the Live Auction will be held at the conclusion of the Legislative Banquet on Monday evening.

Pickup Truck Drawing – Once again Chesapeake Energy has donated a vehicle to go to a conservation district through a drawing to be held Monday during the Legislative Banquet. Each district director registered for the meeting from an OACD member dues-paying conservation district will receive one ticket for the drawing.

Speech Contest, Youth Awards Program and Inspiration Time – The speech contest will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Youth Awards for Poster, Essay and Speech Contests will be presented at 4 p.m. An Inspiration Time will follow the awards program, beginning at 5 p.m.

Conservation Games Night – The Sunday evening social activity will be a Conservation Game Night, beginning at 7:30. In a format similar to television’s “Family Feud,” teams will compete in tests of their knowledge of conservation history, partnership and programs. OACD announced that it is working with one of its partners in hope of including a “Games for Guns” event that evening, with firearms as prizes.

District Employees Breakfast – Christina Richard, president of Oklahoma Association of Conservation District Employees (OACDE), has arranged a breakfast and program on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 a.m.

Morning Sessions – The opening general session on Monday morning beginning at 9 a.m. will feature Sharron Glidden, owner and operator of Tiger Mountain Ranch located in Henryetta, speaking on the topic “Don’t Fear Change.” Concurrent sessions will follow featuring the topics dam safety and emergency response, introductory training on Microsoft Excel, what the future holds for water quality and quantity efforts, and non-traditional conservation initiatives.

OACD Auxiliary Program – On Monday the OACD Auxiliary will host two workshops for district directors’ spouses. The morning workshop, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., is called “Cooking for One or Two” and includes a section on using slow cookers to prepare meals, as well as taste testing for participants. In the “Beaded Bracelet Workshop,” 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., participants will make bracelets with polished crystal and glass pearls. The fee to attend both workshops is $15 per person.

Luncheon – John Larson, new executive director of the National Association of Conservation Districts, has been invited to speak at the luncheon beginning at 11:45 a.m. Awards will be presented to individuals with more than 40 years of service.

Afternoon Sessions – Following the luncheon, concurrent sessions will resume, featuring the topics of local fundraising and establishing a foundation, and conducting personal performance evaluations, and repeating the morning topics on what the future holds for water quality and quantity efforts, and non-traditional conservation initiatives.

Organizational Business Sessions – Business sessions for OACD and OACDE members will both take place on Monday afternoon. A meeting for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services employees will also be held at that time.

Legislative Reception and Banquet – OACD is encouraging districts to invite and sponsor attendance of their local legislators for the Monday evening Legislative Reception and Banquet. The reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by the banquet at 7. OACD will present its Hall of Fame and President’s Awards.

Past Presidents Breakfast – Joe Parker, OACD president, has arranged for a breakfast for former presidents of the organization, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Tuesday Sessions – Two rounds of concurrent sessions, on topics to be announced, will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by a general closing session at 11:15 a.m. The meeting will adjourn at 11:45. The OACD executive board will hold its quarterly meeting beginning at noon.