DID YOU KNOW??? FLORIDA DISTRICTS Districts are made up of five - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

DID YOU KNOW???

FLORIDA DISTRICTS

• Districts are made up of five elected members a nonpartisan board of supervisors.
• Supervisors volunteer their services as elected unpaid Supervisors.
• Florida Districts are non-taxing.
• Districts are supported by maintaining relationships and partnerships with
• rganizations, government agencies, receiving voluntary contributions and fundraising.

NEW SUPERVISORS

• Terms:
• Elected- every 4 years with the term beginning on the first Tuesday after the first

Monday in January.

• Appointed- Begin serving the remaining term of the Supervisor being replaced until

the general election. The Supervisor’s term ends on election day if not elected.

• When a Supervisor is appointed the Supervisor is elected only to fulfill the rest of the

vacant 4 year term.

• Reasons for vacancies include: resignation, death, lack of candidates

DID YOU KNOW???

THE PURPOSE OF A SWCD

• To provide assistance, guidance, and education to landowners, land occupiers, the

agricultural industry and the general public in implementing land and water protection practices.

• The Legislature intends for Soil and Water Conservation Districts to work in

conjunction with Federal, State and local agencies in all matters to implement the provisions of Chapter 582.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A SWCD

• Public Education and outreach.
• Promote funding from partners such as NRCS, FDACS and Water Management

Districts.

• Assisting partners with various programs.
• Districts also help landowners/operators and communities keep their natural resources

healthy and productive.

• Districts serve as the link between communities and federal, state and local

government polices and programs and the people they represent.

DID YOU KNOW???

SWCD PARTNERSHIPS

• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Office of

Agriculture Water Policy administers the soil and water conservation programs assigned to it by the Legislature under the Soil and Water Conservation Law, Chapter 582, Florida Statutes. FDACS has field staff located around the state who work directly with the Districts as their FDACS liaisons.

• Conservation Districts have had a long standing partnership with the U.S. Department
• f Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS District

Conservationists are responsible for all NRCS activities within their assigned SWCD. They also furnish technical guidance to the SWCD Supervisors.

ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Water Managements Districts. Partnering with Water Management Districts has

potential for cost share programs, water supply concerns and water quality issues.

• Association of Florida Conservation Districts. SWCD Boards have requirements under

the Statutes that must be complied with. AFCD helps keep Districts in Compliance with these requirements. AFCD serves as a central information point for changes to rules and regulations. AFCD serves as a liaison to partnering agencies. AFCD assists all Districts with no staff and offers additional assistance to District staff.

SUPPORT STAFF

• District Employees are responsible for much of the implementation of local District

programs, at the direction of their Boards.

• Most Districts in Florida have staff.

Florida Conservation District Employees Association

• District Employees are encouraged to join the FCDEA with support of their Boards.
• FCDEA is supported by the annual membership fee of $10.
• FCDEA offers training opportunities and information sharing.
• FCDEA offers networking and connection to other state associations through

involvement with the Southeast Conservation District Employees Association.

DID YOU KNOW???

WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS

New website Requirements for all Special Districts as of October 1, 2015.

• All independent special districts must maintain a separate website.
• All dependent special districts must be displayed on the homepage of its local

governing authority’s website, or maintain a separate page. Additional information can be found at: FloridaJobs.org/SpecialDistricts, FloridaJobs.org/OfficialList or FloridaJobs.org/SpecialDistrictHandbook.

• Jack Gaskins, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity,

Jack.Gaskins@DEO.MyFlorida.com or (850) 717-8430.

DID YOU KNOW???

FUNDING SOURCES

• Board of County Commissioners: Budget, District Employee
• USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services: Grant, In-Kind Contributions.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Contracts.
• Private grant funding
• Donations
• Fundraising

FUN WAYS TO FUNDRAISE

• Souvenir cup at an open bar during an event (with SWCD logo)
• Pottery or Art Raffle
• Silent and live auctions
• Golf tournaments
• Poker Runs (Motorcycles or Boats)
• 5K Runs
• Gun raffle

http://www.nacdnet.org/resources/guides/fundraising/fun_ways_to_fundraise.pdf

SELLING ITEMS FOR YOUR DISTRICT

• Wildflower seeds
• Rain Barrels
• Bird Boxes
• Duck Boxes
• Bat Houses
• Trees/Plants
• Wildlife planting mixes

DID YOU KNOW???

AFCD EXECUTIVE BOARD

• Archie Matthews, President (Alachua SWCD)
• Burlin Findley, 1st Vice President (Blackwater SWCD)
• Scott Wynn, 2nd Vice President (Hamilton SWCD)
• Pam Fentress, Secretary Treasurer (Highlands SWCD)
• Linda Minton, Past President (St. Lucie SWCD)
• William Howell, Area 1 VP (Leon SWCD)
• Eric Rollings, Area 3 VP (Orange SWCD)
• Fred Segal, Area 4 VP (Broward SWCD)

AFCD CONTACT INFORMATION

The State Organization was named Association of Florida Conservation Districts and was reorganized in 2004. Contact information for AFCD is as follows:

• Charlene Richburg, State Coordinator
• AFCD Website: www.afcd.us
• Phone Number: (352) 682-2894
• Email: Charlene@afcd.us
• Mailing address: P.O. Box 1763, Chiefland, FL 32644

ADDITIONAL AFCD ASSISTANCE

• As a SWCD Board there are requirements under the Statutes that must be complied
• with. AFCD helps keep Districts in Compliance with these requirements.
• AFCD has helped to bring Districts back into Compliance.
• AFCD serves as a central information point for changes to rules and laws.
• AFCD serves as a liaison to other agencies such as NRCS, FDACS, Office of Ag Water

Policy, Water Management Districts and the Commissioner’s Office.

AFCD ANNUAL MEETING JULY 29 & 30, 2016 OCALA HILTON

Supervisor Training Guest Speakers District Share Fair Partner Reports

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PRESENTATION ???

Contact: Charlene Richburg, State Coordinator at: Charlene@afcd.us or (352)682- 2894