The latest information on the 72nd Annual TACD Convention will be posted here as it is availalble.
Agenda
The 2016 TACD Convention Program can be downloaded as a pdf file (264 KB) here.
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72nd TACD Convention
February 28—March 1, 2016
Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
Chattanooga, Tennessee
“Looking Out for Tennessee’s Natural Resources from Lookout Mountain”
Sunday, Feb. 28th
10:30—12:00 noon Tennessee RC&D Council
Directors Meeting and General Session
12:00—1:00 pm TACD Officers and Directors Luncheon
1:00—3:00 pm TACD Board of Officers and Directors Meeting
3:00—5:00 pm TACD Auxiliary
3:00—4:00 pm TACD Committee Meetings
Finance Committee
Memorial Scholarship Committee
Membership and Dues Committee
3:30—5:00 pm TCDEA Executive Board Meeting
4:00—5:30 pm State Soil Conservation Committee Meeting
5:30—7:00 pm TCDEA Social
7:00—8:00 pm Vespers Service
8:00—9:30 pm Welcome Reception
Sponsored by TN RC&D Council and Panther Creek Forestry
Monday, Feb. 29th
8:30—9:30 am TACD 72nd Annual Convention Opening Ceremony
9:30 – 12:0 Noon Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
Ray Weaver, President, TACD
Kevin Brown, State Conservationist, USDA/NRCS
Commissioner Julius Johnson, TN Dept. of Agriculture
Commissioner Robert Martineau,
TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation
10:30 – 11:30 am Joel Houser, Southeast Director, Land Trust for Tennessee
11:30—12:00 noon Lee McDaniel, President, National Association of Conservation Districts
72nd TACD Convention, Continued
12:00—2:00 pm Supervisors Luncheon
Training Session:
Soil Health Challenge, Anthony Khiel, USDA/NRCS
Basic Roles of Supervisors, Danny Sells, TACD Consultant
12:00—3:00 pm TCDEA/TACD Auxiliary Luncheon and Workshop
Southern belle Riverboat
Kevin Hensley, Regional Director, TN Farm Bureau
2:00—4:00 pm General Session
Natural Resources in the Tennessee Valley
Rebecca Tolene, Vice President of Natural Resources
Tennessee Valley Authority
Supervisor Training, continued:
Federal Technical Assistance and Programs
Kevin Brown, State Conservationist, USDA/NRCS
State Costshare Programs and Administrative Responsibilities
John McClurkan, Administrator,
Land and Water Stewardship, TDA
4:00—5:30 pm TACD Committee Meetings
Resolutions Committee
TACD Awards Committee
Joint Meeting:
Legislative Committee
Natural Resource Policy Committee
District Operations Committee
6:30pm Monday Night Mingle Reception
Sponsored by Hamilton Co. SCD and Farm Credit of Hamilton Co.
7:00pm Annual TACD/TCDEA/Auxiliary Scholarship Auction
Tuesday, Mar. 1st
7:30—10:00 am TACD Annual Awards Breakfast
10:00—12:00 noon TACD Annual Partnership Reports and Annual Business Session
10:30—12:00 noon TCDEA Business Session
12:00 noon Lunch on your own
1:30—4:00 pm General Session
What Can Your Soil Conservation District Do To Promote Soil Health?
Moderator: Mike Hubbs, TACD Soil Health Coordinator
Ray Weaver, President, TACD, and President, Coffee County SCD
Adam Daugherty, District Conservationist, Coffee County SCD
Cindy Anderson, Supervisor, Coffee County SCD
6:30pm 72nd Annual TACD Banquet
Award Presentations
“Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band”
Installation of 2016 TACD Officers
Announce Theme for 2017 Convention
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Nominating
Message from Barry Lake, Chair of the TACD Nominating Committee and NACD Board Member
To each of Tennessee’s 95 Soil Conservation Districts:
As many of you are well aware, we unfortunately lost our TACD Vice President, John Leeman, to his battle with cancer a few weeks back. John was strongly dedicated to the Davidson County Soil Conservation District where he served as Chairman for many years. The Ag community and the Ag Education community are both feeling a loss after his many years with VoAg and other endeavors. Besides losing a dear friend, TACD also lost the likely next President of TACD.
Our current President, Ray Weaver of Coffee County, is serving his 5th year as President and will complete the maximum number of years allowed by the TACD bylaws at the end of the convention in Chattanooga. Normally, our association elects, at the Annual Business Session, the serving Vice President as the next President to take office at the end of the convention. John too was in his 5th year as Vice President and we’ve had many conversations over the last couple years about him moving up to President this year.
Sadly that is not going to be and the TACD Nominating Committee has been meeting and discussing what to suggest. The nominating committee is made up of the three Divisional Vice Presidents, one Supervisor from each Division selected by the Divisional Vice President and me as Chairman. After much discussion both inside the committee and with others on their interest or suggestions, it became apparent those having interest in serving were uncomfortable moving directly into the President’s position without experience as Vice President.
With that in mind, the committee considered the bylaws and the limit on the number of years allowed. The bylaws state, “Officers will serve a term of one year and may serve no more than five (5) full consecutive terms”. Our interpretation realized this provision did not prevent a person from serving more than five years as long as no more than five were consecutive and we moved in this direction to put together a recommendation for a slate of officers.
Agreeing to be considered for 1-year terms are the following:
President—Dr. Roy Gillis, Washington County
Vice President—Kelly Stockton, Jackson County
Secretary—Bill Parker, Lauderdale County
Treasurer—Donna Kitts, Grainger County
Given the circumstance with the normal expectation not being possible this year, I felt it important to make our member Districts aware of the TACD Nominating Committee work.
Our recommendations are just that, recommendations and you, our member Districts, will make the final decision. Additionally, the bylaws makes it plain, “Additional nominations from the floor will be in order”, and certainly will be considered for election to any position.
Needless to say, this is an important meeting for our Association and I encourage each District be represented in the Annual Business Session at 10:00am, Tuesday, March 1st, in Chattanooga.
Barry Lake, NACD Board Member and Chair, TACD Nominating Committee
Awards
Oscar Scott - 2016 TACD Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Category II - Promoter of Conservation 2016 Glen Leven Farms
2016 TACD Conservation Education District - Davidson County SCD
2016 TACD Conservation Farmer of the Year
2016 Focus on Monroe County SCD
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Earth Team Awards
Volunteer Group - Bedford County SCD
Partnership Award Humphrey's County SCD
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Earth Team Coordinator - Sharon Englett
Earth Team Employee - Wynne Luter
Earth Team Individual Award - Jerry Prater
Photos
Auction
Awards
Awards Breakfast
Banquet
Business Meetings
Receptions
Candid Photos
Opening Ceremony
Speakers
TCDEA
Vespers
Poster Contest
Poster Contest
Poster Contest winners from across the state were announced at the 2016 TACD Annual Convention. The ten (10) winners represented grades K-12 and where chosen from statewide submissions. The state winners were automatically submitted for the national competition.
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Hotel
The TACD Convention Committee has selected the Chattanooga Marriott as the location for the 2016 TACD Convention. The hotel is located just moments from the scenic riverfront, in the heart of Chattanooga.
Visit the Chattanooga Marriott webpage ...
What to See and Do In Chattanooga
Many improvements have been made to downtown Chattanooga over the last decade. From the hotel to the aquarium, you will find many restaurants and shops along the strip. Bus transportation is available free so you won't need to get in your car.
There are other attractions in Chattanooga as well. Lookout Mountain and many Civil War sites are available. Historical markers are scattered throughout Chattanooga including Missionary Ridge. Just across the state line, the National Battlefield is located in Chickamauga, Georgia.