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Test Your Knowledge
1
History of the Conservation Movement
2
Conservation District Law
3
Laws Relating to Conservation Districts
4
Relationships and Partners
5
Leadership
6
Operational Oversight & Policy
7
Fiscal Management
8
Communications & Advocacy
Module 1: History of the Conservation Movement
Which event was a driving factor for the development of conservation districts?
*
1929 stock market crash
WW II
Dust Bowl
WW I
There are approximately how many Conservation Districts nationwide?
*
2000
3000
5000
1000
What was the first Pennsylvania County to enact a Conservation District?
*
Potter County
Greene County
Dauphin County
Westmoreland County
True or false: The County of Philadelphia has a Conservation District.
*
True
False
Module 2: Conservation District Law
Where is the State Conservation Commission housed?
*
Department of Community and Economic Development
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Department of Environmental Protection
True or False: The SCC provides support, funding, administration and oversight of conservation districts, directors and staff and other cooperating organizations and individuals.
*
True
False
Notification of the Commission is required for all but which?
*
District's annual program of work
Memoranda of Understanding and/or other formal agreements between the district and county agencies or local municipalities
Appointment of district directors
District director salary
Directors that are absent from meetings may be removed from the board if they are absent more than how many times per year?
*
three
four
five
six
Conservation Districts Are:
*
A subdivision of State Government
A local Unit of County Government
A department of County Government
An advisory unit of Federal Government
What law authorized the formation of Pennsylvania Conservation Districts as a subdivision of state government, and governs their operations and activities?
*
Act 394 of 1937, the Clean Streams Law
Act 217 of 1945, the Conservation District Law
Act 97 of 2007, the Resource Enhancement And Protection Act(REAP)
Act 38 of 2005, the Nutrient and Odor Management Act
What decisions made by the board are part of the public record?
*
Any motions made and acted on at a public meeting
Decisions made in executive sessions
No decisions made by district boards are public record
The Chairmanship of the State Conservation Commission rotates annually between?
*
Secretary of PA Dept of Agriculture and Secretary of PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
Executive Secretary of the State Conservation Commission and Executive Secretary of the PA Association of conservation Districts
Secretary of PA Dept. of Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the State Conservation Commission
Secretary of Department of conservation and Natural Resources and Director of Cooperative Extension
Which of the following is not within the powers and duties of the State Conservation Commission?
*
Hire and evaluate district employees
Review fees and services of conservation districts
Approve and monitor delegation agreements
True or False: State Conservation Commission approval is required when districts enter into contracts of less than $250,000?
*
True
False
Which of the following is a voting member of the conservation district board of directors?
*
District Manager
County Commissioner/ County Council Director
Conservation District Field Representative
Associate Director
Module 3: Laws Relating to Conservation Districts
Which one of these employment laws is a Conservation District not subject to?
*
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Equal Pay Act
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Mann Act
True or False: A Conservation District should always consult an employment law attorney when the district is adopting personnel policies or taking personnel actions?
*
True
False
Which Act (law) requires conservation district board meetings to be publicized, open to the public and ensures that all official actions take place at meetings that are open to the public?
*
PA Conservation District Law
PA Sunshine Act
None of the above
PA Right-to-Know Act
What Act (law) requires Conservation Districts to provide documents to the public when a request is made?
*
None of the above
PA Sunshine Act
PA Right-to-Know Law
PA Conservation District Law
What Act (law) governs the ethics of conservation district directors as “public officials” and assures the Commonwealth’s citizens that the financial interest of public officials do not conflict with the public trust?
*
PA Right–to-Know Act
PA Conservation District Law
PA Public Official and Employee Ethics Act
None of the above
Module 4: Relationships and Partners
What is the 14-member commission that has a primary function of providing oversight and support to the state’s 66 county conservation districts for the implementation of conservation programs?
*
EQIP
SCC
CDFAP
REAP
PDA assists the State Conservation Commission in the administration of programs developed by the Commission that support agricultural.
*
True
False
What is/are the role(s) of the DEP?
*
Ensures the wise use of Pennsylvania’s natural resources
Protects and restores the natural environment
All of the above
Protects public health and safety
Which program is not a Farm Bill Program?
*
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP)
Environments Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
Through what college or university through the Cooperative Extension do agents, faculty, and local volunteers work together to share unbiased, research-based information with local residents?
*
Villanova University
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh
Penn State University
What is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and what do they do?
*
Federal agency that provides technical services and implement conservation practices in cooperation with conservation districts
A national charitable organization that lobbies for conservation efforts
State agency that works with landowners to provide technical service and implement conservation practices in cooperation with conservation districts
A State agency that delegates programs to conservation districts
What is the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) role in relation to Conservation Districts?
*
Delegate and contract programs to districts
Provide funding for conservation districts to implement DEP programs
Provide support and training to district directors and staff
All of the above
What is the Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) role in relation to Conservation District?
*
Delegate and contract programs to districts
Provide funding for conservation districts to implement PDA programs
Provide support and training to district directors and staff
All of the above
What is the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD)?
*
A nonprofit organization that serves as the collective voice of Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts
State agency that works with conservation districts
Federal agency that works with conservation districts
A government agency that provides funding for conservation districts
County Government is required to ________________ (choose 2)
*
Provide funding to the district
Appoint a commissioner or County Council member to the district board of directors
Appoint district directors to the board
Module 5: Leadership
Where must active attendance and participation by board members be?
*
Board meetings
Committees
Programs
All of the above
Clear roles and expectations of board members can be provided by?
*
Orientation and mentoring for new directors
Director Handbook
Job description
All of the above
True or False: Board members should recognize they have a common ownership of all district programs.
*
True
False
Who approves the district’s strategic long range plan?
*
State Conservation Commission
District Board
Department of Environmental Protection
District Manager
In order to understand the bigger conservation picture, the board should
*
Understand the roots of conservation districts
Have knowledge of regional, state, and national conservation programs
Participate in regional, state and national associations
All of the above
A properly managed meeting will ensure the following occur
*
Board decisions do not reflect district policy
Votes are cast by secret ballot
That Sunshine, Ethics and Right to Know laws are followed
Meeting minutes are not kept
A conservation district board member’s role includes:
*
Developing and adopting the vision and mission of the conservation district
Developing the District’s Strategic Long Range plan
Developing policy decisions that prove clear guidance on district functions and programs
All of the above
Module 6: Operational Oversight & Policy
Which is not a proactive policy regarding office operations and program delivery procedures?
*
Operational Policies
Religious Policies
Personnel Policies
Fiscal Policies
At a minimum, how often should your conservation district evaluate the success it had in reaching the goals and objectives it planned and capture the “whys” of what worked and what didn’t.
*
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
True or False: As the governing body of the District, the board of directors has the responsibility for overseeing the proper management and growth of the District programs.
*
True
False
Why is it important for the district to have a written personnel policy or a written employee handbook?
*
To help ensure that employment laws are followed
So that correct hiring and firing procedures are followed
In order for the manager and board to have clear guidance to handle various situations
all of the above
Why should the roles and expectations of the manager and staff be clearly defined in writing through a job description or similar document? (Choose 2)
*
To set a baseline for performance expectations and performance evaluation
There is no need to have them clearly defined
To enable the manager to effectively carryout the mission of the district
Why should the district have a staff and manager evaluation process?
*
To set new goals for the manager and staff
To evaluate past performance
To identify professional development needs
All of the above
What is the benefit to the district to having a professional development plan for staff?
*
Target training to improve employee’s skill set
Cross training staff
Optimize training acquired to best utilize time
All of the above
How do you hinder a trusting relationship between directors and staff?
*
Micro-manage staff and manager
Recognize and reward good work
Have an effective evaluation process
Set clear expectations for the manager and staff
What are the benefits of strategic Planning? (Choose 2)
*
Identify strategy to meet natural resource needs
Identify community natural resource needs
Guarantees that all current programs will continue into the future
True or False: An annual plan does not include measurable goals.
*
True
False
What is a benefit to having associate directors or volunteers to the board?
*
They can be an alternate voting member of the board
Provides a pool of resources and specialized expertise to implement district programs
They can do chapter 102 inspections when staff is unavailable
All of the above
How does the board and district benefit from having and using active committees? (Choose 2)
*
Make program decisions for the board
Analyze and develop proposed policies
Provide advice to the board on program decisions
Module 7: Fiscal Management
True or False: A Conservation District has the authority to levy taxes?
*
True
False
State agencies that have a line item in their budget for the Conservation District Fund do not include…
*
DCNR
DEP
PDA
None of the above
Districts must have an annual audit completed by a certified public accountant and submitted to the SCC by what date?
*
October 1
November 30
August 1
July 1
True or False: Funds obtained by conservation districts are classified as private funds.
*
True
False
Who is ultimately responsible for district financial management?
*
County government
District treasurer
District Board
District manager
Module 8: Communications & Advocacy
What are informal opportunities for communications between managers, staff, and the board?
*
Retreats
Banquets
Envirothon
All of the above
What are examples of community communication?
*
Press Releases
Newsletters
Webpages
All of the above
What are opportunities to network with local, state and national organizations with common cause?
*
Nominating Organizations
National Association of Conservation District
Conservation Organizations
All of the above
Why is it important to have good director/manager relationship?
*
So you don’t have to have policies
So the board does not have to communicate with the manager between meetings
So there is an appropriate chain of communications and a regular transfer of information.
All of the above
Which of these is NOT a foundation or characteristic of a good manager/board relationship?
*
Good communication
Trust
Manager not following board direction
Clear performance expectations
Why is it important for the board to have adequate internal communications with staff?
*
The board needs to have faith that the staff is carrying out the mission of the District
So the board can better evaluate information received from the staff
So the board can focus on the “big picture” rather than micromanage every day program details
All of the above.
Why should you invite county commissioners or other elected officials to district events? (Select 2)
*
To solicit campaign contributions
To showcase district and conservation activities
To give the elected officials a chance to interact with their constituents
What are the mutual benefits to opening and maintaining communications with county government?
*
Help the district better understand the county’s needs and priorities
Help the county better understand the district’s needs and priorities
To avoid and or clear up misunderstandings
Increase the effectiveness of the nominating process
All of the above
True or False: District directors should have an active role in communicating the district’s mission and programs.
*
True
False
Which of the following are opportunities for communications to elected officials?
*
Written comments on legislation
Update meeting for legislators
Phone calls
All of the above
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*
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*
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