Hoosier Chapter
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Newsletter
Fall Issue
September 2014
“Conservation in the City” Summer Meeting Wrap-up
Upcoming Events:
 Council Meeting
October 3, 2014
 Fall Annual
Meeting
November 12,
2014 at Ball State
University
TNC Bio Swale (above) and
Rain Garden (right)
On June 6th The Nature
Conservatory hosted the
Chapter for our summer
meeting in their LEED
approved downtown
headquarters.
Dr. Tim Carter of the Center
for Urban Ecology (CUE) at
Butler University kicked off
the meeting with a
presentation about the CUE
department and their
community activities. It was
great to see the impact he
and his students are having
on educating Indianapolis
residents and visitors about
plantings, pervious
pavement and reclaimed
building materials.
Following Dr. Carter’s talk we
toured TNC’s building which
features gray water reuse, smart
lighting, a living wall, roof top
garden, bioswales, native
plantings, pervious pavement
and reclaimed building
materials.
Hoosier Chapter
Big City Farms
Page 2
Next we loaded up the bus and were
welcomed by Matthew Jose of Big City
Farms. Matthew has plots of land that
he grows vegetables on in downtown
and runs a CSA to provide local food
and educate residents.
Peaceful Grounds– Marion County Fairgrounds
The next stop was with Linda Proffitt at the Marion county
Fairgrounds. The “Worm Lady” runs Peaceful Grounds for
Agriculture and Sustainable Living which has a
demonstration farm at the fairgrounds making vermipost,
growing vegetables and microgreens utilizing any groups of
volunteers she can get .
Linda Proffitt discusses
goals for Peaceful
Gardens
Our vision is to raise
consciousness about
concerns for the
environment – both in
and beyond state
boundaries – in order to
make the world a
healthier, more livable
place for everyone.
Fall Issue
Easley Winery
Tammy Swihart, Hoosier Chapter
President wrapped up the day at
Easley Winery where we learned
the wine making process, tips
on grape growing and of course
some tasting. Thank you to all
that attended and we look
forward to seeing this fall at Ball
State University for a look at the
critters above and below the
ground that improve the soils
health so that we can have
healthy nutritious food.
“We have become great because of the lavish use of
our resources ... But the time has come to inquire
seriously what will happen when our forests are gone,
when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are
exhausted.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Page 3
Page 4
Annual SWCS International Conference
Above: NRCS Chief Jason Weller
address SWCS Conference about
Soil Heath, Weather Extremes
and the new Farm Bill
Right: Bob Eddleman and Les
Zimmerman accept the SWCS
Merit award for Indiana's
Conservation Cropping Systems
Initiative
Page 5
The Annual SWCS International Conference was held in July in Chicago, Illinois.
“This was such a great conference to attend! Next year’s conference will be held in
Greensboro, North Carolina July 26-30, 2015,” Tammy Swihart
Hoosier Chapter Award Nominations
The Hoosier Chapter has four awards that we will be taking nominations for through
October 10, 2014. If you know an individual, group, or an SWCD that has made an impact on Conservation, please consider nominating them. The following pages are the
eligibility requirements for each award. If you have questions, please contact Hilary
Barnhart– Membership Growth and Involvement Committee Chair at
[email protected] or (765) 439-0500.
Hoosier Chapter
Page 6
Call for Nominations!
2014 Hoosier Chapter SWCS Awards
CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD
(GROUP/INDUSTRY/BUSINESS)
CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD
(INDIVIDUAL)
Purpose of Award: To recognize the outstanding conservation
accomplishments of a specific group or industry or business
whose activities have resulted in improving the quality of the
environment by directed efforts to advance science and art of
good land use.
Purpose of Award: To recognize the outstanding
conservation accomplishments of a specific individual
whose efforts have resulted in improving the quality of the
environment through applied soil and water conservation
activities.
Criteria: The nomination's accomplishments should display
unmistakable evidence of specific activities which have resulted
in positive improvement of the environment via the effective
promotion of soil and water conservation principles. Award
recognition will consider (but not be limited to):
Criteria: The nominee’s accomplishments should display
unmistakable evidence of the interest in and the advancing
of wise resource management through positive application
of soil and water conservation activities. Award recognition
will consider (but not be limited to);
The activities which aim to accomplish the mission of the
SWCS Hoosier Chapter.
The significance of the accomplishment to the overall
mission of the SWCS Hoosier Chapter.
The nature and type of conservation accomplishment(s)
achieved
The nature and type of conservation accomplishment
(s) achieved
The variety and breadth of accomplishment(s)
The variety and breadth of accomplishment (s)
The influence the accomplishment(s) have had on other
groups, industries, or businesses to initiate similar
activities
The influence the accomplishment(s) have had on
others
The quality of environmental improvement resulting from
the accomplishment, the far-reaching effects of the
accomplishment
The activities should have clearly contributed to bringing
about better conservation of soil, water, and related
natural resources and/or a better understanding of
natural resources conservation issues.
Is the nature of the activity, product or service the result of
an organized program or an individual’s activities?
Please explain the audience that was primarily affected by
this activity.
Eligibility: Any group, industry, business, organization is
eligible to be recognized. Membership in the Society is not
required.
The quality of environmental improvement resulting
from the accomplishment
The activities should have clearly contributed to
bringing about better conservation of soil, water,
and related natural resources and/or a better
understanding of natural resources conservation
issues.
Are the nominee’s accomplishments outside their
normal working duties?
Have the nominee’s professional achievements been
recognized on a statewide, multi-state, nationwide
or international level?
Summarize nominee’s education, biographical and
employment history that supports the nomination.
Eligibility: Any individual is eligible to be recognized.
Membership in the Society is not required.
Fall Issue
Page 7
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION AWARD
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE HOOSIER
CHAPTER AWARD
Purpose of Award: To recognize the outstanding achievements
of a specific individual or group whose efforts in educating and/
or informing the public about natural resources issues has
resulted in a positive greater awareness of the need for
protecting or conserving these resources.
Purpose of Award: To recognize an individual or group for
outstanding service to the SWCS Hoosier Chapter in
developing and carrying out its objectives and program
goals.
Criteria: There should be unmistakable evidence of the
effectiveness of the individual's or group's efforts to increase
public understanding and appreciation of the need for wise
resource management. Award recognition will consider (but
not be limited to):
The communication effort of the individual/group and the
audience to which such effort is directed (general
public, professional groups, industrial groups,
classrooms, etc.)
The frequency of the communication effort
The manner of presentation of information and/or
education effort
The length of time such efforts have been demonstrated
The results which occurred because of the information/
education effort
The specific message(s) conveyed as it relates to the
mission of the SWCS Hoosier Chapter
Was the scope of the project countywide, less than 25%, 25
-50%, 50-75% of the state, Statewide, Multi-state,
Nationwide or International.
Eligibility: Any individual or group is eligible to be recognized.
Membership in the Society is not required.
Criteria: Nominee’s services should display unmistakable
evidence of service performed on behalf of the SWCS
Hoosier Chapter which was distinctly above and beyond the
service expected to be rendered by any member. Award
recognition will consider (but not be limited to):
Noteworthy participation in Chapter activities or
projects.
Influencing and motivating others to actively participate
in SWCS Chapter programs.
Support of the SWCS Hoosier Chapter that results in
significant growth and development of the Chapter
Encouraging others to engage in activities that support
the mission of the SWCS.
Other activities that bring special recognition to the
Hoosier Chapter.
The number of years that the member has been active
The length of time such efforts have been
demonstrated
Describe activities outside of Chapter Society level
List activities of nominee outside the Chapter
Eligibility: Any SWCS Hoosier Chapter member is eligible to
be recognized. The award is not limited to one recipient per
award year if the Committee believes that there has truly
been outstanding service demonstrated in the nomination
of activities as described in the nomination(s) documents.
Nomination Procedure: Nominations should be submitted in letter format (with any supporting material as
appropriate). Documentation need not be lengthy but should clearly address all the criteria for each award
respectively. Submit nominations by Friday, October 10, 2014, to Hilary Barnhart, Membership Growth and
Involvement Chair, 100 E Park Dr., Albion, IN 46701 or email: [email protected].
Members of the Membership Growth and Involvement Committee will judge all entries. For more information
call Hilary at (765) 439-0500.
Hoosier Chapter Soil & Water Conservation Society
PO Box 70, Kingman, IN 47952
Connect with us!
www.hoosierchapterswcs.org
Facebook: Hoosier Chapter–Soil & Water
Conservation Society
Join Us for the Hoosier Chapter Annual Fall Meeting November 12, 2014
Please join us for the fall meeting at
BSU where we will meet newest Natural Resources & Environmental Management Professor-Dr. Jessi Ghezzi,
explore the critters underground with
John Graveel from Purdue University
and the critters above ground with
Mace Vaughn from the Xerces Society.
Gary Reding from Advancing Eco Ag
will bring it all together on how everything works together in harmony in
nature and the field.
The Annual Business meeting will be held at
Pizza King (109 E. McGalliard Road) from
4:30-6pm, all are welcome,
dinner on your own.
Please arrive between 8:15
and 8:45am to allow time
to park and sign in.
Parking is available in the
lot next to the Student
Center as well as the
parking garage down the
road.
Lunch will include the awards ceremony. It will be catered by the student
center, please indicate on your registration if you would prefer the vegetarian option.
We will be located on the 2nd floor of
the LA Pittenger Student Center Ballroom for the day, 9am-3:30pm, followed by an optional tour of BSU’s
sustainable practices on campus, 3:30
-4:15pm (weather dependent).
Newsletter Editor: Hilary Barnhart
[email protected]