SWCS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

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SWCS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEE

• Chapter Development Workshop
• Saturday, July 22, 2006
• Keystone, CO

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Committee Charge

• Promote Professional Development Within SWCS
• Advise Board on Professional Development
  Activities
• Judge SWCS Scholarship Applications
• Select Chapter Professional Development Award(s)
• Other Duties As Requested

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Professional Development Commitee

• One Member from Each Region
• At Large Members
• Appointed by Regional Board Member or Committee
  Chair
• Serve on Regional Teams
• Member List on SWCS Website

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Regional Contacts
CANADA (9) DAVID
LOBB (MANITOBA) NORTHEAST (1) BOBBI
BAILEY, PA E. NORTH CENTRAL (4) RON
LAUSTER, IN SOUTHEAST (2) KRISTIN
SMITH, NC (CHAIR) SOUTH CENTRAL (3) HENRY
DUNCAN, KY
WESTERN (8) SHELLY LASSITER, WA NORTHERN
PLAINS (6) YVONNE HAEFNER, SD W. NORTH CENTRAL
(5) JERRY NEPPEL, IA SOUTHWEST (7)
TED ZOBECK, TX AT LARGE MARK RISSE, GA
For Contact Information, Visit www.swcs.org/en/mem
bers/committee_rosters/
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Professional Development in SWCS

• 3 Main Areas of Society Involvement - 3 Ps 1
• Activities that Improve the PRACTICE of
  Conservation
• Conservation POLICY or Advocacy
• Enhancement of the Conservation PROFESSION

1 Craig Cox, 2002
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Professional Development in SWCS

• Journal
• International Meetings
• Scholarships and Awards
• CPESC
• Chapter Activities
• Professional Development
• Program
• National Needs Survey

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SWCS Scholarships

• Traditional Students
• Undergraduate
• Graduate
• Professional Conservationists

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SWCS Scholarships

• Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation
  Scholarships
• Kenneth E. Grant Research Scholarship
• Donald A. Williams Soil Conservation Scholarships

ALL REQUIRE MEMBERSHIP IN SWCS (AT LEAST 1 YEAR)
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More Information

• Workshop CD
• www.swcs.org
• Contact Committee Members

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Professional Development Program

• Board Approved in 2004
• Director Dewayne Johnson
• Duties to Include
• Design Implementation of Professional
  Development Opportunities
• National, Regional, State, Chapter

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National Professional Development Survey

• Conducted in 2002
• ID Professional Development Wants Needs of
  Conservationists
• Results Summarized Regionally
• Reports on Workshop CD

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Example Survey Results
gt40 WILLING TO ATTEND ON SATURDAY

• Will Weekends Work?
• What Season Most Convenient?
• What Impacts do Continuing Education Units Have?
  
• What Training is Needed?

WINTER
gt50 INDICATE CEUs ARE AN INCENTIVE
RESULTS VARY BY REGION
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Training Priorities

• Technical Skills
• Nutrient Management (40)
• Streambank Protection (31)
• Conservation Planning (24)
• Computer Skills
• Computer Mapping/GIS (57)
• Presentation Software (34)
• Spreadsheet Programs (24)

RESULTS VARY BY REGION
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Training Priorities

• Management Skills
• Time Management (36)
• Advanced Leadership Skills (34)
• Communication Skills
• Effective Presentations (28)
• Conservation Marketing (23)
• Facilitation/Teambuilding/Public
• Dealing with Difficult People (32)
• Working with Citizen Committees (27)
• Listening Skills (23)

RESULTS VARY BY REGION
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Professional Development Benefits - Individuals

• Learn / Develop Skills
• Leadership
• Organizational
• Networking
• Equalizing
• Access to Experts
• Continuing Education Units to Maintain
  Professional Certifications

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Professional Development Benefits - Chapters

• More Chapter Leaders
• Publicity
• Opportunities to Develop Relationships with Other
  Groups Having Similar Interests
• Fund Raising
• Recruit and Retain Members

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CONSIDER

• Co-Sponsoring Events with Other Societies,
  Government Agencies NGO
• Offering Training on Non-Traditional (Possibly
  Non-Technical) Subjects
• Offering Continuing Education Units
• Seeking Support of Agency Heads Private
  Industry
• Financial Support
• Audience
• Provide Input on Needs
• Encouraging / Supporting Member Student
  Participation in Professional Development

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Questions?Comments?
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CHAPTER CEU GUIDE

• Developed as a Resource for SWCS Chapters
• by the
• SWCS Professional Development Committee
• 2006
• SWCS Leadership Development Workshop

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What Are CEUs?

• Continuing Education Units
• Definition
• Measure of continuing education completed
• AKA
• Continuing Education Credits
• Professional Development Hours/Credits
• Others
• Purpose
• Provide Record of Non-Credit Professional
  Development Activities

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Why Are CEUs Important?

• Professional Certification
• Licensing of Professionals
• Set Standards for Knowledge, Skills an Conduct
• Often Include Requirements For Completion of
  Continuing Education
• Professional Development Certification Programs

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Conservation Professionals CEUs

• Agency and Professional Association Certification
  Programs
• USDA NRCS
• CCA
• CPESC / CPSWQ
• Engineers
• Foresters
• Wildlife Biologists
• GIS Specialists

• Soil Scientists
• Agronomists
• Grazing Specialists
• Landscape Architects
• Planners
• Others

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2006 SWCS Annual Meeting
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Benefits To Chapters

• Opportunity to Introduce
• Professionals to SWCS
• Increased Chapter Exposure
• Increased Attendance at Activities
• Potentially Resulting in
• Increases Revenue
• Increased Membership

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Approval To Offer CEUs

• Requirements Vary
• Organization and Profession
• National
• State-Level
• 3 Scenarios
• Self-Reporting (Professional Keeps Records)
• Post-Approval
• Pre-Approval

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Pre-Approval

• BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
• Need to Send Program Info to Certifying Board
  Well in Advance
• Advertise the CEUs Offered
• AFTER THE ACTIVITY
• Provide Attendees with Verification of Attendance
  
• Send Sign-In/Out Sheet to Cert. Board

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Suggestions

• If Not Able to Obtain Pre-Approval, Remind
  Attendees That They May Be Eligible for
  Post-Approval
• Offer to Send to Board for Post-Approval
• Think Outside the Box When Deciding Which
  Professionals May Need CEUs From Your Program
  (Who to Invite)

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Suggestions

• IF NOT ABLE TO GET PRE-APPROVAL, REMIND ATTENDEES
  THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR POST-APPROVAL
• THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN DECIDING WHICH
  PROFESSIONALS MAY NEED CEUs FROM YOUR PROGRAM

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List Of Professions and Organizations

• Natural Resource Fields
• CEU Needs and Requirements
• Websites
• Suggest Contact Directly

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CEU Guide

• Available on the SWCS website
• Workshop CD
• Updates as Available
• Regional Information?

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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?