SWCS CHAPTER NOTES TO: SWCS Chapter Presidents FROM: Jim Gulliford, Executive Director jim.gulliford@swcs.org DATE: January 14, 2011 1. SWCS OFFICE CLOSED ON JANUARY 17TH 2. SWCS SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE - DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 12 3. ANNUAL CHAPTER ACTIVITY REPORT AND CHAPTER AWARDS DUE FEBRUARY 15TH 4. MODELING SUMMIT 2011: Advancing theScience of Modeling 1. SWCS OFFICE CLOSED ON JANUARY 17th The SWCS office will be closed on January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. day. 2. SWCS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 12 The Soil and Water Conservation Society annually offers scholarship to it's members through three scholarship endowment funds. These scholarships are named for the benefactors who funded the initial endowments and provided the basic criteria to award the scholarships. Whether you are employed in the natural resource field and are seeking to increase your job skills, are a graduate student conducting research in the natural resources field or an undergraduate or graduate student leader, you may be eligible to apply for one of these scholarships. The basic eligibility criteria is that you have been an SWCS member for one year by the deadline of the application due date of February 12, 2011. Specific criteria and application instructions are found on the SWCS website in the 'Members Only' section. Attached is a flyer providing general information regarding these scholarship opportunities to promote to your colleagues and chapter members that may be interested. Please contact me or any member of the Professional Development Committee if you have any questions on the scholarships or application procedures. Jerry Neppel, Chair Professional Development Committee Email: jbiej@msn.com Telephone: 515-450-2325 3. ANNUAL CHAPTER ACTIVITY REPORT AND CHAPTER AWARDS DUE FEBRUARY 15TH. Please review the information found below. To learn more, go to: http://www.swcs.org/en/members_only/chapter_reports_awards/ 1. Annual Chapter Activity Report must be completed by all chapters. This is a two page form that contains several questions to show that the chapter is still active. 2. Outstanding Chapter Award - this award is to be filled out by any chapter wishing to be considered for the award. This is a three-page form. 3. Chapter Achievement Award - this award is to be filled out by any chapter wishing to be considered for the award. This is a two page form. No chapter can be recognized more than once during a 10-year period for the same basic activity. 4. Sustained Performance Award - this award is to be filled out by any chapter wishing to be considered for the award. This is a single page form. No chapter can be recognized more than once during a 5-year period. (note that this is a recent change) 5. Professional Development Chapter Award - this award is to be filled out by any chapter wishing to be considered for the award. This is a three page form. A chapter must submit the Annual Chapter Activity Report. The Annual Chapter Activity Report is used to inform the SWCS Leadership Development Committee, the Board of Directors, and SWCS staff of your chapter's activities during the past calendar year. A more important purpose is to be able to share activities among chapters. Please answer all questions applicable to your situation. Each chapter must complete this report. The other forms are the awards and recognition reports. These reports are for use by the Leadership Development Committee and the Board of Directors in our chapter awards program and to pass on success stories to other chapters. The Professional Development Award is used by the Professional Development Committee in their chapter award program. You are strongly encouraged to complete the applicable parts so your chapter can be appropriately recognized. Thank you! Rebecca Fletcher, Chair Leadership Development Committee If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Fletcher, Chair, Leadership Development Committee at: 1-800-440-7536, ext. 325 (work) or rebecca.fletcher@in.usda.gov. *Chapter Report Forms are due February 15. 4. MODELING SUMMIT 2011: Advancing the Science of Modeling - March 29-31, 2011 – Denver, Colorado Save the Date! This meeting will provide a forum for modelers and data set stewards to exchange information, discuss opportunities for collaboration, and learn about the advantages and limitations of available data sets for inclusion in current and future models. The target audience for the meeting is modelers and data set stewards from federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, industry, private consulting firms and universities. More information is online at www.swcs.org/modeling