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Board of Directors

SWCS is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. The Directors are selected by members and serve a three-year term. Each of the society's nine regions are represented, along with at large directors, and one student director.

Front Row L-R: Marsha Paley, Peggie James, Mary Miller, Melinda Mc Clanahan, Jean Steiner
Back Row L-R: Dan Towery, Don Wysocki, Colby Moorberg, Danny Hughes, Gary Steinhardt, Clark Gantzer, Theo Dillaha, Ira Linville, Bill Boyer, Jerry Pearce
Outgoing Directors: Ira Linville, Jean Steiner

2009-2010 Officers
President: Gary Steinhardt
Vice-President: Bill Boyer
Secretary: Clark Gantzer
Treasurer: Peggie James

SWCS members may contact their Board members using the contact information in the members-only Website:
http://members.swcs.org/index.cfm?fa=committees.view&committeeID=221
Board members may also be contacted through SWCS headquarters:
945 SW Ankeny Road, Ankeny IA 50023, 515-289-2331, swcs@swcs.org

Region 1 - Northeastern
William Boyer

I have been a member of SWCS for 25 years. I have taken advantage of networking opportunities, and I have grown in experience and maturity by serving in various officer positions. I have led meetings, conferences, field tours, and I have participated in many other chapter activities.

The two most important reasons to join a professional society such as SWCS are
• Professional development and training; and
• The opportunity to work with other conservationists to address important issues

As a member of the board, I will work to create opportunities for every member to participate and have the experiences necessary to become a better conservationist.

Region 2 - Southeastern
Theo Dillaha

I am highly supportive of technical conferences, workshops and training activities directed towards existing or potential members.

I will be pushing for annual meetings and special conferences with more technical content and for a Society web page that provides technical and program information that members can use in their daily work.

Region 3 - South Central
Danny Hughes

I plan on working hard to facilitate greater chapter cooperation among states in sharing ideas through various sources such as their internet web pages and newsletters. With a background in Agriculture Extension, USDA-NRCS and the KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources, I feel that I can help chapters recruit membership in the extension and wildlife as well as conservation arenas. I’ve recently served as the President-Elect & President of the KY Bluegrass Chapter and was honored to receive a national SWCS Commendation Award in 2008. I hope to work with chapter leaders to plan multi-state symposia and workshops and look forward to building relationships with SWCS members across the South Central Region. I am honored to serve as your representative!

Region 4 - East North Central
Gary Steinhardt

The Soil and Water Conservation Society can be highly effective due to its unique constituency. No one else does what we do and it is critical that we maintain the role we have as a promoter of sound policy. Scientists have plenty of opportunity to meet with one another, as do policy developers, conservation implementers and educators. With SWCS these groups have an opportunity to discuss mutual concerns. From these discussions ideas can be developed that are profoundly better than any one group working alone. It is also important that the discussion go beyond merely educating our members.

SWCS has a role as an advocate for conservation. Just as in extension we must work on the premise that, presented with the right information, people will make good decisions. We can not guarantee success but in the absence of our profession analysis the result in public policy is at best hazardous. I look forward as a Board Member to promoting idea sharing, policy development and advocacy that is critical to protecting our natural resources not only here in the United States but also the world.

Region 5 - West North Central
Peggie James

I am an advocate for leadership training in conservation. As a whole new generation of young people join our ranks every year, it is vital to instill in them the core values that the Soil and Water Conservation Society represents.

Region 6 - Northern Plains
Anita Nein

I will devote my time and energy to the promotion of SWCS through soil and water conservation, sustainable farming systems that provide food for our people, sustainable energy production, and clean air and water.

I will attend all the SWCS Board of Director Meetings and the International Meeting. I will visit each Northern Plains chapter during the year at a technical meeting or annual meeting to help show the chapters that their activities and work is noticed and valued. I will encourage and motivate SWCS leaders to carry through with their own high values in conservation work by encouraging them to put beliefs into action.

I will promote leadership and harmony among members to increase improvement of our natural resources. I will empower and promote productive activity by asking chapter leaders to ask other members to do specific tasks having defined time allotments on activities, workshops, and committees. I would ask dues paying members myself as well. I would promote an increase in our membership.

I am passionate about conservation and am willing to serve in SWCS work.

Region 7 - Southwestern
Jerry Pearce

I plan to represent the interests and needs of the members. I will seek out the opinions and concerns of the chapters in the region and represent those at the national and international level. I will be active and participate in all meetings and functions. I believe the society is a premier organization and its membership is the key to being recognized as such. The society should exist to serve the needs of the members, and I pledge to work toward that end.

Region 8 - Western
Don Wysocki

We must must be leaders when and where decisions on resource management are made. As members of SWCS, we have the opportunity and responsibility of balancing the needs of people, land, water, and other resources.

Region 9 - Canada
Marsha Paley

Marsha Paley is MCIP, RPP, CMO, is the Clerk-Administrator for the Town of Minto, a rural municipality in the heart of mid-western Ontario. She is formerly the Senior Policy Planner responsible for agricultural and rural issues including environmental planning at the Town of Caledon. Marsha holds two Masters' degrees in Environmental Studies and Public Administration and two Bachelor degrees in Physical Geography and Agriculture. She is a Registered Professional Planner and Certified Municipal Officer.

At Large Director
Clark Gantzer

Soil and water conservation faces ongoing challenges in terms of balancing economic returns from the land, and environmental impacts of using the land. The Society must continue work to reassess soil and water conservation goals. Expectations of the attainment of Tolerable levels of soil erosion (T) are becoming a reality. SWCS must help to provide better information for producing high yields without erosion and water pollution. We must insure that the tradeoff will not be decreased soil productivity, and increases water pollution? As a Board member I will work to help the Society find solutions to maintain sustainable soil and water resources.

At Large Director
Melinda McClanahan

I have been a senior executive in federal government in Washington, DC and Fort Collins, Colorado, since 1994. I know the complexities of working with multiple federal agencies in developing environmental, agricultural, and conservation science-based public policy at the highest level of government. As an At-Large Director for SWCS, I bring skills needed to develop joint programs and build collaboration and advocacy across USDA agencies and other federal, state, and local groups promoting conservation programs.

I know how to develop and implement an appropriate management process to support a strong investment portfolio. My experience complements the local chapter and regional efforts of SWCS and helps maintain a balanced perspective of society activities. I willhelp guide SWCS in meeting cost, schedule, risk, benefit, and impact expectations and in evaluating opportunities created by SWCS programs. I help ensure that programs support the organization’s business requirements and meet end-users’ needs.

At Large Director
Dan Towery

The Society is the organization for those working in the area of soil and water conservation. Yet many of these professionals are not members of the society. Potential members need to see the value of the networking opportunities with professionals from other states, provinces, and counties. Where else can they learn about new research, educational opportunities, and advocacy methods?

The Society needs to help provide more and better information on producing high yields while reducing the environmental impact. This balance is what constitutes sustainable agriculture and as a Board member I will work to help achieve this goal. Agriculture’s role in reducing the impact of climate change by sequestering carbon and improving soil quality but will require a paradigm shift in the science and art of natural resource conservation.

The Society needs to continue with both grassroots and special projects, which are essential to who we are as a Society. In addition, I will help the Society maintain a strong voice in the conservation policy arena.

Student Director

Colby Moorberg

As the Student Director I am the main resource for student chapters. My goal is to help current student chapters grow in membership and gain in quality. In addition to that, founding new student chapters will also be an objective.

Student chapters serve as a means for students to learn leadership abilities, make new friends, practice conservation, and educate the public. In addition, student chapters play a vital role in future membership of our society. I strive to help your student chapter become everything it can become.