66th OFSWCD Annual Meeting

The OFSWCD 66th Annual Meeting took place on January 20-21st at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel. Nearly 550 Board Supervisors and staff members representing Ohio’s 88 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, conservation friends, partners, businesses and associations participated in the event which focused on the accomplishments and opportunities that today’s conservation programs and practices bring to Ohio’s economy, energy development, agricultural industry, education system, & both natural resources and environmental stewardship.

This year’s annual meeting offered added emphasis on the “Office of the President” by celebrating the Inauguration activities of President Barack Obama – including a “lunch with the President” that included the official swearing in of President Obama while we dined with our friends and colleagues, the passing of the gavel to the OFSWCD’s next President - Lawrence Burdell of Gallia SWCD, and the National Association of Conservation Districts’ upcoming February meeting where Ohio’s own Steve Robinson of Union SWCD will become NACD’s President.

Over this past year, change has been a key word in our vocabulary. So we joined the movement and made a number of changes from our traditional meeting. We moved away from our traditional legislative breakfast to focus on building relationships at the Statehouse with legislators and aides. We added a “Partnership Luncheon” to highlight the value of our many partnerships, included a multitude of new guests and event sponsors, and was privileged to have Executive Director Larry Long of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio as our guest speaker. And to top it off, we incorporated a legislative reception during the evening.

We enjoyed great success – fantastic workshops and guest speakers, the swearing in of our new members by Supreme Court Justice O’Connor, a number of districts had the privilege of an impromptu meeting with Governor Strickland in the Statehouse hallway, some exciting visits at the Statehouse with our legislators and aides, Statehouse tours, and an evening reception that included a good turnout of House and Senate members, staff, and a surprised visit from Attorney General Richard Cordray!

We appreciate all our participants and supporters of this very successful event. Times are tough – but we have something great to offer. See more pictures online at www.ofswcd.org

Joe Glassmeyer elected Secretary/Treasurer of OFSWCD

The OFSWCD held its 66th Annual Meeting January 19-22, 2009. During the Delegate and Resolution Session, Joe Glassmeyer, Clermont SWCD Supervisor and Area Chairman, was elected as the new Secretary/Treasurer.

Joe Glassmeyer with a BS in Biology from Xavier University is the owner-operator of the Glassmeyer Family Farms. The original family dairy operation began in 1954 and Joe took over operation of the farm in 1974. The farm is a true family operation. Joe and his wife Rosalie (Peachie) have three adult children. Joe III is a financial investment advisor, Susan is a PhD in environmental chemistry and Sarah is a law librarian. They all contribute their expertise and offer advice.

The farm encompasses over 500 acres of corn, soybeans, hay and pastures for Polled Hereford cattle and Shetland ponies. Joe uses reduced and minimum tillage, responsible use of herbicides and pesticides and crop rotation on his farm. In addition to his responsibilities on the farm, Joe is in his 25th year as a school bus driver for Felicity Franklin School District and Grant Career Center.

Joe became a board member with the Clermont SWCD in 1986 and had held all positions on the district board. Clermont County, in Southwest Ohio, is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and bordered by Cincinnati on the west, rural Brown County on the east, rapidly growing Warren County to the north and grounded by the Ohio River. The county’s diverse city/country communities present a challenge to the district. At the 2006 Annual Meeting, Joe was named recipient of the 2005 Conservation District Board Member of the year for the State Of Ohio and presented with an award for 20 years of dedicated service in the conservation field.
Joe was elected as a Director in 1999 and joined the Executive Board in 2003 as Area IV Chair. In his 22 years of experience with the OFSWCD, he has been a supervisor, an Area IV Director and is currently Area Chairman and Executive board member of the Ohio Federation of Conservation Districts and Chairman of the Federation’s Urban Committee. He has been with the current officer team at various meetings and understands the challenges facing the Federation. On eight separate occasions, he has served as an Ohio Federation delegate to Washington DC Legislative Conferences and worked with Congress for improved conservation programs and funding in both Ohio and across the US. Joe has attended 10 NACD North Central regional conferences over the years and last year’s NACD legislative conference. This year Joe traveled to 18 annual meetings and four Area meetings in Ohio to learn about the districts concerns and to celebrate their accomplishments. Locally Joe has served as Clermont’s representative to the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Regional Council of Governments-Regional Conservation Council (OKI-RCC) for many years, serving as Chair and Treasurer of the organization.

Hocking SWCD

The Hocking SWCD just shared some exciting news with us..... On December 12, 2008, the Bishop Educational Gardens was officially turned over to the Hocking Soil & Water Conservation District providing anew land lab to be used for educational purposes. The donation of this property to the District is courtesy of Bobbi Bishop and her latehusband Bruce Bishop. As retired school teachers it was their dreamthat their property would serve as an educational tool for the community. Bishop Educational Gardens is the home of Lilyfest which isheld every year the second weekend in July. The gardens are cultivated and maintained by local residents and provide a beautiful botanical backdrop to the newly acquired education center. How will thisbenefit Hocking County residents? Hocking SWCD will be able to use the property to plan programs for adults and youth alike. Also, Teachers can afford to plan field trips that take less gas, less money, and still provide quality state standard experiences that are hands on and fun.

To schedule a field trip to Bishop Educational Gardens, contact Rebecca Miller, Hocking SWCD Education Specialist @ 740-358-3016

Rebecca Miller, Hocking SWCDEducation Specialist