By Anita Nein, Northern Plains Regional Director
I married a Nein. The three Nein brothers were as competitive
as you’ll meet in both games and discussions. Croquet was the prime example.
They had a saying when things were going their way in the game: they’ve “got
all the grapes.” The saying was used especially when they were about to go out
and the rest of the players had no chance.
That’s the position Soil and Water Conservation Society members have. They’ve “got all the grapes.” For example, the scientific knowledge
that we can access through SWCS technical workshops to solve conservation
situations is huge. Why wouldn’t every professional conservationist
participate? Yes, we learn technical aspects through our jobs, but networking
with people from many organizations gives a much wider view and gives members
the edge in their careers. The useful knowledge spread over large land areas
gives overall understanding of conservation situations and multiple approaches
to solutions. The technical information offered by the Society is useful and
updated often to help any person make a difference in conservation.
What is SWCS doing to merit the dues paid by each member?
This week I was helping judge the award applications for professional
development with this given criteria:
1. Does the
chapter consistently offer educational and professional development
opportunities to its members or to nonmembers?
2. Does the
chapter provide experience through strategy or curriculum that improves
professionalism of those working in the conservation field?
3. Does the
chapter provide professional development in a timely manner and/or use state
of-the-art approach to conservation?
All the chapters with which I have been associated offer
these qualities to members and nonmembers alike. Some chapters are more
structured than others. Some offer more activities than others, but these are
their shared goals. The conservation presentations are creative and range from
showing how specific conservation issues can be solved in the field to formulating
solutions on a broad scale and over time. A chapter’s offering of the above
itemized steps alone would be worth the money for any member to belong.
A key word for the Society is sustainability. The insight
into and improvement of soil health and carbon sequestering is paramount. Good
water quality everywhere is a target we can hit with great effort. Feeding the
world with higher production and increased efficiency is attainable only with
the newest technology and applications that can be learned and applied through
SWCS outreach. Often, there is a subtle infusion of sustainable ideas passed
on to the agricultural chain of marketers, such as seed dealers, machinery
salesmen, and chemical vendors, who reinforce sustainable practices to
producers. Driving sustainability is a worthy SWCS endeavor.
Advocacy is another way to illuminate the importance of
conservation for those who make conservation policy. Coordination with other
groups is one way to grow the power in our voice. There is an article in the
Conservation NewsBriefs e-mail from February 16, 2012, “Do the Farm Bill Now,”
that lists SWCS and other organizations who are unified to encourage the
passing of a new farm bill to keep conservation support strong. Advocacy is
SWCS, in concert with other likeminded organizations, sticking up for
conservation through letters and contacts to legislators that make their
requests for conservation issues known. This resounding force is a value of
SWCS that we cannot duplicate by ourselves.
What is exciting about a future with SWCS? We all want to
make a difference. We all want to be confidently associated with an
organization that is willing to lead based on scientific data. I remember those
that stood at the 2011 SWCS International Conference in Washington, DC
and told us how important it was that we took the lead enacting the policy
statement on climate change and how our action enabled other organizations,
including the USDA, to proceed with addressing conservation issues. Our SWCS
leadership really matters.
Being a SWCS member truly means you’ve "got all the grapes”
for the modern conservation game.
DISCLAIMER: Some ideas in this
article came from the SWCS Board of Directors Outreach Committee
Teleconferences held in February, 2012.
