2017 Agenda

Moderated by Allison Handler

You’ve set up an appointment with an aide for your state legislator. You’re excited to talk with her about your RCD’s work. How do you get ready? What advice do legislative “insiders” – the staff who are at the capitol every day and understand the ins and outs of how things get done in Sacramento – have for you? In a moderated panel, legislative staff will provide perspective about what you should consider before, during, and after meeting with decision-makers or their staff. You’ll have an opportunity for questions during the session.

Learning objectives:

Understand what to consider as you prepare for your meeting
Understand how to make the most of your time during the meeting
Understand the larger process of building relationships with key decision-makers

Presenter: Allison Handler

Politically savvy groups are good at raising their visibility, making sure decision-makers understand the importance of resource conservation, and garnering the support they need to succeed. They leverage key relationships with policymakers to get things done. If you find this intimidating, we’ll help you learn how to get over stage fright and harness key relationships to advance resource conservation. This session will give you the tools to get started.

This Track 1 session will:

Demystify the use of political influence for RCDs – including understanding who has influence, where the leverage lies, and the spectrum of activities that are allowed
Provide tools that groups can use to cultivate relationships with influencers and decision-makers in their region to advance a conservation agenda.
Make the case that cultivating relationships with key policymakers is important – and give participants a way to bring that message back to their board and others in their organization

Presenter: Amy Stork

RCDs are the best kept secret in California conservation. A “Day in the District” event is one great way to bring people in on the secret. How can your district reach out to local decision makers and partners to engage them in learning about your RCD? How can you get your board and staff ready to interact with partners and make a great impression? Is Day in the District best for your group, or is there another approach that might make more sense for you?

Learning objectives for this Track 2 session:

Understand how to evaluate your district’s needs and decide on an outreach approach.
Discuss the components of a successful Day in the District event.
Understand who to involve, how to connect with them, and how to get your message across.

Presented by: Dr. Jeff Creque, Carbon Cycle Institute

Cover Crop: Challenges and Opportunities in California

Presented by: Zahangir Kabir, USDA NRCS

Building Healthy soil and Beneficial Insect Communities with Cover Crops

Presented by: Kathryn Prince, The Xerces Society

Carbon Farming 101

Presented by: Dr. Jeff Creque, Carbon Cycle Institute

A Carbon Farm Plan Step by Step

Presented by: Dr. Jeff Creque, Carbon Cycle Institute

The COMET-Planner/Farm™ Tools

Restoring the Salt River Watershed: 30 years of Community, Collaboration and Partnership

Presented by: Jill Demers, Humboldt RCDDoreen Hansen, Humboldt RCDJon Shultz, NRCSMichael Bowen, State Coastal Conservancy

Streamflow Stewardship: Working with Landowners to Enhance Water Resources

Presented by: Sara Schremmer, State Coastal Conservancy

Solano RCD Partnership with Local Storm Water Discharge Programs

From Pilots to Big Bold Visions: Scaling of Carbon Farming

Presented by: Sara Schremmer, State Coastal ConservancyAnna Olsen, Cachuma RCD

Carbon Farming Planning Through Local Partnerships with RCDs

Presented by: Dr. Pelayo Alvarez, Carbon Cycle Institute

Climate Beneficial Fiber: Partnerships to Revalue Regenerative Fiber Production Systems

Watershed Related Partnership Projects in Southern Oregon

RCDs' role in North Bay Fire Recovery

Partnerships forged by fire – Connecting, educating, and empowering people to create neighborhood-wide defensible space and develop

Cross boundary watershed forest restoration collaboration