NRCS Alaska News

September 16, 2005

In this Issue:

Honoring Employee Length of Service

Awards Distributed to NRCS Staff

Transcript of Alaska Farm Bill Forum Now Available

Earth Team Annual Report Due

Needed: Project and Staff Photos

Earth Team National Award Nominations Due

Sixth Annual CNIPM Conference Set

Personnel Actions

Honoring Employee Length of Service

Not only do NRCS employees demonstrate a daily commitment to the core concepts of conservation upon which our agency was founded, but many also distinguish themselves through their length of service to the agency. 

I would like to recognize these employees who have achieved these length of service milestones, and thank them for their work.

30 Years

• Jim Helm, Fairbanks District Conservationist (October 2005)

25 Years

• Mark Clark, Soil Survey Project Leader (March 2005)
• Paul Coffey, Southeast Conference RC&D Coordinator (June 2005)
• Mark Kinney, Homer District Conservationist (March 2004)
• Rick McClure, Hydrologist (April 2005)
• Al White, Acting State Conservationist – Programs, Mat-Su RC&D Coordinator  (November 2004)
• Joe White, Resource Soil Scientist (August 2004)

20 Years

• John Ellis, Contracts Specialist (January 2005)
• Dennis Moore, Soil Date Quality Specialist (September 2004)
• Ann Rippy, State Agronomist (June 2005)

10 Years

• Crystal Leonetti, Anchorage District Conservationist (December 2005)
• Mike Mungoven, Soil Survey Project Leader (August 2005)
• Arlene Rosenkrans, Copper Valley RC&D Coordinator (May 2004)
• Bob Smith, Soil Conservation Technician (August 2005)
• Karin Sonnen, Range Management Specialist (February 2005)

5 Years

• Kristina Smith, SCEP Engineering Trainee (February 2005)
• Norm Stadem, Interior Rivers RC&D Coordinator (October 2004)
• Jane Standifer-Trenton, Interdisciplinary Civil/Ag Engineer (October 2005)
• Pam Taber, Soil Survey Manuscript Editor (November 2005)

Awards Distributed to NRCS Staff

Every day NRCS employees strive to deliver high-quality services to landowners and meet the NRCS mission.  FY05 was a year of growth and tremendous change that illuminated the depth of talent and commitment that exists among our ranks. I want to recognize and congratulate those who contributed to the mission of NRCS through exemplary performance, special initiative, or the excellent performance of temporary additional workload.

Performance Award: Catherine Hadley, Colin Barnard, Jeff Knutson

For efforts in developing conservation plans and securing $3,162,727 in EQIP and WHIP funding for the Delta Junction Field Office.

Performance Award: Mark Kinney, Ronnie Maurer, Craig Sanders

For efforts in developing a large number of EQIP contracts for the Homer Service Area securing over $2 million in EQIP and WHIP financial assistance.

Performance Award: Cassie Storms, Cassandra Stalzer, Yvonne Magnuson, Phil Naegele, Joe Moore

For outstanding teamwork and accomplishments in FY05 with intermittent staff in management and technical leadership positions.

Performance Award: Al White

For outstanding accomplishments as the Mat-Su RC&D Coordinator in FY05 while serving as the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs from May through September 2005.

Performance Award: Grant Webley

Grant arrived in May of this year. Although on board less than four months, he has managed to get a handle on the FY05 budget.

Performance Award: Brian Bourdon

For superior leadership to increase council development, participation, organizational leadership and training opportunities for the Bering Straits RC&D Council in FY05.

Performance Award: Mark Clark

For outstanding effort in completing high quality soil surveys and enhancing the technical reputation of the agency.

Performance Award: Paul Coffey

For extra effort and support of numerous RC&D projects and activities in cooperation with the SE Conference RC&D area in FY05.

Performance Award: Ted Cox

For outstanding leadership and effort in acquiring appropriate current imagery for NRCS programs through interagency partnerships.

Performance Award: Rodney Everett

For superior leadership resulting in a highly successful public relations effort and sign up for the Tanana River Floodplain Acquisition Project.

Performance Award: Darrell Kautz

For outstanding effort in maintaining quality soil databases and insuring public access to the data.

Performance Award: Joanne Kuykendall

For effort in building a conservation program for Copper Center Service area and providing exceptional support to the Tonsina North Agricultural Development Project.

Performance Award: Tom Lance

For efforts in setting up and supporting the Nutrient and Pest Management workshop for Kodiak.

Performance Award: Crystal Leonetti

For hard work and dedication in organizing the 2nd NEDC course Working Effectively with Alaska Natives.

Performance Award: Mitch Michaud

For taking a leadership role in conservation planning certification for employees in Alaska from May – September 2005.

Performance Award: Jeff Oatley

For exemplary performance while serving as technical liaison for the McCarthy Creek Floodplain Management Study.

Performance Award: Andy Oxford

Exemplary performance of all duties while acting as DC for the Anchorage Field Office during five pay periods. Of most significance, while keeping Bethel Field Office running, Andy put together EQIP contracts in Anchorage and even found new EQIP customers for the up-coming EQIP sign-up deadline.

Performance Award: Rick McClure

For effectively managing and coordinating significant expansion of SNOTEL sites and Snowmelt Runoff indices in FY05.

Performance Award: Ann Rippy

For providing leadership in RUSLE II deployment, research, training and operation in Alaska.

Performance Award: Aimee Rohner

For exceptional effort serving as Acting State Conservation Engineer while diligently maintaining regular duties and workload.

Performance Award: Samia Savell

For efforts as Acting RC&D Coordinator for the SE Conference RC&D Council while performing regular duties for the Juneau Field Office.

Performance Award: Michelle Schuman

For providing training and support in the implementation of the customer service toolkit.

Performance Award: Tom Thomas

For efforts in completing wetland determinations for the Delta Junction Field Office which helped in securing over $3 million in financial assistance through EQIP and WHIP.

Performance Award: Bill Wood

For taking leadership as the Acting State Resources Conservationist in Alaska from March to May 2005.

Keepsake Award: John Ellis

John removed all the old computer equipment that sat in the storage area for years. Without ever performing property disposal duties, he got rid of old vehicles with minimal supervision.

Spot Award: Dennis Mulligan and Trudy Pink

For leadership and extra effort to implement MLRA based mapping concepts to ongoing soil survey projects.

Spot Award: Dennis Moore

Leadership in the development of a conservation education program through construction of the Alaska Soil Tunnel.

Spot Award: Meg Mueller

For taking leadership as the Acting State Resource Conservationist in Alaska from May – August 2005.

Spot Award: Yvonne Magnuson and Cassandra Stalzer

In recognition of outstanding service to the United States Department of Agriculture for exceptional organization and administrative support of the 2005 Alaska Farm Bill Forum.

Transcript of Alaska Farm Bill Forum Now Available

The transcript of the Farm Bill Forum held August 25 in Palmer is now available online. 

To read or print from PDF - File Size 180 KB: http://www.usda.gov/documents/FBFAK082505.pdf

 To read or print from Word document - 45 Pages: http://www.usda.gov/documents/FBFAK082505.doc

Earth Team Annual Report Due

Once again, it is time to compile and submit your information for the FY05 National Earth Team Status Report.  All volunteer data (i.e. names, SSNs, hours worked) needs to be entered into the Earth Team database by October 1.  The database currently shows 12 volunteers statewide who have worked a combined 232 hours. If you need guidance on using the database, please contact me at 761-7749.

Needed: Project and Staff Photos

Did you take any great photos this field season of projects, partners, or co-workers in the field?  If so, please send electronic copies to the public affairs specialist (cassandra.stalzer@ak.usda.gov) for possible inclusion in brochures, annual reports, web sites, presentations, banners, and other vehicles to increase awareness of conservation work throughout the state.

While I’m most in need of project photos that, preferably, feature staff, clients and/or partners, I can also use landscapes, wildlife, livestock and crop shots.

Earth Team National Award Nominations Due

October 31 is the deadline to submit outstanding Earth Team members or groups, field offices or staff members for their work advancing the NRCS mission through volunteerism.  Please review the categories, and if you believe a nomination is in order, please contact me. Only one entry per category per state is permissible. 

The award categories are:

• Earth Team Individual Volunteer Award recognizes one outstanding volunteer from each region.
• Earth Team Group Volunteer Award recognizes one outstanding volunteer group in each region.
• The National NACD/NRCS Earth Team Award is presented to the most effective Earth Team volunteer program in a conservation district that demonstrates shared leadership among district officials, NRCS employees, and Earth Team volunteers.
• The National Volunteer Service Award-Chief’s Cup will be presented to the state that most creatively uses volunteers to meet the mission of NRCS.
• NRCS Employees Regional Earth Team Award recognizes one NRCS employee in each region for leadership in the Earth Team.
• Chief’s Field Award recognizes one office located at the field level in each region.
• RC&D/NRCS Earth Team Award recognizes one RC&D council in each region and one national winner.

Sixth Annual CNIPM Conference Set

The Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Management in Alaska (CNIPM) is hosting the Sixth Annual Statewide Noxious and Invasive Plants Management Workshop October 25 and 26 at the Fairbanks Princess Lodge. The registration fee is $75 for both days. The conference goal is statewide cooperation to halt the introduction and spread of orange hawkweed, knotweeds and other noxious and invasive plants. Log onto www.cnipm.org for more information. Or call 907-644-3445 with questions or to register for the conference.

Personnel Actions

Transfers

• Sandy Carpenter, to Arkansas NRCS to become that state’s HR Officer, effective 10/30/05.
• Stephanie Schmit, Soil Scientist, Homer, from New Mexico NRCS, effective 11/27/05.

Promotions

• Barbara Creech, Contracting Officer, Palmer, from Alabama NRCS, effective TBD.

Detail

• Mitch Michaud, Acting Kenai RC&D Coordinator, effective 10/2/05.