1775 Mackenzie Drive, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411

(515) 963-9582 IACCB@mycountyparks.com

mycountyparks.com

Volume LVI                                        AUGUST 29, 2014                                         Issue V 

 IMPORTANT DATES:  

* Aug. 29 – Rhett Leonard 

Retirement Event  

* Sept. 3 – EITA Meeting – 

Davenport 

* Sept. 16 – Mailed IACCB 

Ballots Due 

* September 25‐27, 2014 – 

IACCB Fall Conference in 

Sioux City / Woodbury Co. 

* Sept. 29 – October 1 – 

CCPOA Fall Workshop 

* Sept. 30 – FY2015 Salary 

Surveys Due 

* Nov. 3 – REAP‐CEP 

Grant deadline 

* Nov. 4‐5 – IACCB Summit 

Series 2014 – Des Moines 

* Nov. 5‐7 – IAN Fall 

Workshop – Iowa CCB 

* Nov. 30 – Habitat Grant 

Applications Due 

* Dec. 17 – District 6 Mtg. 

Jackson CCB 

 

The IACCB Newsletter is 

produced on a periodic basis, and 

provided in digital format as a 

membership benefit to IACCB 

Members and stakeholders. 

PLEASE forward or make copies of this communication for your Board Members.

Since 1959

Iowa’s County Conservation System 

2014 IACCB FALL CONFERENCE – Sioux City, IA LODGING - Call 800-659-2220 and ask for the IACCB Room Block!!

CONFERENCE WEB PAGE: http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/2014-fall-conference.html

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REGISTRATION DEADLINE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th! It is NOT critical to have your $$ in by the deadline, but IT IS essential that we have your registration forms in on time!!! Emailing them in is fine with a notation that the money is on the way – just get them over to Woodbury County by September 5th - Rschneider@sioux-city.org THANKS to the Harrison and Winnebago CCBS for their cabin package donations to the IACCB Silent Auction – will your county be represented in this annual promotion of all that is best about our county conservation system? (Silent auction donation forms are available from the link above)

RESUME REVIEWER RECRUITEMENT FOR WINTERFEST! A great addition to the Winterfest Collegiate Day a few years back was the addition of a resume review session directly following the Collegiate Seminar session. Each year, we are in need of 6 or 7 reviewers that will be able to sit down with groups of 7-10 students and critique resumes that they will bring for professional reviewing! All we ask is that you have several years of experience in both resume reviewing AND interviewing. This is a fantastic method for our student guests to interact with CCB leadership, put a face with a name & county, etc. If you have an interest in assisting with this effort, or have any questions – please contact Tom Hazelton with IACCB at: tom.hazelton@mycountyparks.com / (515) 963-9582 – many thanks!

Purple Martin Condos         

Otter Creek Park – Tama CCB 

Great Tours ......…….Networking ……...….Education …….…& FUN! 

Tim Engelhardt 

(Clayton) & Matt 

Cosgrove (Webster) 

assist in 2012 review. 

 

   

ONLINE RESERVATION TRAINING OPPORTUNITY October 15th, Location TBA (centrally located for all participants if possible) If your county is seriously interested in moving into online reservations for camping, cabins or facilities – IACCB is sponsoring a one day training seminar to walk you through the basics. This will include building your online facilities, establishing time lines for implementation, setting up the E-commerce portal via Authorize.Net, establishing a Merchant Account for credit cards, administrative and “on-the-ground” needs, etc. Much of this will be a “hands-on” learning experience for you to prepare for going online with your facilities for reservations. Please feel free to call with questions about this training to (515) 963-9582, otherwise RSVP no later than September 15th to IACCB@MyCountyParks.com Additional information will be forwarded to those who have RSVP-ed. Thanks!

DEADLINES – DEADLINES – DEADLINES Aug. 29th – District 5 Ballots for IACCB Board of Directors Sept. 5th – IACCB Fall Conference Registrations Sept. 15th – CCPOA Fall Workshop Registrations Sept. 16th – IACCB Official Ballots due by USPS Mail Sept. 30th – IACCB Salary Survey Due Oct. – IAN Fall Workshop Registrations Oct. 22nd – 2014 IACCB Summit Series Registrations Oct. 31st – ISAC Fall School of Instruction Registration Due Nov. 1st – REAP Conservation Educ. Grants Due Nov. 26th – Fish Habitat Grant Applications Due Nov. 26th – Wildlife Habitat Stamp Applications Due

IOWA URBAN TREE COUNCIL SEEKS NEW MEMBERS The Iowa Urban Tree Council is looking for new members to sit on the council. The Iowa Urban Tree Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer council that works to advance the conservation and maintenance of urban forests throughout Iowa. The Council provides assistance and advice to the state urban and community forestry program, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). We work in partnership with all sectors to address local urban forestry issues by bringing together professionals, academics, government, industry, volunteers and the general public. The Council meets 4 times, for a few hours in the morning. If you’re interested in being on The Council or learning more about The Council please email Shane Donegan at Shane.Donegan@dnr.iowa.gov

 

 

   

DENNIS PARKER RETIRES AS DIRECTOR OF POLK COUNTY CONSERVATION  Polk County Conservation Board, at their August 20, 2014, board meeting approved the retirement request of Director, Dennis Parker. Mr. Parker has been the Director of Polk County Conservation since May of 2009, when he came home to Iowa after spending 25 years in northern Minnesota working for the U.S. Forest Service. Dennis's contributions and achievements during his five years with Polk County Conservation were substantial. One of Dennis's first tasks upon being hired was to follow through with organization and construction of the High Trestle Trail project. Upon successful completion of this very popular trail system, Dennis moved on to other significant trail connections that enhanced the Gay Lea Wilson Trail, Chichaqua Valley Trail, and the Mark C. Ackelson Trail around Easter Lake. A proponent of community collaborations such as trails, Mr. Parker was also engaged and encouraging of many regional initiatives such as Capital Crossroads and The Tomorrow Plan. He helped foster growth of the Great Outdoors Foundation and spearheaded master planning efforts for many of Polk County Conservation's major parks. These planning efforts laid the groundwork that led to the public patronage and passage of the 2012 Polk County Water and Land Legacy bond referendum. This historic conservation bond measure was supported by 72% of Polk County residents and ensures that $50 million dollars will be spent over the next 20 years for the purposes of funding park and trail improvements, land acquisition, and water quality projects. Within two short years of the bond passage more than 600 acres of land has been protected, and water quality/watershed improvements are in progress at Easter Lake, Fort Des Moines Park, Thomas Mitchell Park, Four Mile Creek Greenbelt, and Yellow Banks Park. Along with the trail projects listed above, Dennis can also be credited for opening Polk County's first public rental cabins in addition to many other park improvement projects. Perhaps the most significant project taking shape right now is the impending arrival of the Jester Park Conservation Center. Mr. Parker's leadership on behalf of this exciting regional facility will help reshape environmental education and provide a discovery portal where people of all ages can actively experience Iowa's natural heritage. Projects, such as the Conservation Center, will continue to move forward. Richard Leopold, Deputy Director, will become the Interim Director while the Conservation Board makes decisions on future leadership. Mr. Leopold has been with Polk County Conservation since the spring of 2013. Prior to his employment with Polk County, he was the Director at Dickinson County Conservation, Assistant Regional Director for Science Applications within the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Those wishing to thank Mr. Parker for his many valuable contributions, congratulate him on his retirement, or wish him well in his future endeavors are encouraged to mail notes and letters to:    Polk County Conservation

c/o Dennis Parker Retirement 11407 NW Jester Park Drive Granger, IA 50109

Thanks to Polk County Conservation for providing this article for 

inclusion in this edition of our IACCB Newsletter. 

3X TOUR de FRANCE WINNER ON HERITAGE TRAIL Greg LeMond, who won the Tour de France in 1986, 1989 and 1990 participated in the Dubuque Gran Fondo cycling event which took place over the hills of the City of Dubuque, Iowa and on the roads through the nearby countryside – including Dubuque CCB’s Heritage Trail! The event was held on Saturday, August 16th. Dan Schmalz, a coordinator for the event shared this note with DCCB Director, Brian Preston – “I'm just dropping a note to thank you for doing a great job at the Gran Fondo. Every rider I talked to couldn't have been more impressed with the job the rangers did, and how helpful and friendly they were.” (Got something cool happening in your county? – pass it along, we’ll be glad to highlight it in a future newsletter!) Thanks, Brian

LeMond on the Heritage 

Trail – August 16, 2014 

LeMond winning 

the Tour de France 

in 1986 

2014 ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION - The 2014 IACCB Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with our 54th Annual Fall Conference on Saturday, September 27th. As we have for the past couple years, we are hoping that most of you with an interest will take advantage of reading the annual meeting documents online so that we can reduce the amount that need to be printed. By following the link below, you will find: 1. 2013 Annual Meeting Minutes; 2. 2014 Annual Meeting Agenda; 3. FY2014 Annual Report; and, 4. The FY2015 Approved Budget. There will be a limited number of these items available at the Annual Meeting, so we recommend that you visit the online version in advance if at all possible….thanks for your assistance! LINK: http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/2014-fall-conference.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located at the bottom of each and every page of the MyCountyParks.com website.

 http://www.mycountyparks.com/Jobs/Default.aspx  1. MUSCATINE County – Park Officer 

2. MARSHALL County – Maintenance Technician 

3. FAYETTE County – Roadside Veg. Manager/Deputy Director 

4. IDA COUNTY – Director of Conservation 

5. SAC COUNTY ‐ Naturalist 

6. HARDIN COUNTY – Natural Resource Manager 

7. DES MOINES COUNTY – Operations Supervisor 

8. MISS. RIVER MUSEUM – Education Programs Manager 

9. POLK – Cabin Attendant 

10. BUENA VISTA – Translator for Educational Programs 

11. POLK – Campground Attendant 

12. HAMILTON – Campground Hosts 

13. BUENA VISTA – Campground Hosts 

Full Time Employment 

Seasonal/Part‐Time 

2014 SUMMIT SERIES – APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED! NOVEMBER 4-5, 2014 – Ramada Tropics North – Des Moines, IA

All is in place, and we are pleased to offer the 2nd Annual IACCB Summit Series for

your consumption! TWO DAYS this year – Tues. November 4th will be the “New County Conservation Employee School”; and Wed. November 5th will be “A Day for Directors” as follows: (sessions are listed in no particular order)

NEW COUNTY CONSERVATION EMPLOYEE SCHOOL – Tuesday, November 4th

DNR Programs & Services – Tammie Krausmann, REAP Coordinator, Iowa DNR (CCB Liaison) & Kelley Myers, (New) Division Administrator, Conservation & Recreation Bureau, Iowa DNR

Iowa Tourism Partnerships & Services –– Shawna Lode, Director, Iowa Tourism Office

The Front End of IPERS – Diane Dannen, Senior Retirement Benefits Officer, Iowa Public Employees Retirement System

“COUNTY CONSERVATION 101 - 1955 to 2015” – Tom Hazelton, CEO, IACCB

- The Journey of County Conservation from 1955 - IACCB”E” & YOU! – Plus – the Acronym Conundrum (CCPOA, IAN, CCDA,

AFIRM, ISAC & More!) - MyCountyParks.com & the IACCB Portal – What’s Coming in 2015! - Partnering with IWILL, REAP & Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation - The Inaugural “County Conservation New Employee Manual” & More!

“a day for directors” – Wednesday, November 5th

“How’s Your Safety Compliance Program?” – Rodney Tucker, Sr. Environmental Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

“Dusting Off Your Public Information Policy” – Margaret Johnson, J.D. – Deputy Director, Iowa Public Information Board

“Is Your Long Range Plan In Shape?” – Emily Naylor, PLA, LEED AP, Landscape Architect – Shive‐Hattery, Inc.

“Director’s Roundtable” – A Cast of Characters, back by popular demand! The #1 Director exclusive networking opportunity.

These training and networking opportunities are provided at NO COST to employees from IACCB member counties. Registration, lodging and additional information – ALL available online via the following link: http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/summit-series.html