2. What NACD does
NACD is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards
As the national voice for all conservation districts, NACD supports voluntary, incentive-driven natural resource conservation programs that benefit all citizens
NACD maintains relationships with organizations and government agencies; publishes information about districts; works with leaders in agriculture, conservation, environment, education, industry, and other fields; and provides services to its districts

3. Annual Events Annual Meeting Denver, Colorado January 28 – Feb 1
Summer Meeting
Region Meetings
Legislative Fly-In
Stewardship and Education Week
Region Meetings: NACD region meetings give conservation district leaders, members, and partners a time and place to discuss their most pressing concerns and share their most valuable insights
Fly-ins: Every spring, NACD invites its members to join our staff in Washington, D.C., to promote the interests of conservation districts on Capitol Hill. The 2017 Fly-In agenda has not been set quite yet (probably week of March 21), but we’ll be sure to let you know all the details when they’re available

4. Resources
The Resource eResource Conservation Clip List Forestry Notes NACD Blog
eResource: collection of NACD weekly news briefs that is sent electronically every Tuesday. It is posted on the NACD website and ed to most district employees and to a general distribution list
The Resource: NACD’s quarterly print publication – The Resource – provides in depth coverage of the association’s recent activities and features columns by the NACD CEO and President, in addition to guest and partnership columns
Forestry Notes: quarterly publication funded through a cooperative agreement between NACD and the U.S. Forest Service. Now distributed electronically year-round, Forestry Notes highlights forestry issues and district-led forestry projects of particular importance to our members
Clip List: weekly round-up of all the latest conservation news delivered to the inboxes of our members and partners every Friday

5. Stewardship and Education
The theme for NACD’s 2017 Soil and Water Stewardship Week is “Healthy Soils are Full of Life!” NACD contests provide an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to demonstrate their artistic skills and knowledge of conservation. NACD and the NACD Auxiliary partner to host the National Poster and Photo Contests on an annual basis. Educational materials and items are available for sale at the NACD Marketplace, along with plaques, awards, service pins, and wearable items from Cabela’s!
For more than 50 years, NACD has sponsored a national program to encourage natural resources stewardship. The program relies in large part on conservation districts as they share and promote stewardship and conservation activities year-round and during Stewardship Week, the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May.

6. Federal Policy
NACD helps to guide the decision-making process as conservation programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated by testifying before Congress, meeting with and penning letters to lawmakers, and submitting comments on regulations to a series of federal land management and regulatory agencies.
Some of the federal support for conservation programs is allotted as discretionary funding during the annual appropriations process. Every year, NACD releases what we think are appropriate funding levels for conservation programs housed under USDA, the Interior Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other programs are funded on a mandatory basis through legislation like the farm bill, which funds a number of voluntary conservation programs every five years.
NACD is currently accepting feedback from districts nationwide about what local leaders would like to be priority items for the upcoming farm bill.
Pictured here is NACD President Lee McDaniel, testifying before Congress on the effectiveness of voluntary conservation practices.

7. Soil Health
In 2015, NACD began building the Soil Health Champions Network—now famous for bringing farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other conservationists together to share their stories and promote soil health
In 2013, NACD signed an agreement with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to engage landowners, land managers, and our conservation district members and their state associations around promoting soil health
In 2014, NRCS granted NACD a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to partner with Datu Research to develop a series of agricultural case studies on soil health
Map as of October 2016

8. Urban and Community
Monthly webinars sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Urban and Community Network Resources on NACD website

9. Map of 2016 urban grant recipients
The Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative is one of many ways NACD is advancing conservation in developed or developing areas. This initiative will help increase technical assistance capacity in 42 conservation districts across 25 states for urban agriculture conservation projects
Map of urban agriculture conservation grant initiative recipients; 42 districts across 25 states

10. Membership Membership Incentives for FY2017 Dues Structure
Platinum Level: $3,001+
2nd registration free to NACD Annual Meeting
2 invitations to NACD President’s Reception at NACD Annual Meeting
20% off a single purchase of $100 or more from the NACD Marketplace
(excluding sale/clearance items)
Recognition in the NACD Annual Report
Diamond Level: $1,776 - $3,000
2nd registration half-price to NACD Annual Meeting
1 invitation to NACD President’s Reception at NACD Annual Meeting
15% off a single purchase of $100 or more from the NACD Marketplace
Gold Level: $775 - $1,775
10% off a single purchase of $100 or more from the NACD Marketplace