TITLE
Title
APPROVE $1,500 COUNTY MATCH DONATION TO SUPPORT 2019 NORTH AMERICAN ENVIROTHON
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
J. Leslie Bell
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BACKGROUND
Background
The North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (Association), organized in 1944 is made up of ninety-six (96) local soil and water conservation districts in North Carolina. The Association is a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2019, the Association will sponsor the North American Envirothon (https://www.envirothon.org/). NCF-Envirothon is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Washington, DC, established to coordinate the delivery of environmental education programs for high school students throughout North America. The mission of the North American Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens who have an understanding of natural resources, and are willing and prepared to work towards achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.
The Envirothon mission is accomplished by developing an understanding of the principles and practices of natural resource management and ecology in young people, through exercises requiring complex resource management decisions. The environmental education program consists of the annual NCF-Envirothon competition in which winning teams from participating states and Canadian provinces compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. The competition is centered on four (4) universal testing categories (i.e., soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, and wildlife) and a current environmental issue. This competition features the best Envirothon teams from across North America who have worked within their local programs to earn the honor of representing their state, territory or province at this event. Soil & Water Conservation Districts from across NC have already started pledging their support and all districts will be encouraged to participate in a fund-raising campaign to support the event. (see Association letter from W. Chris Hogan, Assoc. Pres. 2017).
Guilford County Soil & Water Conservationist, Millie Langley, currently serves as co-chair of the Area 3 Envirothon (held at Elon University), which is comprised of an eleven (11) county area that includes Guilford County. She has been co-chair since 1998 and has served on the State's Envirothon Steering committee since its inception in 1991. She currently coordinates the Oral Presentation Judges and Timers, and most recently was appointed to serve as Chair on the North American Envirothon Operating Committee for a term beginning January 2014.
At its February 1, 2017 regular monthly meeting (see attached minutes, page 2 of 2), the Guilford County Soil & Water Conservation District voted to donate $1,500 from the district's 501(c)(3) foundation (not part of County budgeted funds) to the Association, to support its participation in the 2019 Envirothon. The Guilford County Soil & Water department requests the Board of Commissioners approve a county match donation of $1,500 to support the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts hosting of the 2019 North American Envirothon. No additional county funds will be required, as the department has identified funds in its approved FY2017 budget that can be used to cover this expense.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve $1,500 County match donation to support the NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts hosting of the 2019 North American Envirothon.
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