SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY
VIRGINIA CHAPTER
January 1997

From The President...

 I hope you had a merry holiday season and I wish you a Happy New Year. Did you consider more support to the VA Chapter of SWCS as one of your New Year resolutions? If not then I challenge you to consider adding it to your list. Your participation and work is what makes our Chapter strong!

Thanks to everyone that returned a questionnaire that was included in your last newsletter. Look elsewhere in this newsletter to find the results thus far. It is important for the council to have your input and ideas in order for us to meet your needs. If you failed to return yours, it is not too late. We still welcome your response.

One of the most disappointing comments I hear when asking others to join our chapter is their thought that membership is not worth the price. Many professionals spend hundreds of dollars per year in other society memberships or taking renewal courses to stay current in their professions. SWCS can offer that opportunity for you through society meetings, Journal, conferences, and workshops!

A call for papers and posters is currently being made for both the International meeting in July and a conference scheduled in April titled, "Interactions: Investigating Ecosystem Dynamics at the Watershed Level." I encourage you to consider submitting summaries if you are involved in a project. If you need further information call 1-800- THE-SOIL.

We will soon be forming subcommittees to address some of the responses to the questionnaires received. If you would like to be involved please call me (804-287-1649). I am sure that the program committees would also welcome your ideas or participation in planning our summer fun meeting or our fall annual meeting. We can't say it enough we invite you to become an active chapter member. It can be fun and rewarding!

Ray Dorsett
President



Membership News & Views

 Happy New Year! As we begin a new year we often reflect and look forward to those events and people who have or will have an impact on our lives.

As we look back or reflect no doubt we think of those people who have helped shape our lives. Maybe it was a teacher, mentor, supervisor, or a good friend. Take a moment and think of the person who introduced you to SWCS. That person may have handed you a copy of the Journal, asked you to attend a SWCS meeting or taken a moment to discuss SWCS with you. In most cases we received a personal invitation to join the SWCS.

There is nothing as satisfying as knowing that you have made a positive impact on someone. Take a moment and think of someone you know who would enjoy the same benefits you have enjoyed by becoming a member of SWCS. Once you have thought of that person, take the next step and make that personal contact.

Ernest Carter, Ken Carter and Gene Crabtree are serving on the Membership Committee this year. If you have questions, suggestions, or need membership applications, please contact Gene at 757-547-7172 or call SWCS headquarters at 1-800-THE-SOIL; extension 10 or 15. We are here to serve you.

Make a personal contact...
Ask someone to join SWCS...
Make a difference in someone's life.

Gene Crabtree President-Elect



OFFICER PROFILES

 W. Ray Dorsett, President

Ray is a Water Quality Team Leader and Water Quality Specialist with NRCS. The eight-member team serves the central East Coast states, including the states draining into the Chesapeake Bay plus NJ, NC, SC, TN and KY. Since 1974, Ray has worked in seven different locations with NRCS in the positions of soil conservationist, district conservationist and RC&D coordinator. He is a graduate of NC State University and has a BS in Agronomy, with a minor in Horticulture. Ray was born in Hollywood, CA and spent his childhood and high school years in central NC(Randleman and Greensboro). Ray's wife Debra is a school teacher in Chesterfield County and he has two children, Bryan (15) and Emily (13). Ray's hobbies include woodworking, outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. Phone: 804-287-1649

Gene L. Crabtree, President-Elect

Gene is the District Conservationist for NRCS in Chesapeake, Virginia. He received a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University. Gene has worked for NRCS for 15 years, including ?? in North Carolina and Virginia. He is married to Betty Anne and has a daughter, LeAnne. Phone: 757-547-7172

Mary Leigh Wolfe, Vice-President

Mary Leigh is an Associate Professor in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at Virginia Tech. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and conducts research related to soil and water resources. Mary Leigh received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota. She served on the faculty at Texas A&M University before moving to Blacksburg in October 1992. Mary Leigh enjoys sports, participating and cheering (Go Hokies!), reading, and cross-stitching. Phone: 540-231-6092

Fred Rodgers, Secretary

Fred is currently the District Conservationist for NRCS in Carroll and Grayson Counties, headquartered in Galax, Virginia. Previously, he worked in Greenbrier, Mineral, Jackson, Boone, Logan, and Mingo Counties in West Virginia and Giles, Bland, Wythe, Carroll, and Grayson Counties in Virginia for NRCS (and previously SCS). Fred was born in Greenbrier County West Virginia. He graduated from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky in 1971 with a B.S. degree in Agriculture. He currently resides in Crockett, VA and raises stocker cattle and fresh market sweet corn in his spare time. Fred is married and has four children. Phone: 540-236- 7191.

R. Wade Biddix, Council Member

Wade grew up in Yancey County, NC (near Asheveille). He received a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture from Berea College in Kentucky. He has worked his entire career with NRCS (previously SCS) in North Carolina and Virginia. Since April 1990, Wade has served as the Planning Coordinator in Richmond. He coordinates the activities of the multi-disciplinary Virginia Natural Resources Planning Team that provides planning assistance to local units of government in watershed planning, river basin studies, environmental impact statements and environmental assessments throughout Virginia. Previously, he was a resource conservationist and district conservationist in Virginia and DC in and soil conservationist in several locations in NC. Wade is married to Joanne who is a registered nurse and works for Knoll Pharmaceutical Company as a nurse consultant. He has two sons, Tyler (8) and Travis (3). Wade enjoys most outdoor sports, especially golf! Phone: 804-287- 1675

Gene Yagow, Council Member

Gene served as Awards Committee chair this past year and is starting his second year as a Council Member with the Virginia Chapter SWCS. Gene is a Research Associate in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at Virginia Tech, where he hopes to finish his doctoral dissertation early in 1997. Gene works with computer model applications and geographic information systems, and currently serves as the Project Engineer on the Mountain Run watershed 319 project through the Rappahannock-Rapidan PDC in Culpeper County. Gene is married to Froggie and has two children, C.T. and Patrick. He will enjoy hobbies again after completing his dissertation. Phone: 540-231-8512



Virginia Tech
Student Chapter - SWCS

The Virginia Tech student chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society begins the new year with three new officers and a lot of fresh ideas. The chapter's officers are President, Tammy Norman; Vice President, Karen Hicks; and Secretary, Dorothy Clifford.

The group's first meeting was held the evening of January 20 to orient new members and preview possible activities for the semester. The chapter's efforts will be concentrated mainly in the areas of an ongoing Save-Our-Streams survey of Tom's Creek, adoption of a local trail, and development of soil and water education programs for Blacksburg's elementary school students. Other activities include participation in the Earth Day & Arbor Day celebration and cleanup of a local park and tree planting in the adjacent arboretum, maintenance and erosion control on the Ellett Valley Nature Trail, and a collection of data on the soil and water efficiency of the Virginia Tech Campus. Officer and members look forward to a productive and educational semester. Our semester meeting dates are: February 3 and 17, March 10 and 24, April 7 and 21. If you will be in Blacksburg, we invite you to speak at our meetings. We would really like to learn more about the work we might do. Please contact our faculty advisor, Theo Dillaha, 540-231- 6813 to volunteer to meet with us. Thank you in advance!



$$$ Scholarship $$$

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) Educational Foundation, Inc. is currently soliciting applications for at least three (3) $1,000 scholarships. The purpose of the VASWCD scholarship awards program is to promote the education of Virginia citizens in technical fields associated with natural resource conservation and environmental protection. Two of the three schoalrships will be awarded on behalf of the Virginia Chapter of the Soil and Water conservation Society. Additionally , in some instances special consideration is given for society membership. Please indicate on the application if you or any of your relatives are members of SWCS. The availability of these scholarship opportunities is due in part to the donations of the VA Chapter of the SWCS and its members. For more information on the program or an application contact your local SWCD or Mike Flagg at (804) 798-6821. Applications must be returned to local SWCD offices by March 15, 1997.



SWCS Questionnaire
Response Summary

(23 responses but not all questions were answered by every respondent)
Question (abbreviated)yesnoundecided
Initiate a strategic plan initiative190
3
Combine/change summer & annual meeting710
6
Investigate membership regions144
5
Sponsor self development courses220
1

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