Activity Report for the Period 1/13/2020 – 1/24/2020

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
Sections:
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ACTIVITIES
Andrew Brown
Completed:
  • Andrew Brown, EMSWCD's Conservation Legacy Program Supervisor, is currently serving as Interim Executive Director in the interim. See his report here.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
ACTIVITIES
Program Supervision / Finance & Budget Dan Mitten
Completed:
  • Prepared program templates for FY20-21 budget process and submitted to program supervisors for completion. Prepared FY20-21 Finance and Operations budget and budget calendar.
  • Attended staff meeting and employee appreciation day event at OMSI. Attended TSCC Budget Training session. Met with Equity Chair on draft equity budget items.
  • Worked with bookkeeper on January payroll and submitted retirement contributions.
Planned:
  • Will combine program budgets, DEI budget and present first draft of entire FY20-21 budget for Management Team review.
Office Management Lindsay Nelson
Completed:
  • Participated in an Equity Team meeting. Compiled resources for February DEI small discussion group.
  • Met with Ruby, Chelsea and Dan.
  • OMSI staff appreciation day: Went to OMSI with Dan to finilize details for Staff Appreciation Day. Finalized scavenger hunt and staff gifts. Spent a day at OMSI.
  • Met with the Plant Sale team several times to prepare for Plant Sale. Setup phone system and supported Urban Lands staff for the plant sale launch day.
  • Finished board meeting minutes.
Facilities Management Scot Wood
Completed:
  • We ran into a couple of snags having the new cameras installed. Hopefully the new system will be completely up and running within the next couple of weeks
  • Rowan and I finished digging out the conduit for the new electrical work, and met with Frontier about the Wi-Fi needs for the barn/equipment shed and solar panels.
Planned:
  • I will be installing a dishwasher in the copy room so the dish clean-up from meetings will be a lot less of a hassle.
  • Rowan and I will be overseeing the electrical work starting next Monday as well as prepping the barn for Frontier to do the Wi-Fi install.
Marketing & Media Alex Woolery
Completed:
  • Last preparations for plant sale: testing, inventory management, store website and email language, checking store and product details.
  • Opened plant sale on January 15th. Very successful and high-volume orders; by 9 AM almost half of the plant stock had already sold, and 98% of stock sold in the first day. Helped manage orders and inventory, refunds, answered calls and emails.
  • IT: help with phone system issues, emails
Planned:
  • Close plant sale and prepare for pick-up day. Order checking, create picklists, create email and order-checking lists. Assist plant sale team with preparations, logistics and order sorting as necessary.
  • Review and give feedback on the new Gorge Adventure activity book Jon and Chelsea have put together.
  • Website updates, board and committee support.
RURAL LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Julie DiLeone
Completed:
  • Compiled program reports into a draft of the annual report for FY 18-19.
  • Measurement of soil on nursery stock grown in bags and potted up after harvest to determine soil removed as part of preparation for discussion at the next Land Legacy Committee meeting.
  • Organizational values and culture work with Mary, Kay, and entire staff.
Planned:
  • Help finish up the annual report.
  • Attending Land Legacy Committee meeting.
  • Sandy River Watershed Council meeting.
Rural Water Quality Aaron Guffey
Completed:
  • Completed homework and met with staff equity discussion group.
  • Worked on a design for microirrigation and access roads for CLIP.
Planned:
  • Engage in the diversity, equity, and inclusion process EMSWCD staff are participating in.
  • Attend all Oregon Association of Nurseries Mt. Hood Chapter meetings and events. Fulfill the responsibilities of treasurer on the Mt. Hood Chapter board.
  • Connect with partners to develop strategies to promote cover crop adoption/optimization on nurseries. Work with nurseries to install Erosion Solutions and irrigation efficiency projects through CLIP.
  • Monitor CLIP projects I have managed.
  • Work with the nursery that purchased EMSWCD's Oxbow property to implement conservation practices on the property.
StreamCare Lucas Nipp
Completed:
  • Lucas was unable to complete a report for this work period.
Technical Assistance Jeremy Baker
Completed:
  • Jeremy was unable to complete a report for this work period.
Weed Management Chris Aldassy
Completed:
  • I've been running crews controlling ivy near Bridal Veil, along the Sandy River, and off Gordon Creek road on both public and private properties.
  • I attended the 4 county "Pull Together" event.
  • Working on permitting and contracts for upcoming field season work.
Planned:
  • Crew work for weed control.
  • Planting begins on restoration sites.
  • Administrative/equity/reporting/permiting/mapping/etc.
Weed Management Jon Wagner
Completed:
  • Jon was unable to complete a report for this work period.
Outreach & Education Chelsea White-Brainard
Completed:
  • Planned the logistics for a biochar workshop in Corbett.
  • Equity Planning Team met with Ping to discuss the community engagement process for the Equity Plan.
  • Solicited feedback from staff on 'The Great Gorge Adventure' activity book that Jon and I have been working on.
Planned:
  • Receive plant deliveries. Sort plants for StreamCare project sites.
  • Continue to plan and promote Spring workshops.
  • Establish process for community feedback on Equity Plan.
URBAN LANDS
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Kathy Shearin
Completed:
  • Worked on the second quarter report.
  • Plant sale.
  • NAYA/Canemah contract and RFP.
Planned:
  • Budget draft.
  • Preparing for Phase 2 projects at MHCC.
  • Attending OSU State of the University Luncheon.
Technical Assistance Whitney Bailey
Completed:
  • Assisted with all things Plant Sale before and after online store opening.
  • Conducted two site visits: SE ivy removal/native planting project, and N Portland pollinator meadow project.
  • Co-led PCC student tour of EMSWCD office and grounds.
Outreach & Education Monica McAllister
Completed:
  • Continuing to work on Plant Sale preparations. Dropped off Plant Sale Postcards in East County. Held full Plant Sale Team Meeting about website opening day.
  • Equity Planning committee and full equity team meetings. Meeting with Ping about Community Engagement Liaison scope of work. Reviewing equity resources for Food/ Hunger and Criminal Justice for equity discussion group.
  • Attended MLK Day Planting event at Nadaka Nature Park.
Planned:
  • Hosting a successful plant sale on February 8th.
  • Working with Voz, Verde, and other community partners for upcoming projects and workshops.
  • Working with Community Engagement Liaisons on Equity Plan.
Outreach & Education Brandi Boersma
Completed:
  • Gave a tour of Conservation Corner to 25 PCC students.
  • Facilitated Small Equity Group Discussion on Food/Hunger, worked on Equity Plan Strategies, Met with Ping to discuss future engagement with the CELs.
  • Plant Sale volunteer coordinating and progress on our statements and processes for photography and video recording.
Planned:
  • Russian Family Fair.
  • Plant Sale!!!!
Outreach & Education Rhesa Napoli
Completed:
  • Finished Host recruitment, scheduled 20 workshops for spring. Open registrations for workshops.
  • Participated in Small Group Equity Discussions.
  • Participated in Plant sale meetings.
  • Helping with Plant sale preparations.
Planned:
  • Continuing to schedule spring workshops, expecting 5-7 more potentially. Outreach for Spring workshops: creating flyers and advertising workshops.
  • Inputing data for demographic information from workshop surveys from Naturescaping and RG participants.
  • Inventory of workshop materials.
CONSERVATION LEGACY
ACTIVITIES
Program Management Andrew Brown
Completed:
  • Working with the team on developing the initial program budgets for FY20-21.
  • Concluded contract with search consultants to assist with the Executive Director search process.
  • With members of the equity team, met with community engagement liaisons contractor towards getting community input into the EMSWCD equity plan.
Planned:
  • Finalise initial program budgets and assist Dan with producing the first draft of the FY20-21 budget.
  • Assist with the roll out the research compoinent of the ED seaarch process with search consultant.
  • Advanace the process to refine the Values and Culture definition for the organization.
  • Prepare for and participate in Land Legacy Committee and February Board meetings.
Grants Suzanne Easton
Completed:
  • Continued review of 2020 PIC application.
  • Reporting: Prepared SPACE and Grants Program 2nd quarter reports.
  • Equity: Attended Equity Team meeting; planned and attended field trip to see Just Mercy.
  • Attended PCEF meeting, sent notes to staff.
Planned:
  • Continue review of 2020 PIC applications, send out to PIC Review Committee and relevant staff.
  • Equity: Discussion Group meeting; help facilitate program input on demographic information and collect completed questionnaires.
  • Attend Farm to School conference February 12th and 13th.
Land Legacy Matt Shipkey
Completed:
  • Conceptual agreement on Gordon Creek sale, advancing transaction.
  • Advanced easement donation project.
  • Prepared for Land Legacy Committee meeting.
Planned:
  • Manage Land Legacy Committee meeting.
  • Execute Purchase and Sale Agreement for Gordon Creek sale.
  • Ensure Farm Succession Planning Workshop goes well.
Headwaters Farm Rowan Steele
Completed:
  • Rowan was unable to complete a report for this work period.