Awards presented to the Coarsegold RCD

National Wild Turkey Federation names CRCD as Partner of the Year

February, 2008, the CRCD was recognized by the National Wild Turkey Federation as its National Conservation District Partner of the Year.  The award was presented by at a meeting of the Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting in February by Keith Swope, President NWTF State Chapter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the CRCD. Pictured left to right:  Larry Ballew, Keith Swope, Tom Wheeler, Nancy Beavers, and Neil McDougald.

Reprinted from an article in the Sierra Star

2006 TRAILBLAZER AWARD TO COARSEGOLD RCD

Volney Dunavan
dunavan@netptc.net 

NORTH FORK — The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District has been honored with the first ever organizational Trailblazer Award, presented by the Yosemite Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council. 

Local stone forms the basis of the first ever organizational Trailblazer Award, presented by the Yosemite & Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council to the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District.

According to Robyn Smith, Coordinator for the local Yosemite & Sequoia RC&D, the Coarsegold RCD not only sees the big picture but is making things happen. The new award will go each year to organizations and individuals who exemplify the mission of the RC&D which is to promote the quality and aesthetic values of cultural, environmental and recreational resources by improving the quality of life through sustainable economic development. 2003 Individual winner was Toby Horst, a member of Fresno County’s Sierra Resource Conservation District and the Backcountry Horsemen’s Association. 

The Yosemite Sequoia RC&D is a non-profit that covers  Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, and Tulare counties. It seeks and implements projects and resources to provide economic sustainability to rural areas. It also provides technical aid and assistance to local groups. The Coarsegold RCD is local, in Madera County alone. It is considered a legal subdivision of the state of California, and is responsible for soil and water conservation within its boundaries. Board members are appointed by the Madera County board of Supervisors. 

Left:  Coarsegold Resource Conservation District officers Nancy Beavers, treasurer, and Tom Wheeler, president, show off the first ever organizational Trailblazer award presented to the active group. Back row are board members Larry Ballew, Neil McDougald and Alan Rosasco.

Reprinted from an article in the Sierra Star, March 20, 2002

NF WOMAN GETS WEB-SITE AWARD

By Volney Dunavan
dunavan@netptc.net 

The recognition came from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, which is made up of about 114 districts covering around 80% of the state.  It was presented at the state convention in Ventura.

Mrs. Coyle modestly tells that only a small number of the districts have Web sites.

According to the Web site, www.crcd.org, resource conservations districts are local units of government organized by local residents, operating as legal sub-divisions of the State of California.  Each district is responsible for soil and water conservation work within its boundaries.

Mrs. Coyle served as a director of the CRCD from 1990 through 1997.  She presently serves as an associate director and acts in an advisory capacity for that board.  She was secretary-treasurer of the San Joaquin Valley Region of the CARCD for four years.

She started learning to work with Web sites when she created one for the Coastal RCD in the San Luis Obispo area.  She says she learned "by trial and error with hard knocks and lots of tears."  That learning process has continued with the CRCD website which became operational in 1995. 

The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District
is the recipient of the distinguished
"State of California CARCD Website of the Year" award.

A project available through the Website is a CD of "Native Plants of Eastern Madera County," volume II.  It covers more than 200 pictures and descriptions of the flora of the area.

The CRCD governing board is appointed by the county Board of Supervisors and is empowered to plan and carry out long-range programs based on the conservation work needed in the area.

The president is Tom Wheeler.  Neil McDougald is vice president and Nancy Beavers is treasurer.

Directors include Larry Ballew, Kelley NeVille, Judi Norby and Allan Rosasco.  In addition to Mrs. Coyle, associate directors are Walter Ellis, John Hodge, Ron Severe and Bud Wolfram.  Don Nielsen is an advisor.