Idaho Bulletin 250-6-5

August 16, 2006

SUBJECT:  FNM - Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts (IASCD) 64th Annual Conference, Nov. 12-15, 2005 and NRCS (DC) Meeting, Nov. 14-17, Pocatello, Idaho

TO:  Area Conservationists
       District Conservationists and Acting District Conservationists, NRCS, Idaho
       Idaho State Leadership Team
       Range Conservationists, Idaho
       Soil Conservationists, Idaho
       RC&D Coordinators
       Designated Staff

Purpose.  To provide information on the 2006 IASCD Annual Conference and the 2006 NRCS (DC) Meeting in Pocatello, Idaho.

Expiration Date.  September 30, 2006

Action Required:  

• October 20      Make hotel reservations at the Ameritel Inn in Pocatello, Idaho. Government rates will not be honored after October 20. (The location of your lodging is different than the location of the IASD conference due to room availability.)
• October 25      Submit IASCD Conference registration to JoAnn Taylor, c/o Bear Lake SWCD, 785 N. 4th St., Suite B, Montpelier, Idaho, 83254. Write “NRCS Direct Bill” on your registration form.  Do not pay the registration fee with your travel card as it will be paid for by the state office.

The IASCD 64th Annual Conference is scheduled for November12-15, 2006 at the Red Lion Inn, Pocatello, Idaho.  The theme for this year’s conference is: Conservation Gaining Ground “Districts Building Bridges”.  IASCD Conference information was distributed to districts and NRCS offices earlier this month.  The registration form for the conference can be found at www.iascd.state.id.us under conference. 

The Idaho NRCS (DC) meeting will be held in conjunction with the IASCD Conference, November 14-17.

Criteria for attendance to the IASCD Conference on government time and expense

1. District Conservationists (DC’s) and Acting DC’s are authorized to attend the IASCD Conference when accompanied by two or more Soil Conservation District Supervisors with whom they are assigned to work.

2. Employees who are not DC’s, and have IASCD committee assignments as advisors are authorized to attend providing the IASCD committee chairperson has planned and scheduled an actual working session during the annual conference.

For District Conservationists who volunteer to travel on Sunday:  NRCS will approve official use of vehicles and per diem.  Overtime/compensatory time in lieu of overtime and travel compensatory time will not be allowed.  DC’s who decide to attend and meet the criteria described above, must also have concurrence from their respective Area Conservationist. 

NRCS Meeting

The NRCS (DC) meeting will tentatively start at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14 and continue until noon on November 17.  District Conservationists, Acting DC’s, Area Conservationists, Soil Conservationists, Range Conservationists, staff designated by Area Conservationists or the State Conservationist, and selected members of the Leadership Team should plan on attending this mandatory NRCS meeting.  Designated Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Coordinators must attend the required all day Ethics training on Tuesday, November 14^th unless they have previously had the training.  Additional information regarding the meeting rooms and the agenda will be sent out when details have been finalized.

Lodging Information

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ameritel Inn, Pocatello, Idaho for NRCS employees attending the IASCD and the NRCS meetings.  Due to lack of rooms at the Red Lion the location of sleeping rooms is not at the same location as the IASCD and NRCS meetings.  Meetings will be held at the Red Lion Inn, which is across the street from the Ameritel Inn, November 14-16 and at the Ameritel Inn on Friday morning, November 17.  Hotel reservations at the Ameritel must be made by October 20, 2006.  Federal government rates will not be honored after that date. You will be responsible for any additional cost or you may stay at another hotel that offers a Federal government rate.  Employees should make their own hotel arrangements by calling (208) 234-7500 and asking for the NRCS group rate of $60.00.  Do not charge your room reservation to your government travel card or pay for lodging yourself.  The charges will be paid by the State Office under a direct bill/purchase order.  Federal employees under the government rate may be required to present proper Federal identification at check-in.

IASCD Conference Registration Information

Conference registration must be received by October 25, 2006.  Late registration will be assessed a $25.00 late fee.  The cost of the registration fee will be paid by the State Office through a direct bill/purchase order.  Do not pay the fee with your travel card. When filling out the registration form you need to write NRCS Direct Bill on the bottom of the form and mail it to JoAnn Taylor, c/o Bear Lake SWCD, 785 North 4^th St., Suite B, Montpelier, Idaho 83254.

Vehicle Information

When possible, please share rides with supervisors or other NRCS personnel.  NRCS employees who wish to drive personal vehicles may do so at the personal preference rate of 12.5 cents per mile.

Travel Voucher Information

Lodging and registration for the IASCD Conference for NRCS employees will be paid for on a purchase order and will not be claimed on a travel voucher.  DO NOT PAY for lodging with your government credit card.  M&IE will be claimed on a travel voucher with the appropriate meal allowance deducted from the M&IE amount for meals provided to you as part of the IASCD Conference and the NRCS meeting.  The M&IE rate for Pocatello is $39.00.  The appropriate meal allowance deductions are $7 for breakfast, $11 for lunch, $18 for dinner.

/s/                                           
RICHARD SIMS                                         
State Conservationist               

< Back to 250 Expired Bulletins