National Annual Meeting in Rochester, NY   August 2, 2005

The ARSCSE Board Meeting started the activities for the day.   President Eddleman got
the meeting started promptly at 8 AM. Board Members present were:   President, Bob
Eddleman;   President-Elect Rich Duesterhaus;   Vice-President Midwest Gus Dornbusch;
  Vice-President East Graham Munkittrick; and Sec.-Tres. Neil Bogner.
The agenda for the Board Meeting covered a full range of items.   Some of the major items
and actions were:
1) Action items identified at last years Board meeting were reviewed and found to be
satisfactorly completed during the year.
2) The Treasurer’s Report shows that ARSCSE is in excellent financial condition.
3) Bob Eddleman reported the results of the election, and the new slate of officers can be
found on the officers web page.
4) Bob also reported on the selection of two award winners for this year - Ralph Gray, OH and
Dan McCain, IN.
5) The board expressed appreciation to Editor Nethery for adapting new software and finding a
new printer for copying.   The "per copy cost" has decreased.
6) The membership report showed that the Complimentary Membership is proving to be a valuable
recruiting tool.
ARSCSE Banquet:
The ARSCSE Annual Meeting closed with a Social Hour and Banquet in the Ballroom of the
Hyatt Regency Hotel.   Many thanks to Judy Baker and others who helped make the local
arrangements.   The 42 attendees heard SWCS President, Jean Steiner, speak about SWCS
and ARSCSE relations.
 
Paul Dodd (left), who was NY State Conservationist for many years, served as Master of
Ceremonies for the banquet.   He first introduced Fred Gilbert (right), retired New York
State Soil Scientist, who gave the invocation.
Paul then
introduced the current New York State Conservationist, Joe Delvechio.

Joe greeted the group and extended a welcome to New York.   He briefly described New York
and the variation in agriculture and in NRCS activities.   He finished by handing Neil a
check which made him the newest member of ARSCSE.   Thanks Joe!
President Bob Eddleman gave the attendees a “state of ARSCSE” report, noting that our
membership is holding steady and that we are financially sound.   Paul introduced
NRCS Chief, Bruce Knight, who gave an up-date on NRCS activities and personnel changes.
President-elect Rich Duesterhaus announced this years
Outstanding Community Service award
as President Robert Eddleman presented the award to
Ralph Gray, a 36 year veteran of the Soil Conservation Service and a resident of Troy, Ohio.
  Ralph has served as a volunteer at the former Stouder Memorial Hospital.   He has
provided over 2300 hours of service to the Upper Valley Medical Center Auxiliary, including
terms as president, editor of the newsletter, as well as helping to raise funds and build
programs for the center.
He has also served over 45 years in Sertoma, a service club that promotes better speech and
hearing. He has served as President and Club Secretary. He has assisted the Club in
purchasing hearing testing machines and hearing aids and in providing speech therapy for
children with speech difficulties.
Ralph has served as Treasurer of the a community service organization - FISH, since 1990. The
all volunteer organization provides emergency assistance such as food, water, prescriptions,
heating gas, rent etc. to those in need.
He also has served on his local Church Council several times. He has been a Sunday School
teacher, served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and has been on the Pastor Parish
Relations committee.
Ralph and his wife Betty have been recognized by the Troy Chamber of Commerce. He received the
State of Ohio Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from Ohio Sertoma and continues his work in
support of his community.
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This years President’s Award for Community Service is Dan McCain of Delphi, IN.
Dan retired from the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), USDA’s natural resources agency in
1994 and on that very day signed on as an SCS Earth Team volunteer and became a full-time
volunteer worker. His major volunteer activity has been the restoration of the Wabash and
Erie Canal through the Carroll County and the City of Delphi.
His efforts toward improving his community have been many and varied. He has served in
leadership roles for many not for profit organizations, including Delphi Historic Trails,
Wabash River Heritage Corridor, Bands of the Wabash and the Museum at Prophetstown State
Park. He currently serves as President of the Carroll County Wabash and Erie Canal
Association.
Under Dan’s Leadership and with the support and leadership of many others, three miles of
the Canal have been restored and seven miles of historic trails for hiking, walking and
education opportunities have been developed. There is now a 12,000 square foot, $2.5
million Canal and Interpretive Center, including a museum. People from 25 states and
123 Indiana cities and towns have enjoyed the exhibits to date.

A fellow Delphi resident said of Dan in his nomination for the award, “He has provided
tireless leadership, persistent dedication, and outstanding judgment to see the project
through to completion, yet is quick to credit others for a museum that has been described
as “outstanding”. He is responsible for mobilizing a group of dedicated volunteers who
continue to share their time and talent in the best spirit of community pride. During
regular work days, he has brought people from all walks of life and interests to assist
in the cause of celebrating the area’s heritage and preserving its health by developing
trails for hikers, bikers and persons interested in out-of-door activities.”   Dan’s
contributions are tremendous, but his infectious enthusiasm really inspires a team
effort. And the effort continues. The Canal Association's next big effort is to
construct a replica canal boar, dock and storage warehouse, all on the water level
of this historic transportation system. And we expect that Dan will continue to play
a major role.
Just before adjorning the meeting, Bob Eddleman passed the presidency to Rich Duesterhaus who
will serve for the next two years.
Now everyone can start looking forward to next years meeting in Keystone, CO
from July 22 to July 26, 2006.
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