WHAT WE ARE
MCDEO is an organization of the employees of Conservation Districts in the state of Montana.
WHAT WE DO
Conservation Districts do a wide variety of important work conserving natural resources across our beautiful state.
As the employees of these CDs, we are the people in the offices doing the bulk of the work–We are the face of the Conservation District and interact with the public and our partners. We sell & plant trees, process 310 permits, host youth education events, producer workshops, implement restoration projects, and much more.
HOW WE DO IT
The EO mission is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Conservation District Employees in these important positions by providing peer support, training, and other resources. These resources are provided through membership dues and an annual fundraiser event at the MACD Convention in November, and through many volunteer hours from EO Officers and members. The pages and posts on this website provide information on:
- Financial concerns and QuickBooks
- Social Media and Technology
- Educating with Online Content
- Handbooks
- Resources specific to new employees
- News about events and upcoming training
Whether you’re a new employee stepping into an office with 30 years of disorganized files, or a seasoned employee looking to strengthen your QuickBooks skills, we are here to say “you are not alone”.
NETWORKING AND TRAINING
There are 2 members in each area that are Area Representatives. These 2 members divide up teh Districts in their area to welcome and help orientate new employees. Find your area representatives.
We encourage you to visit the message board on this website. It is a resource that we think will be very helpful as a place to ask questions and get answers, and to save those Q & As for future administrators. It’s only a valuable archive if it gets used, so please ask away! If you have questions, you can send an email out on the list serves that are managed by the MACD at administrators@macdnet.org and altadmins@macdnet.org (second one is used when there is a government shutdown, and during the COVID 19 pandemic primarily). These emails are archived.
In addition to the Message Board, most months the EO has a Roundtable on Zoom conferencing. Topics range from daily activities and 310 permitting, to Outdoor Classroom ideas and Cost Share Programs. You can find the recordings of past Roundtables and other past trainings at https://employees.macdnet.org/trainings-recent-and-older/. You can find information on upcoming trainings at https://employees.macdnet.org/conservation-district-resources/.
DUES
Dues to belong to the EO are $30 annually and can be paid by the CD or the employee. These dues help to pay for scholarships for training and other events and are prioritized for new employees. If you receive a scholarship, expect to attend the entire event/training and possibly to be called upon to help out at the event/training. If you are not sure whether you or your CD has paid your dues, contact the Treasurer.
EVENTS
Every year at the Montana Association of Conservation Districts Convention, the Employee Organization puts on a fundraising event, usually the Wednesday night dinner, with entertainment of some sort. We have a raffle and a 50/50 as fundraisers for our organization. Each District is asked to bring an item for the raffle if they can.
Employee Training
Every other spring, we host a two-day statewide training that features a variety of topics for administrators.
Support
We have a network of people with skill sets that can help admins conquer any challenges they face
Networking
Every professional knows the importance of relationships with others in the field.