Soil and Water Conservation SocietyInclusivity and Diversity

Pamela Reid Rhoades

Mississippi State University

SWCS Membership Chair

Historical Perspective

Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization

Founded in 1943 Serves as an advocate for conservation

professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy

What is Inclusivity

Starts with the recognition of individual diversity

Understanding members as individuals and not a homogeneous group

Valuing members uniqueness and using that quality for the future growth of SWCS

Inclusivity is understanding and designing programs for the different potential that each individual member can bring to SWCS

What is Diversity

A measure of the variety of living things in a community, based upon one of several mathematical formulae which account for both numbers of species and numbers of individuals within species. High diversity results from high numbers of species and an even distribution of numbers within species. Stressed environments generally have low diversity. (NOAA Watershed Restoration website)

Members

SWCS has over 5,000 members around the world

Researchers, administrators, planners, policymakers, technical advisors, teachers, students, farmers, and ranchers.

Members come from nearly every academic discipline and many different public, private, and nonprofit institutions

SWCS Chapters

75 chapters throughout United States and Canada

Activities at local and state levels. Some at national level

Chapters represent the grassroots element of the organization..

National and International Reach

The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is committed to researching and the sharing new ideas on conservation.

Special Projects

Science reached across the globe the make a difference in sustainable conservation implementation

National and International Reach of Special Projects

Beyond T: Standards for Sustainable Soil Management

Sharing the Cost: Evaluation of Federal Spending on Working Land Conservation

CEAP Blue Ribbon Panel Recommendations

Thinking Outside the Box

Inclusivity of potential members from other disciplines– Rural Water Associations– United State Geological Survey– Urban Foresters– Local Utility Companies– Various levels of membership open the door.

Inclusivity and Diversity

SWCS promotes Diversity and Inclusivity– Different Cultures– International– Student– Various levels of membership– Federal, State and Local Government Agencies

Member Inclusion to SWCS

Encouraged by an SWCS member 58.6 760

Professional memberships expected by employer for evaluation 15.5 201

Expected by peers 10.3 134

To promote conservation 50.2 651

Leadership/volunteer opportunities 20.4 264

Networking opportunities 42.9 556

Required for membership in my local chapter 3.9 51

Gain new skills or knowledge 37.9 492

Gain professional recognition and visibility 19.3 250

Publish and present my research and educational programs 7.6 98

To stay informed about developments in my field 54.1 702

Other 5.3 59

Total response 1297

Diversity of Professionalism

Local 65.9 800

State/provincial 43.4 527

National 19.8 240

International 8.2 100

Total Respondents 1214

Personal Communication

One on One conversation

Recruiting new members from other disciplines

Ask the member to be a part of the leadership team for SWCS

QUESTIONS