Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

News Release

SPRINGFIELD, IL, July 31, 2007—Jim King was recognized for his commitment to grass-roots involvement and a passion for improving conservation of the land at the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) 59th Annual Meeting and Illinois Land and Water Resources Conference held at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield, Illinois on July 31.    

 The purpose of this AISWCD award is to honor any individual, group or organization that makes outstanding contributions in the field of soil conservation and/or water quality. Jim King served four years as a Director for the Henry County Soil & Water Conservation District until he stepped down after being elected to the County Board. His involvement on both the soil and water conservation district board and resource conservation and development council has not stopped his timely input, serving on committees or volunteering when we can.

Jim King has been very involved in local Council project development and implementation with the Interstate RC&D. He assisted with facilitating several meetings of key stakeholders with a downtown main street renovation project along with assisting with the planning and development of a trails network within the village of Cambridge, Illinois. Another project Jim King was very involved with was the “Operation Pack the Bus” involving many partners including the ABC-TV station in the Quad Cities. Interstate RC&D spearheaded a relief campaign by donating a school bus loaded with school supplies collected from area donors for children victimized by Hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis and Waveland, Mississippi.

Mark Jackson, Interstate RC&D Project Coordinator stated, “Countless hours of volunteer service and leadership has earned Jim King the respect of his peers and the Interstate RC&D staff along with many local, county and state officials and state and federal agencies.”

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