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The 9th Annual APIO Training Conference
Miami-Dade County, Florida
August 20 - 24, 2007
"Pursuing Excellence Through Leadership, Diversity, and Unity"Special Remarks by Arlen L. Lancaster, Chief, NRCS
NRCS THIS WEEK - Florida Hosts APIO Training Conference in Miami
9th Annual Asian Pacific Islander Organization Conference
By Winnie Chen, Wetland Biologist, Brooklyn CenterThe Asian Pacific Islander Organization (APIO) held its 9th Annual Conference in Miami, Florida. The conference began on Monday, August 20 and concluded on Friday, August 24. The theme for the conference was "Pursuing Excellence through Leadership, Diversity, and Unity."
On Tuesday, Pooh Vongkhamdy, President of APIO and Niles Glasgow, Florida State Conservationist gave opening remarks. Chief Lancaster shared many inspirational words and encouragement for the future of NRCS and its employees. The Chief spoke proudly about his heritage; how being part Caucasian and Taiwanese has helped shape who he is today. Chief Lancaster is our first Asian-American Chief of NRCS. He spoke about the preparation to meet future challenges, how to make conservation easier for our customers and for our employees, and how to share the benefits of accounting for conservation.
During the general session we learned about each of the API countries. The attendees participated in questions and answer sessions about, “Who Are We?” The audience was asked to select where the country was geographically located on a map and in return for the right answer they were awarded with a farmer's hat and "Got Rice?" T-shirt.
Afternoon sessions focused on technical workshops. Some of these workshops included technology exchange, retirement financial planning, Emergency Watershed Protection program, personal/professional skills, along with communication and conflict management. The tour day focused on getting in touch with the API cultures. This included touring API farms where they grew tropical fruits such as: bitter melon, guava, longan, and dragon fruit. We also toured an API farm that grew ornamental foliage and sold them to the garden centers owned by Wal-Mart and Home Depot. We also got a taste of Asian culture by visiting a Thai Buddhist temple.
The final day concluded with a speech by Dana York, NRCS Associate Chief. She spoke about the future of NRCS from 2007 to 2010, "Performing Today, Preparing for Tomorrow" and the two levels of Human Capital Efficiency Plans for National and State. During her speech she presented a challenge to the audience, to read "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan. It is the untold story of those who survived the Great American Dust Bowl.
Each year, APIO Committee Members plan this training conference. APIO plans on making next year's conference bigger and better. Please join us for our 2008 training conference which will be held in Washington State!
Tropical fruits are commonly grown in Florida. As pictured, Pooh Vongkhamdy, Oklahoma NRCS employee wishes he could take the Jack Fruit home!
Conference Memories
Conference Opening Welcoming Remarks and Introductions Special Remarks by Chief Arlen Lancaster Welcoming Remarks
by Niles Glasgow, Florida STCNRCS Leadership Panel Chief Arlen Lancaster & Associate Chief Dana York with APIO National Council Chief Arlen Lancaster and
APIO President Pooh VongkhamdyAssociate Chief Dana York, APIO West Representative Terry Wang, and
Chief Arlen LancasterAPIO Scholarship recipient Manila Khounchaleun, and Kara Nelson Angela Biggs, APIO Executive Vice President We are farmers! Nick Vira, APIO Treasurer APIO National Council at work Poster Viewing Cultural diversity Lunch
- Appreciating Thai CultureBanquet - Welcoming Luau Banquet - Welcoming Luau Workshop-Comm.&Conflict Management Workshop - Human Capital Strategy Conservation Tour - Greendale Nursery Conservation Tour - Redland Guava Farm
More Photos of 2007 APIO Conference (PDF)
