SOIL Fund Committee

Chair

Appointed by IECA Board of Directors (Tom Williams, MA, CPESC)

Honorary Chair

Jim Sikking

IECA Staff Liaison

Executive Director, Russ Adsit, FASLA

Board Liaison

Beth Chesson, CPESC, CPSWQ

Vision

The IECA Save Our International Land (SOIL) fund's vision is to further the science of erosion and sediment control and to improve the lives of those impacted by this process.

Download a brochure on the SOIL Fund (.pdf)

Mission

The IECA Save Our International Land (SOIL) fund provides a permanent funding source for programs and projects that improve environmental quality through education, research, and applied technology.

View recent SOIL projects and fundraiser activities.

Goals

1. To fund research that advances our knowledge of the impacts of erosion and the techniques to control it.
2. To fund erosion control education and applied technology.
3. To fund the development of college and university curricula that can provide career paths in the erosion control field.
4. To fund projects that improve the lives of those impacted by erosion and sediment.

Responsibilities

• Determine strategies to grow existing fundraising mechanisms.
• Identify and prioritize grantable projects.
• Research fundraising options.
• Perform other related functions as appropriate and agreed to by the Committee Chair, the IECA Board of Directors and the Executive Director.

Membership & Term of Service

The Committee will consist of 5-10 members. Committee members will be nominated from the IECA Board of Directors and also solicited from the membership-at-large. The IECA Board will approve the final appointment of Committee members by majority vote. Any vacancies due to reasons other than normal rotation off the Committee can be filled by appointment by the Chair.

The Chair will be selected by the IECA Board of Directors. The Chair will serve a 3-year term. There can be a co-chair if the committee desires. Co-chair will be appointed by the current committee chair with approval by the committee members.

Qualifications

• IECA member in good standing.
• Previous active involvement with IECA in some role.
• Fundraising experience working with other associations or groups is helpful but not required.

Terms and Rotation

Committee members will serve a three-year term. Committee members can serve a maximum of two contiguous terms. In the event a sufficient number of candidates cannot be obtained, the requirement to rotate off the committee may be waived.

Team Member Removal

Committee members and the Chair may be removed for cause, including but not limited to failure to perform duties, by a two-thirds vote of the IECA Board.

Committee Member Replacement

In the event that a committee member steps down or is removed during his or her term, the IECA Board will solicit a replacement. The replacement will serve out the remainder of the vacated term, and will be eligible for re-appointment at the end of the vacated term.

Chair Duties

• Preside at all meetings of the Committee, including teleconferences.
• Formalize the agenda for all meetings after receiving input from the committee members, IECA Headquarters and/or Board of Directors.
• Serve as the official spokesperson of the Committee.
• Submit a committee progress report three times a year.

Meetings

The Committee will hold a minimum of four meetings each year, one of which will take place in person at the IECA annual conference. The committee will meet at other times as designated by the chairman, and communications will occur via email or phone at the discretion of the chairman.

Reports

Reports will be required three times a year to coincide with the summer, fall and winter Board of Directors' meetings. Reports will be submitted to the current President and Administrative Vice President of the IECA Board of Directors a minimum of six weeks prior to each Board meeting.