Piedmont SWCD Director Dr. Wilkie Chaffin, center in the above picture with his wife Dora and Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s  Department of Soil and Water Conservation Jack Frye,  is in his tenth year as an officer of the Virginia Association of  Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) and just completed a two-year term as president at their annual meeting in Roanoke, Virginia December 5-7.

At the VASWCD awards luncheon Dr. Chaffin and his wife Dora presented cash awards to three outstanding conservation district employees. “Having worked closely with district employees for many years, I am always impressed with their level of commitment” Dr. Chaffin stated. “In 2002, Dora and I recommended the establishment of employee awards, and offered to provide funding for these awards.  The VASWCD Board endorsed this offer and approved a set of awards to be called the Chaffin Soil and Water Conservation District Employees of the Year awards.”

The couple was recognized at the VASWCD awards luncheon for their lifetime gift to the Educational Foundation of the VASWCD at the Gold Member level, and for their pledge to meet the Platinum Level. This is the only lifetime pledge of at least $10,000 ever received by the Foundation.