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leadership con't the big picture, have more of a~ vision," Scheidecker said. Holding the training sessions in different areas of the state also contributed to that state- wide perspective and gave people the chance to see the issues and.concerns in various regions, Nordby added. "You assume people know the differences, but they don't," Buck agreed. In addition to changing the location of the session, an- other key decision planners. ", made was to divide the train- ing up into short sessions over a long period, rather than . having a single one- or two- week block session. The longtime frame gave the group--composed of SWCD su.pervisors,~staff, two Board of Water.and Soil Resources (BWSR) employees, and one BWSR member--a chance to evolve from a diverse bunch of people meeting for training into a working unit using new skills to solve problems, Scheidecker said. "I think there was some value in having the opportunity to listen to these new ideas, go back home and think about t~iem and how we could use. them in our district, and then meet with the group again," , _ Scheidecker said. The evening gave the group time to socialize and get to know each other, he said, adding that'the members became very close. Comments from the evalua- tions indicate that many share Scheidecker's perception: •"I didn't realize that I would look forward to these sessions as much as I have--I have made many new friendships and.as a whole I thinl: the group became like aclose-knit family." •"...I have gained confi- dence knowing I Have a fantastic! support group in the Academy friendships." •..."I have fallen `in love' with some wonderful, unique people whom I respect and admire." The group met informally at the MASWCD convention last December and also held a training session on the legisla- tive process last spring. They are trying to organize a trip to Washington, D.C., in 1999. The training has been so successful that MASWCD is planning a new leadership course, slated to begin in Fall 1998, for new participants. Buck said she has already gotten calls from districts anxious to participate. According to Nordby, new districts should jump at the chance. "I wish that every district could have a couple of people go through the train- .. ina," she said. "It's so worth the money." iVCA con't completed each year; and the ~ ' total number of tivetland acres . either protected. or created ` because of the WCA has been approximately 5,000. The report also contains updated information on tivetland banking in Minnesota through 1998, the new road replacement provisions added to the WCA in 1996, and the , status of local government units drafting their own wetland.protection and man- . agement plans. Wetland Banking Minnesota's wetland banking program continues to grow, with about 1,761 acres depos-_ ited in the bank from the time the program began through March 1998. Approximately _ 300 of those acres have been purchased, leaving a balance of about 1,435 acres. (About 500 of those 1,435 acres have been restored and deposited by the Minnesota Department of Transportation for future road projects.) Approximately 36 counties have had land _ enrolled in the program. Road Replacement The road replacement pro- gram began in 1996. when the Legislature transferred respon- sibility for replacing wetland acres lost due ~to road repair throughout the state, or due to new road construction in counties with more than 80 percent of their presettlement wetlands remaining, from ' Y4'CA continued on p. 6 J