Staying Connected After Retirement – Recruiting new ARCSE Members

Retirement is a time to celebrate a lifetime of public service and dedication to conservation and to embrace new opportunities, as well as finding new ways to stay engaged. This is where the ARCSE comes in. It’s in our Purpose statement “to help its members keep in touch with each other and with the NRCS and its activities and to view conservation issues and programs from a non-governmental point of view, so that the members may be better able to assist the conservation effort.”

We are a network of retired and active conservation professionals who share a lifelong commitment to the land and each other. Joining ARCSE allows you to stay connected with colleagues and friends who understand the satisfaction of “helping people help the land.” Through our bi-monthly newsletter and social media, members enjoy updates on conservation news, legislative activities, personal stories and examples of how we continue to give back through mentoring, volunteering, or other conservation projects and activities.

The newsletter can provide ideas for get-togethers in your area, helping members rekindle old friendships, and build new ones. These connections help keep our community strong and remind us of the lasting impact we’ve had–and can still have–on conservation.

Staying connected in retirement is more than just being social–it’s about belonging to and celebrating what we’ve accomplished together and finding new ways to continue to support conservation.

In 2024–2025, ARCSE’s membership drive brought in over 80 new members, with complimentary first-year memberships. For 2025–2026, we’ll continue our efforts and reward the top recruiter in each region with either a Complimentary Life Membership or a $200 gift card (if already a Life Member). Incentives will be awarded by June 1^st, 2026.

When recruiting, remember that we have two types of membership: both regular members and affiliate memberships for those who are still employed at NRCS or in another conservation field. Please consider recruiting potential members before they retire. We strive to maintain our annual membership at an affordable rate. For those interested in long-term commitment, information on lifetime membership options is available on our website at www.arcse.org. In addition to paying for awards and other administrative expenses, your membership dues help support one or two summer interns who assist us with our annual meeting, social media, special projects and help SWCS