Voluntary Agriculture Districts (VAD) now exceed 23,000 acres in Moore County.

The total climbed to 23,176.81 acres on April 1, when the VAD Advisory Board approved an additional seven applications from owners of farmland. The new districts add 754.29 acres, of which 584.62 acres are in forestry. The rest is in general agriculture.

Voluntary Ag Districts are acreages used for agricultural purposes, and the designation signals that the land is not available for development. It also advises neighbors and future buyers that they can expect agricultural noises and activities.

Of the total acreage now in these districts, 16,849.8 acres are used for forestry. The remainder is for general agricultural pursuits.

VAD Board Chairman Glenn Bradley told the board that he recently attended two related meetings and learned that the Moore County VAD program is regarded as a model among other interested counties in the state.

EFFICIENCY -- The County Government Efficiency Advisory Board will hold its regular meeting today at 1 p.m. in the historic courthouse in Carthage.

The board will continue its study of the 2009-10 budget and will consider potential committee assignments.

DISTRICT GOP -- Valerie White, 6th District Republican chairwoman, has issued the official call for the 6th Congressional District Republican Convention, to be held Thursday, April 23, in the Randolph County Courthouse on Salisbury Street (N.C. 42) in Asheboro.

Registration will begin at 6 p.m., the convention starts at 7.

Moore County Republicans elected their delegates at the March 14 county convention.

White said delegates and alternates must reside within the 6th Congressional District and be submitted by their county as certified at the county convention. The registration fee is $10.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble is using the spring break to meet with constituents with appointments in his offices in Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro and Graham.

Coble attended a Greensboro police promotion ceremony and visited the new WUNC radio office at Triad Stage Monday. He met with constituents Tuesday and today. He also had several appearances planned throughout the district today.

A Greensboro Republican, Coble represents the 6th District, which includes Moore County.

VOLUNTEER -- The Moore County Board of Commissioners has issued a proclamation marking April 19-25 as National Volunteer Week.

RSVP Director Shiela Klein read the proclamation during the board's April 6 meeting.

The proclamation says, in part, that "on a daily basis volunteers work in their communities, utilizing their time and talent to make a real difference in the lives of children, adults, the elderly, our environment and our public safety." It adds that "the giving of oneself in service to another empowers the giver and the recipient."

Across the United States there is a volunteer force of more than 66 million. The proclamation calls them "a great treasure" and says "volunteers are vital to our future as a caring and productive nation."

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.