Deadline to apply is August 31st

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is looking for nominees to fill nine soon to occur vacancies on its 15-member Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).

“We have been very fortunate to have worked with wonderful RAC members over the years, and we are now in a situation where some of their terms will be expiring leaving vacancies on the committee,” said Forest Supervisor Kristin Bail. “We hope to receive enough applications to fill these vacancies so the RAC can continue to help serve local communities through their work in selecting and recommending projects for funding.”

The RAC consists of members representing a wide array of interests. RAC members review proposed Secure Rural Schools Self-Determination Act Title II projects to benefit national forest lands in Chelan, Okanogan, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties, and make recommendations for priorities in funding those projects. Committee members are sought who are committed to working collaboratively with other interests for the long-term benefit of national forest system lands.

The nine soon to occur vacancies are in positions representing:

  • Developed Outdoor Recreation, Off-Highway Vehicle User Groups, or Commercial Recreation Activities
  • Federal Grazing Permit or other land use permit holders, or representative of non-industrial private forest landowners
  • Nationally Recognized Environmental Organizations
  • County or Local-Elected Office holder
  • Area school officials or teachers
  • Commercial Timber industry
  • American Indian Tribes
  • Nationally Recognized Wild Horse and Burro Interest, Wildlife or Hunting Organizations, or Watershed Associations
  • Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations

Membership on a RAC calls for a commitment of time and energy. Generally, there are two to three meetings held each year at the forest headquarters office in Wenatchee. Committee members serve a four-year term without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses. In addition to a pre-meeting review of proposed projects, a project monitoring field trip may be scheduled during the summer or fall months in each county.

Members must reside within Washington State, and to the extent practicable within the RAC boundary. The geographic boundaries of the RACs are aligned with National Forest boundaries, and for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, they include lands within Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties.

To obtain an application packet or additional information, please contact RAC Coordinator Robin DeMario, phone 509-664-9292, robin.demario@usda.gov, and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Completed application packets should be submitted prior to August 31. “Once we have a pool of candidates, their names are sent to the Secretary of Agriculture to consider for appointment to the RAC,” Bail said.

RAC information and application forms may also be obtained from the forest’s web site at https://go.usa.gov/xQuAy. Additional information about Secure Rural Schools Self-Determination Act is located on the Pacific Northwest Region Forest Service web site at https://go.usa.gov/xQuAn .

Nominees will be evaluated based on their education, training, and experience working with the interest area they represent, their knowledge of the geographic area covered by the RAC, their demonstrated commitment to collaborative resource decision-making and their contribution to the balance and diversity of the RAC. Letters of support from the interest to be represented are helpful but are not required.

“We encourage applicants to fill out the application forms with information that shows they have the background, interest, and knowledge to represent the group they are applying to fill,” Bail added.