MILES CITY – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking applicants to fill volunteer positions on the Region 7 Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) in southeast Montana. The CAC is a general advisory body that provides input, guidance, and feedback to FWP on a variety of issues - from wildlife and fisheries management, to access, state parks, outdoor recreation, and law enforcement.
Citizens Advisory Council members have no formal decision-making authority on issues involving FWP. Rather, a CAC comprised of engaged citizens helps FWP by providing information, ideas, and identification of emerging trends in a welcoming forum of diverse interests, and serving as ambassadors who help to inform the broader public. This forum should identify opportunities, potential conflicts, management choices, and tradeoffs involving public trust resources.
CAC members’ roles are to:
-Help promote Montana’s strong hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational traditions;
-Help FWP personnel be more available and responsive to the public;
-Help FWP identify issues before they become problems;
-Provide advice and perspective on important resource issues;
-Assist FWP with crafting local, sustainable solutions to both regional and statewide issues.
FWP provides members with up-to-date information about the work FWP is doing, and in turn relies on members to take information back to their neighbors. In addition, FWP seeks feedback on what CAC members are hearing to better enable the agency to manage resources for the public.
Applicants must live in FWP Region 7, which includes the counties of Custer, Garfield, Rosebud, Treasure, Powder River, Carter, Fallon, Wibaux, Dawson and portions of Richland. The council is designed to have a membership that represents a variety of southeast Montana communities and natural resource interests. FWP welcomes applications from hunters, anglers, landowners, nongame advocates, trappers, outfitters and guides, state parks and tourism advocates, campers and other outdoor recreationists, and anyone with an interest in natural resource issues.
The panel typically consists of around a dozen volunteers and has two to three week-day or evening meetings a year. Meetings are open to the public. Occasionally members will tour an FWP-affiliated site in the region. Members should make a commitment to attend meetings, offer thoughts and ideas, communicate with others in a respectful manner, and share information about the work of the CAC within their communities. Terms are two years and may be extended. Travel expenses are provided, along with meals if appropriate.
Applicants will be asked to provide an overview of their interests and involvement in natural resource issues and write a few sentences on why they are interested in serving on the CAC.
To request an application form, email Marla Prell at mprell@mt.gov or call 406-234-0926. Please provide a return email address and phone number.
Completed applications must be received or mailed by Friday, Feb. 7. FWP personnel will then review applications and select the new members. FWP will retain applications for those not selected for possible future openings.