Gifford Pinchot Resource Advisory Committee

Current Members | How to Apply

Who should serve on a RAC?

Any individual who cares about roads, recreation, natural resource restoration, and job creation on or in communities around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest would be a great RAC member. Expertise in these areas is not required. A commitment to attend RAC meetings and be an engaged participant in the project review process is essential. Anyone may apply to serve on the RAC and individuals representing minority, disability, veteran, urban, or low income communities are encouraged to apply. 

Why serve on a RAC?

RAC members can have a direct impact on where and how hundreds of thousands of federal dollars are spent. These dollars improve local infrastructure, create local jobs, enhance tourism opportunities, and restore ecosystems both in their communities and on and off federal land. The time commitment is minimal, typically with only one to two one-day meetings per year, in which travel expenses may be reimbursed.

Interest Groups 

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest RAC has 9-15 members representing various interests and areas of expertise. Interest groups are established by the national Charter and are divided into three categories- A, B, and C. Each category has 3-5 members. To hold a RAC meeting, at least 3 members from each category need to be present. 

Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees Membership Categories

Category A 3-5 persons that:	Category B 3-5 persons that represent:	Category C 3-5 persons that:
represent organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; represent developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; represent energy and mineral development interests; or commercial or recreational fishing interests; represent the commercial timber industry; or hold Federal grazing or other land use permits, or represent nonindustrial private forest land owners, within the area for which the committee is organized.	nationally recognized environmental organizations; regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreational activities; archaeological and historical interests; or nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.	hold State elected office (or a designee); hold county or local elected office; represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized; are school officials or teachers; or represent the affected public at large.

Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees operate under a national Charter, last filed December 18, 2023. The charter is valid for two years.

Current Gifford Pinchot National Forest RAC Members

Name	Point of Interest	Affiliation/Category	County
Hannah Brause	School Official or teacher	Washington State University Extension
Chase Buffington	Federal Grazing permitor other land use permit holder	Cispus Learning Center Director
Jerry Franklin	Nationally recognized environmental organizations	University of WA School of Forestry
Bob Hamlin	county or local-elected office	Skamania County Commissioner
Elaine Harvey	american indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized.	Yakama Nation Fisheries
James Horan	Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities	Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Pete Krabbe	Organized Labor or Non-Timber Forest Product Harvester Groups	Pinchot Partners Collaborative
Anjolene Price	commercial timber industry	Hampton Lumber Collaborative Forestry Manager
Susan Saul	dispersed recreational activities
Cindy Soliz	nationally-or regionally-recognized  wildlife or hunting organization, or watershed organization	Cape Horn Conservancy
Jeremy Taitano	regionally or locally recognized environmental orgnization	Northwest Youth Corps
Tammara Tippel	affected public-at-large	Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Toeyan	commercial timber industry	WA State Dept. of Ecology
Jamie Tolfree	archaeological and historical intersts	Collaborative Groups

 

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Secure Schools/Title II Program Coordinator, Diane Bedell, at (360) 869-8211 or diane.bedell@usda.gov.

Steps:

1. Complete a background check form AD-755

2. Submit your completed AD-755 along with a current resume to: Diane Bedell, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 987 McClellan Road, Vancouver, WA 98661.

Due to the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) on background check form, the most secure and preferred method for sending is through the mail. Applications sent to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest via email will not be accepted unless they are password protected or encrypted emails. 

In order to be considered for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Resource Advisory Committe applicants must be a resident of the State of Washington.

Nominees are vetted, reviewed and appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Please note that this process can take several months.