Southern SARE Seeking Nominations to Fill Vacant Producer/NGO Seats on the Administrative Council

May 13, 2020

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- Interested in sustainable agriculture and are looking to have an impact on sustainable agriculture practices in your community? The Southern SARE program gives producers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) the opportunity to serve on the Administrative Council and provide a “voice” for the direction of sustainability across the Southern region.

Southern SARE is seeking two producers and an NGO representative to fill vacant seats on the Administrative Council. The terms would begin in February 2021. Producers and NGO representatives serve on the AC for a three-year term with opportunities for a second renewal term.

Southern SARE’s Administrative Council is the governing body for the SARE program in the Southern region. Made up of 22 members, the Administrative Council, or simply AC, guides the vision of the SARE program, setting goals related to sustainable agriculture, overseeing the review of grant Calls for Proposals, evaluating projects, and being ambassadors for the program.

While most of our AC members are appointed by our partner agencies, other members are selected by the AC through an open nomination process. Southern SARE invites producers and non-governmental organizations to serve on the AC through this process. Seven producers and three non-governmental organizations serve on the AC.

Producer Members

Producer members are directly involved in setting the goals of the Southern SARE program. Producer nominations from all 13 states in the southern region, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands will be considered.

All AC members are members of standing committees, which may meet or communicate through conference calls to decide policy issues related to SSARE.  The Administrative Council depends on outstanding nominees that you and your colleagues from across the region may put forward.  We strongly encourage you to invest the effort required to advance good nominees.

Duties of the AC include attending AC meetings twice a year in February and August.  Each meeting is expected to last two days.  Duties also include a significant commitment of time twice a year for reviewing grant proposals during the month or two prior to the AC meetings.  Learn more about our Regional Leadership.

Criteria for Administrative Council appointment include the following:

  • Run your own farm, regardless of size; alone or with family or partners.
  • Proven experience in sustainable agriculture;
  • Demonstrated ability and willingness to help address sustainable agriculture needs and methods; and
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a team dealing with contemporary issues facing agriculture.

Council membership will be balanced with respect to geographic location, gender, race and farm type.

If you are interested in applying for or nominating someone for one of the Producer seats on the SSARE AC, please contact Candace Pollock-Moore at cpollock@uga.edu with your/their name, postal address, phone number, and email address by July 1, 2020. We will send you/them an invitation to apply for the position and the link to the Southern Region SARE Online AC Application System. Only applications received on the SSARE Online AC Application System will be considered.

Non-governmental Organization Members

NGO members are directly involved in setting the goals of the Southern Region SARE program. Nominations from all 13 states in the southern region, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be considered.

All AC members are members of standing committees, which may meet or communicate through conference calls to decide policy issues related to SSARE.  The Administrative Council depends on outstanding nominees that you and your colleagues from across the region may put forward.  We strongly encourage you to invest the effort required to advance good nominees.

Administrative Council members serve a three-year term.  Duties of the AC include attending AC meetings twice a year in February and August.  Each meeting is expected to last two days.  Duties also include a significant commitment of time twice a year for reviewing grant proposals during the month or two prior to the AC meetings.  Learn more about our Regional Leadership.

Criteria for Administrative Council appointment include the following:

  • Employed by, or serve on the governing board of, an NGO;
  • Proven experience in sustainable agriculture;
  • Demonstrated ability and willingness to help address sustainable agriculture needs and methods; and
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a team dealing with contemporary issues facing agriculture.

Council membership will be balanced with respect to geographic location, gender and race.

If you are interested in applying for or nominating someone for one of the Producer seats on the SSARE AC, please contact Candace Pollock-Moore at cpollock@uga.edu with your/their name, postal address, phone number, and email address by August 3rd, 2020. We will send you/them an invitation to apply for the position and the link to the Southern Region SARE Online AC Application System. Only applications received on the SSARE Online AC Application System will be considered.

   

Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America's Southern region. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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