Date: / June 26, 2008
Dear Cooperator:
The U.S. Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill three positions on the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (Council). The Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of Agriculture on the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program.
The Council was established in 1990 through an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105). The purposes of the Council is specifically to: 1) develop a national urban and community forestry action plan; 2) evaluate the implementation of the plan; and 3) develop criteria and annually make recommendations on the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry challenge cost-share program.
We are requesting nominations for the three positions that will serve three-year terms from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2011:
q A person that is not an officers or employee of any government body living in a city with a population of more than 50,000 and who has experience and has been active in urban and community forestry.
q A person representing academic institutions with an expertise in urban and community forestry activities.
q A person representing forest products, nursery, or related industries.
Your nomination(s) must be “received” (not just postmarked) by August 14, 2008. No facsimiles or e-mail submissions will be accepted as official nominations. Each nomination must include the enclosed Nomination Cover Sheet, and a completed form AD-755, Advisory Committee Membership Background Information, that has been signed by the nominee. Also enclosed is form AD-1086, U.S. Department of Agriculture Applicant Supplemental Sheet; submission of form AD-1086 is voluntary.
Individuals currently serving on other USDA advisory councils or commissions are ineligible to serve on this Council.
The enclosed “Roles and Responsibilities as Members of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council” will provide an overview of the duties and time commitments necessary to be a Council member. For additional information on the Council, visit their home page at: www.treelink.org/nucfac/.
Cooperator Page 2
In making nominations, please note that equal opportunity practices will be fully implemented in all appointments to the Council. To ensure that the membership of the Council reflects the diverse groups served by the USDA Forest Service, nominations should include, to the extent practicable, representatives of underserved groups, including minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Please designate which categories would most appropriately describe your recommended nominee(s) on the enclosed nomination cover sheet. You may make nominations for as many positions as you wish. An individual may also nominate him/her self. Letters of support will be accepted but are not mandatory.
Please submit the nomination(s) to Nancy Stremple, National Program Specialist, Urban and Community Forestry, US Forest Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mailstop 1151, Washington, DC 20250-1151. If using overnight service, please address as: Nancy Stremple, National Program Specialist, USFS - U&CF – 1 CENTRAL, 201 14th Street, SW, Washington DC 20250. Should you have any questions, Nancy may be reached at (202) 205-7829, 205-1054 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
To enable us to reach as many and diverse a number of nominees as possible, please give this letter wide distribution as appropriate. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
When the Secretary has made his appointments, all those nominated to be Council members, as well as those individuals who submitted a nomination for consideration, will be notified of his decision.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
/s/ Robin ThompsonJAMES E. HUBBARD
Deputy Chief
State and Private Forestry
Enclosures
National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
NOMINATION COVER SHEET
Nominee: ______
Title: ______
Organization: ______
Mailing Address: ______
Phone Number: ______
Fax Number: ______
E-mail address: ______
THE ABOVE NAMED NOMINEE WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITION(S):
Person that is not an officers or employees of any government body living in a city with a population of
more than 50,000 and who has experience and has been active in urban and community forestry;
Person representing academic institutions with an expertise in urban and community forestry activities;
Person representing forest products, nursery, or related industries;
Nominated by: ______Signature Date
______
Printed name
Title: ______
Organization: ______
Mailing Address: ______
Phone Number: ______
Only hard-copy nominations “received” (not just postmarked) by August 7, 2008, will be considered. Facsimiles and e-mail submissions will not be accepted. Please mail this nomination cover sheet, the completed Form AD-755 signed by the nominee, Form AD-1086 (submission of form AD-1086 is voluntary), and any additional information to: Nancy Stremple, National Program Specialist, Urban and Community Forestry, US Forest Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mailstop 1151, Washington, DC 20250-1151. If using overnight service, please address as: Nancy Stremple, National Urban Forestry Program Specialist, USFS - U&CF – 1 CENTRAL, 201 14th Street, SW, Washington DC 20250
United States Department of Agriculture
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR RESEARCH AND PROMOTION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council]
Privacy Act Notice
Public Laws 95-113 and 93-579 permit collection of the data requested on this form. The information is used to determine qualifications, suitability and availability for service on advisory committees or research and promotion boards/councils. The information will be used to conduct background clearances and/or for annual reports on advisory committees or research and promotion boards/councils. Failure to submit this information may result in non-selection of a prospective advisory committee member, board/council member or termination of the committee or board/council.
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY OR TYPE
1. Name (Last, First, Middle) / 2. Social Security Number3. Residence Address (include ZIP code)
/ 4. Business No.
Home No:
FAX:
e-Mail Address:
5. Place of Birth / 6. Date of Birth
7. Company/Business Name
8. Company/Business Address (include ZIP Code)
/ 9. Occupation/Title
10. [Insert appropriate commodity question(s) from supplemental list.] To be completed by R&P Board Members Only
10a. If applicable, how long have you been engaged in farming or production, and what is the size of your farming operation. (i.e. List acreage and pounds produced by kind of crop, as well as, kinds and numbers of livestock?)
11. List your business experience.
12. List education and any specialized experience.
13. List applicable farm/handler/producer/importer or co-op member industry organizations (include whether a member or officer and how long affiliated).
14. List other affiliations and/or service as a community leader that would benefit you in your role as a member of the advisory committee or research and promotion board/council.
15. List any Federal advisory committee or board on which you are currently a member and the number of years you have served on that committee or board. (To be completed by Advisory Committees Only)
16. List sources of income in excess of $10,000 for the past calendar year from other than your primary employment. List only sources; do not show amounts of income from each source. (To be completed by Advisory Committees Only)
17. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (A felony is defined as any violation of law punishable by
imprisonment of longer than one year). Yes No. If yes, please explain on the attached
continuation sheet.
18. As a result of your participation in Federal programs, have any judgments been rendered against you? As a result of participation in any governmental programs relative to the purposes of the advisory committee or research and promotion board/council for which you are a nominee, have any civil or criminal actions been initiated against you? Yes No. If yes, please explain on the attached continuation sheet.
19. Name as you would prefer it to appear on official correspondence. (To be completed by R&P Board Members Only)
Signature / Date
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0505-0001. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Continuation Sheet for Form AD-755
If you need more space for an answer, use this sheet. Please number each answer to correspond to the number on Form AD-755. When you have completed your answer(s), attach to Form AD-755.
[National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council]
Name (Last, First, Middle)
Social Security Number:
CASE FILE NUMBER: / AD-1086FORM APPROVED
OMB NO. 0505-009
(FOR OFFICE USE ONLY)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPLICANT SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET
Applicants for positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are requested to provide the following information for statistical purposes only. The information will be used to evaluate USDA'S recruitment and hiring activities. Public Law 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974) permits solicitation of personal information. SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS VOLUNTARY. Your failure to do so will not affect the processing of your application. Your cooperation is appreciated.
1. / Which of the following best describes your current employment status? (Check no more than two.)01 / College/university teaching or research
02 / Private industry
03 / State/local government
04 / Federal government
05 / Member of the military
06 / Unemployed
07 / Current USDA employee
08 / Other:
2. / Which of the following describes your veteran preference status? (Check one.)
01 / None / 04 / 10 point compensable
02 / 5 point / 05 / 10 point other
03 / 10 point disability / 06 / 10 point/30% compensable
3. / Which of the following describes your race/national origin? (Check one.)
A / American Indian/Alaskan Native
B / Asian or Pacific Islander
C / Black, not of Hispanic origin
D / Hispanic
E / White, not of Hispanic Origin
Y / Not Hispanic, Puerto Rico
Q / All Other Asian or Pacific Islander in Hawaii
4. / Which of the following best describes your disability status? (Select all that apply.)
01 / No disability / 06 / Complete paralysis
02 / Hearing impairment / 07 / Convulsive disorder
03 / Vision impairment / 08 / Mental retardation
04 / Missing extremities / 09 / Mental or emotional illness
05 / Partial paralysis / 10 / Severe distortion of limbs and/or spine
11 / I have a disability not listed
5. / Are you? (Check one.) / Male / Female
THANK YOU FOR FILLING OUT THIS FORM
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB number for this information collection is 0505-0009. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Roles and Responsibilities
as Members of
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (Council) was established to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the national urban and community forestry program. The purpose of the Council is to develop a comprehensive national urban and community forestry action plan, evaluate the implementation of that plan, and to develop criteria for and submit recommendations for funding the US Forest Service’s urban and community challenge cost-share program.
Members of the Council serve without compensation and can expect to dedicate approximately 125 hours on Council business per calendar year. Council members are reimbursed for authorized travel and per diem expenses that are incurred in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with USDA travel regulations.
Several subgroups have been established over the history of the Council. Subgroups have been appointed to assist in drafting the national strategic plan, the action plan, the annual report to Congress, and the challenge cost-share program. Subgroups meet via phone, fax, and in person.
Council Membership
The Council is composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary, as follows: two members representing national nonprofit forestry and conservation citizen organizations; one member representing State government; one member representing county government; one member representing city/town government; one member representing the forest products, nursery, or related industries; one member representing urban forestry, landscape, or design consultants; two members representing academic institutions with an expertise in urban and community forestry activities; one member representing State forestry agencies or equivalent State agencies; one member representing a professional renewable natural resource or arboricultural society; one member representing the Extension Service; one member representing the Forest Service; one member who is not an officer or employee of any governmental body who is a resident of a community with a population of more than 50,000 as of the most recent census and has expertise and has been active in urban and community forestry; and one member who is not an officer or employee of any governmental body who is a resident of a community with a population of less than 50,000 as of the most recent census and has expertise and has been active in urban and community forestry.