*The call for volunteer commissioners is now closed*

 
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission has issued an open call for individuals interested in serving as volunteer commissioners. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the new land trust accreditation program, work with a strong team of commissioners and learn about conservation practices across the country. Volunteers must be willing to commit up to 30 days of service each year and serve at least one three-year term.

Responses from candidates will be accepted through July 30, 2008.

About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The Commission was established as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance in 2006 to operate a land trust accreditation program to help build and recognize strong land trusts, foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land. The Commission is subsidiary corporation of the Alliance and receives important financial and administrative support from the Alliance.

Thirteen commissioners were initially named by the Alliance to serve staggered terms.

The size of the Commission was expanded to 15 in early 2008 and one of the new seats was filled in April. Commissioners represent a broad cross-section of the land conservation community.

The Nominations Process

The Alliance will continue to appoint any new commissioners through next year. Starting with commissioners whose terms expire in 2010, land trusts will elect the majority of commissioners – subject to ratification by the Alliance – and the Alliance will appoint the minority of seats. The Commission will review the qualifications of interested individuals and provide recommendations on nominees to the Alliance.

The Commission expects to fill two seats for terms starting in 2009 and other seats as needed. In order to provide a slate of nominees for Alliance consideration, the Commission has issued this open call for interested candidates. The Commission will keep the summary of qualifications from those who respond to this call for volunteers active for two years.

Commissioner Skills and Responsibilities

The Commission is seeking individuals experienced in land conservation and/or accreditation or auditing programs who can commit to meeting the responsibilities outlined in the Commission Member Position Description. Commissioners should expect to volunteer up to 30 days per year to attend all Commission meetings and fulfill their responsibilities as part of the governing body for the corporation as well as to serve as a review team member for 6-10 accreditation applications each year. Commissioner service includes attending three multi-day Commission meetings each year. Commissioners also review applications as part of a review team. Individual reviews are complete by the commissioner on their own schedule. Review teams and committees meet by phone during business hours. Commissioners may also occasionally lead an applicant site visit.

Qualifications Summary Form

To identify a pool of potential candidates for future selection and to fill two vacancies that will exist at the end of the year, the Commission is asking interested volunteers to submit a summary of their qualifications on-line. If you would like to serve on the Commission please complete the qualification summary form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dDgwdpXoQb1z5AM22pac4g_3d_3d (see below for a preview of the questions that are included in the form). Communications with the Commission during this process will be primarily electronic and if you have any questions about this process, please contact Jennifer Brady-Connor at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Commission will contact the candidates who best fit the current needs of the Commission. Nominations will be forwarded from the Commission to the Alliance for final selection. Qualification summaries will be kept active for two years to fill additional seats as needed.

Deadline

If you are interested in serving on the Commission responses from candidates [LINK] will be accepted through July 30, 2008. If you know of others that might be interested, please pass this information along.

For more information about the accreditation program check out the various sections of the Commission's website. See particularly the Applicant Handbook at www.landtrustaccreditation.org/downloads/ApplicantHandbookMarch2008.pdf.

Qualifications Summary Form Questions
Below is a list of the overall questions asked as part of the Commissioner Candidate Qualification Summary. Please review the questions to aid your preparation in completing your summary.

I have read the Commission Member Position Description.

Please consider the following statement and rate your familiarity with the land trust accreditation program:

I am very familiar with the land trust accreditation program. I have read the Applicant Handbook, application for accreditation, Guidance Documents and other land trust accreditation materials. I am a current applicant, or have talked with current applicants.

Commission members are expected to serve at least one three-year term of service, with an expectation of volunteering up to 30 days each year including three in-person meetings. Do you have any barriers preventing you from meeting these obligations?

In order to help the Commission understand and appropriately manage conflicts of interest, please indicate if you have any anticipated conflicts of interest.

Please provide your contact information. The Commission will use this information as needed for further discussion of your candidacy.

Please describe your experience in managing nonprofit organizations, if applicable

(no more than 400 words).

Please describe your experience with land and easement acquisition and stewardship, if applicable (no more than 400 words).

Please describe your experience with accreditation, certification or auditing programs as a program participant, examiner, staff, or other (no more than 400 words). If not applicable, please indicate "N/A".

Personal Contact Information

What additional skills or experience do you have that would advance the goals and work of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (no more than 400 words)?

Please provide us with the name and contact information of two references that can verify the skills and experience you would offer.

If you are currently involved with a land trust, please provide us with the following information.

_Land trust name

_Your position and title

_State in which the land trust office is located.

_Number of full-time, paid staff (please consider the nearest whole number of fulltime

equivalents).

_Approximate number of parcels land trust holds in fee

_Approximate number of conservation easements the land trust holds

If you have non-land trust professional affiliations that involve land conservation, accreditation, certification or auditing programs that are not already described in the previous sections, please provide us with additional information for each. Include:

* Company, organization or agency name and purpose

* Your position, title and role

If not already included in your answers above, include a brief statement of why you wish to serve on the Commission.