Policy and Public Affairs Committee (PPAC)

Purpose of the Policy and Public Affairs Committee

In 2011, the Policy and Public Affairs Committee (PPAC) was formed. The PPAC was created by combining:  Government Policy and Programs Committee and Public Affairs Committee.

The Committee, through a proactive approach, shall identify emerging issues which may be of importance, or interest, to the Society.  This committee is a member of the Society’s Administrative Division committee structure.

• Through a proactive approach, identify emerging issues which may be of importance or interest to the Society.  Refer emerging issues unable to be addressed by this committee to the appropriate standing committee(s) for review and development of appropriate actions including policy, position statements and/or resolutions.
• Serve the Society by identifying pending, proposed and/or needed staffing, legislation, policy, regulations or program changes within any governmental organization that may impact the use or management of rangelands.  Promote the incorporation of sound science into proposed strategies and practices at all levels of staffing, legislation, regulations, government programs and policies affecting rangelands and range management.
• Develop, edit and finalize actions, such as statements, resolutions or official correspondence, which have been referred to the PAC from the Board of Directors, Advisory Council and/or appropriate committees for recommendation back to the Board of Directors for final disposition.
• Provide oversight on existing SRM Policy/Position Statements and Resolutions.  This will be accomplished through periodic review and referral to the Advisory Council, standing committees and/or taskforce(s).  Based on their comments, PubPAC will make recommendations to the Board of Directors for the revision, continuation, or elimination of specific policy, position statements and/or resolutions.

(as of 4/2020)

2020 Members

Chair: Dennis Thompson
Chair-Elect: Morgan Kauth
BoD Rep: Barry Perryman

Members:
Dennis Thompson
Morgan Kauth
Barry Imler
Bruce Healy
Kathy Sevy
Mike McNeill
Pat Pfeil
Gary Mcuin
Chase Taylor
Keith Bartholomay
Kasey DeAtley

Government Policy and Programs Committee:
The Purpose of the Government Policy and Programs Committee was to promote the incorporation of sound science into proposed strategies and practices at all levels of staffing, legislation, regulations, government programs and policies affecting rangelands and range management of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Committee served the Society by identifying pending, proposed and/or needed staffing, legislation, policy, regulations or program changes within any governmental organization that may impact the use or management of rangelands.

Public Affairs Committee:
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) stayed current with issues of national and international scope that related to the interest and concerns of the Society. The Committee recommended to the Executive Vice President the appropriate committee to evaluate proposed actions and submit recommendations to the Advisory Council and President/Board of Directors.

The role of the Public Affairs Committee included the following:

1. Provided oversight on existing Resolutions and Policy/Position Statements. This was accomplished through periodic referral to the Advisory Council, standing committees or workgroups for their critique and consideration. Based on Advisory Council or committee comments, the PAC made recommendations to the Board of Directors for the revision, continuation, or elimination of specific statements and/or resolutions.
2. Through a proactive approach, the PAC identified emerging issues which may be of importance or interest to the Society as a whole.
3. The PAC edited and finalized statements or resolutions referred to them from the Advisory Council and appropriate committees for presentation to the Board of Directors for action.

Recording Now Available! SRM Advocacy Webinar

On Wednesday, August 5, the Society hosted a webinar detailing the Society’s advocacy process – from the time a request comes to SRM to be a part of a policy or decision-making process to when the Board votes on recommendations, and the Society carries out those actions.

In total, the webinar covered:

• How SRM engages in the policymaking process; limitations as a non-profit; lobbying v. advocacy ; difference between policy and position statements and resolutions
• The role of Advisory Council, Committees, Sections
• The role of the Board

We were joined by SRM President Dr. Charles Hart, Dennis Thompson, Chair of the Policy and Public Affairs Committee, and SRM Washington, DC Liaison Lia Biondo.

Listen to the recording HERE (in easy-to-consume podcast format!).