Advisory Positions from Sec.of Agriculture for Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers. June 7, 2017.

      The Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for membership for the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers.  Interested individuals from among socially disadvantaged farming and ranching producers (industry); civil rights professionals; private nonprofit organizations; State, and Tribal agricultural agencies; academic institutions; commercial banking entities; trade associations; related enterprises that support socially disadvantaged producers; and higher education institutions that work with socially disadvantaged producers. 

Prior applicants under the previous solicitation are not required to reapply.  An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership; alternatively, an individual may nominate herself or himself.  Nomination packages should include a nomination form along with a cover letter or resume that documents the nominee’s background and experience.  Nomination forms are available on the Internet at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-755.  For additional information, please visit: 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/06/01/2017-11216/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers-request-for-nominations.

2.      The Secretary of Agriculture is also soliciting nominations for membership for the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.  We are soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals from among ranching and farming producers (industry), related government, State, and Tribal agricultural agencies, academic institutions, commercial banking entities, trade associations, and related nonprofit enterprises. The deadline for applications is June 15, 2017.

Prior applicants under the previous solicitation are not required to reapply.  An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership; alternatively, an individual may nominate herself or himself.  Nomination packages should include a nomination form along with a cover letter or resume that documents the nominee’s background and experience.  Nomination forms are available on the Internet at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-755.  For additional information, please visit:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/31/2017-11214/advisory-committee-on-beginning-farmers-and-ranchers-acbfr-request-for-nominations.

Call for Nominations to Serve on NOSB The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to the Department of Agriculture on the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act. NOSB members are volunteers and come from across the organic community. Each member is appointed by the Department of Agriculture to a five-year term. USDA seeks nominations to fill one vacancy for an individual with expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation to serve on the NOSB from January 2018 to January 2023. The USDA is also seeking nominations for a pool of candidates to fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the seven position categories, should unexpected vacancies occur. A person appointed to fill an unexpected vacancy will serve for the remainder of the 5-year term of the vacant position.  Committee member duties include: Attending committee meetings (travel paid by USDA) Participating in bi-monthly subcommittee conference calls Reviewing materials and/or recommending changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances Advising the Secretary on other aspects of the USDA organic regulations Written nominations must include a resume, an AD-755 Application Form, and a cover letter (optional), and must be postmarked on or before August 7, 2017. More Information: Call for Nominations Flyer (PDF) Press Release: USDA Seeks Nominations for the National Organic Standards Board  Federal Register Notice: Call for Nominations (Includes Application Instructions)  Advisory Committee Background Information (Form AD-755) (PDF) NOSB Recommendation on Criteria for NOSB Membership (PDF) For more information, visit the NOSB Nominations Webpage.

Calculate your carbon emissions. UNISDR. 2017 Global Platform

Dear partners,

Thank you for your active participation in the 2017 Global Platform.

We kindly encourage you to calculate your carbon emissions at https://carbonfund.org/calculate-your-footprint/ and to off-set the equivalent amount at https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/register

When offsetting, we encourage you  to mention under "reason for purchase", #MEXICOGP17, and to post about the offset on social media using the hashtags:#MEXICOGP2017 and #GoGreen


Thanks,
The UNISDR Team

August 27-Sept 1, 2017. Stockholm World Water Week.

 GWP Partners,

The 2017 Stockholm World Water Week will be held 27 August – 1 September. The week is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). SIWI is offering GWP Partners a 25% discount off the “early bird” registration fee. You can register here and insert the code WEE25 on page two of the registration form. (GWP does not provide funding for attending the Stockholm Water Week.)

Please note that the early bird deadline is June 30. This offer is only valid for GWP registered Partners.

Best regards,

GWP Stockholm Secretariat