council

Left to right: Kit Sutherland (retired USDA Coordinator), Kevin Chamberlain (Mineral), Richard Ramberg (Missoula), Pam Gouse (Secretary/Treasurer, Ravalli), BJ McComb (retired Mineral), Michele Landquist (Missoula), Greg Chilcott (Vice-president, Ravalli), James Freeman (Past-president, Ravalli), Allen Bjergo (President, Ravalli)

The RC&D Council promotes community involvement in identifying needs and finding solutions to human, economic and environmental problems using assistance from private and corporate foundations, along with local, state and federal agencies.  The purpose of the program is to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources to improve the general level of economic activity and to enhance the environment and quality of life in the local communities.

The RC&D Council is composed of twelve to nineteen local government officials, farmers, ranchers, civic leaders, business leaders and others who are interested in contributing to the overall well-being of the region.  The Bitter Root RC&D Council is comprised of a membership which includes three levels: Board of Directors, Regular Members and Support Members.

Membership on the Board of Directors is approved by the existing Board of Directors and selected from among Regular and Support Members.
Regular members include one (1) representative from each County Commission and one (1) representative from each Conservation District from each county for a total of six (6) and are seated on the Board of Directors.  An additional two to six (2-6) members are selected from among the cities and towns and from diverse groups, other nonprofit organizations and resource professionals from each County within the RC&D area that seek representation on the Council for a total of six to twelve (6-12) members who are seated on the Board of Directors.

Support members are from within the area and are extended this category of membership by the Board of Directors.  These members are in addition to regular members who are seated on the Board of Directors and may vote at annual meetings on matters that are not in the domain of the Board of Directors and participate in all discussions before the Board of Directors.