Oh the places I get to go!

After 30 years at Maine Outdoors and several years as the Executive Director of the Maine Professional Guides Association I am sometimes presented with amazing opportunities. Last week I got to introduce Maine Senator Susan Collins at the Associations annual banquet. Yesterdays mail brought an envelope from the US Department of Agriculture with an appointment to the Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee by Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack. I will be representing non-motorized outfitter and guides on the committee.

The Recreation RACs are Federal Advisory Committees. providing recommendations on recreation fee proposals on federal lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). All meetings of Recreation RACs are open to the public and include opportunities for public comment.

Forest Service established Recreation RACs, consist of 11 members who represent the following interests.

Five people who represent recreation users and include as appropriate: Winter motorized; Winter non-motorized; Summer motorized; Summer non-motorized; Hunting and fishing.

Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate: Motorized outfitters and guides; Non-motorized outfitter and guides; Local environmental groups

Three people, one in each position: State tourism official; A person who represents affected local government interests; A person who represents affected Indian tribes' issues.

I have been appointed for three years and I am sure it will be interesting the road to the appointment was a story in and of itself. Make sure I tell it to you when we are together during the coming season.

For more information on the Recreation Advisory Committees visit http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac.shtml