Vermont Joint NRCS & FSA Civil Rights Committee

The Vermont Civil Rights Advisory Committee advises the NRCS State Conservationist and FSA State Executive Director in employment and program delivery issues by:

• Identifying and bringing to management’s attention any trends, problems, issues and concerns related to employment and program delivery.
• Monitoring recruitment practices and making recommendations for ensuring that underrepresented groups are made aware of opportunities for employment.
• Acting as a forum for an exchange of ideas and action proposals on sensitive issues, matters, or concerns of an Equal Employment Opportunity nature.

Vermont Civil Rights Committee Members

Operating Guidelines of the Vermont Civil Rights Committee

The Vermont Civil Rights Advisory Committee serves as advisor to both the NRCS State Conservationist and the FSA State Executive Director to promote and assist in delivering a meaningful and effective civil rights program.

1.    The Committee membership shall be composed of seven employee at–large members who will represent NRCS and FSA USDA.  Ad-hoc members to the committee are the Special Emphasis Program Managers.  Advisors to the Committee shall consist of Title VI and Title VII liaisons, Conservation District Liaison and Outreach Coordinators for both NRCS and FSA.

2.     The membership of the Committee shall (to the extent practicable) consist of a diverse cross-section of all employees, including by grade, work assignment, office assignment and geographic location within the state.

3.      The at-large members will be appointed to serve 3-year terms; the terms will be overlapping and vacancies will be filled by request for volunteers; or, lacking volunteers, by Committee recommendation to the State Conservationist/State Executive Director.  Member's terms begin and end with the fiscal year.

4.      SEPM Terms will be 3-year terms with two one-year options for renewal. Terms will begin and end with the Fiscal Year.

5.      Leadership of the committee will consist of a Chair and Co-chair, with the one-year position to rotate yearly between NRCS and FSA, or as agreed. (For 2006-2007, leadership is by NRCS and FSA co-chairs.)

6.      The committee will meet quarterly at dates selected by the Chair in consultation with the STC/SED Committee members and advisors.

7.      The Chair in consultation with the STC/SED may call special meetings.

8.      A recorder will be selected by the Chair to record decisions for distribution to all employees.  The assignment of recorder will be rotated among Committee members.

9.      Decisions will be reached through consensus.  If the Committee cannot reach consensus, the decision will be by a two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote of full Committee members.

10.  The Chair shall notify committee members when there are confidential issues that are to be addressed. 

11.  There will be a minimum of one training opportunity for committee members annually.  FSA and NRCS will pay for their own employee(s) when sent to training, and split evenly when the training is for the entire committee.

12.  SEPM's will submit a budget and operating plan through the Committee,  to the STC/SED annually at the beginning of the fiscal year.

13.  Committee-related collateral duties will be added to employee job descriptions and/or performance work plan for Committee members and SEPMs.

   Approved June 21, 2006

Judith M. Doerner, State Conservationist       Roger N. Allbee, State Directo

Natural Resources Conservation Service       Farm Service Agency