Promoting Conservation Through Committees and Councils

Connie O'Connor, Director of Education

January 30, 2025

Tags:

Community Engagement

Civic Environmentalism

A story by Connie O'Connor on Rob Shimp. This article is also featured in the February 7, 2025, issue of The Ripple.

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An often overlooked but important way to promote conservation and sustainability is by volunteering to help one’s community park commission or environmental advisory council, if your community has one. Rob Shimp found this to be the case when he joined the Environmental Stewardship Commission (ESC) in the city of Wyoming, where he has lived since 1985. A scientist with a PhD in environmental microbiology and engineering, Rob spent his 28-year career at Procter and Gamble. He worked on the environmental safety and sustainability of P&G’s products, and represented the company in discussions with environmental groups and international organizations. Since retiring, he has continued part-time work at The Conference Board in New York City, running a council on “product stewardship and regulatory affairs.” But in his free time, he also volunteers on Wyoming’s ESC, helping make his community more environmentally sustainable.

Elected officials are busy people with varied backgrounds. So many municipalities depend on advisory boards to help them with research, planning and special projects. For instance, planning commissions help officials figure out what a city needs to do to support community development and enact/update zoning codes. Parks councils make recommendations on how to manage the public parks and events.

Citizens who join advisory committees and commissions have a strong interest in helping their community in a particular area. Wyoming’s ESC focuses on improving how the city manages its solid waste through composting, “up-cycling,” and recycling, as well as ways to reduce energy consumption. So Rob’s professional background is a good fit. But other commission members simply have a passion for helping make Wyoming more sustainable, and bring diverse skills to the table in areas like communications, finance, and small business leadership.

One recent example of the ESC’s work is the 2023 launch of a community food waste composting program. Operated in collaboration with a company called GoZero, the program collects food waste from households and restaurants, composts it, and then sells the compost to farmers and gardeners. The program is voluntary, and today, over 125 Wyoming households are collecting their food waste in five gallon buckets, then dropping it off at GoZero’s collection bins, located at a local park. The city initially contracted for six bins with a goal of collecting 1 ton per month. The site now has nine bins, and is diverting nearly 2 tons of food waste per month from Rumpke’s landfill.

For others who want to follow Rob’s lead and get involved with their community through committees or advisory councils, the process is fairly straightforward. The great thing is that members are volunteers, not elected. This means you don’t have to knock on doors, spend money on campaigning, and get petitions signed to have a chance to serve. It’s so much easier—just fill out an application and hope for an interview.

Most volunteer positions require a two- or three-year commitment with opportunities to fill a second term, and typically the groups meet one evening a month. Vacancies are listed on each municipality’s website, social media page and/or newsletter. That’s how Rob first heard of the opening for the Environmental Stewardship Commission. He applied and was invited to join.

For those reluctant or unable to make a long-term commitment, it’s still important to show up at public stakeholder meetings and participate in surveys or focus groups when offered. Rob explains that these tools were integral to the creation of Wyoming's community ten-year development master plan. Initiated by the city council and mayor, and overseen by a citizen steering committee, the plan has seven themes, including ecological stewardship and sustainability. Click here to see the plan.

Rob explains, “Wyoming has always been environmentally conscious, with a history of donating land, valuing green spaces and reducing waste.” Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a community with that kind of environmental conscience, but through civic engagement, one might nudge the needle toward more focus on conservation and sustainability. Consider asking your local representatives or administrators if you could help form a sustainability advisory council or lead a focus group on the issue.

Rob Shimp

For those interested in participating in contributing to decision-making processes and influencing policies through a public committee or advisory council, here are some steps you can take to get involved:

1. Understand the purpose: First, research the specific committee or council you’re interested in. Understand its purpose, scope, and the issues it addresses. Different committees focus on various areas such as healthcare, education, environment, or economic development. Choose one that you’re passionate about.

2. Look for open calls for applications and consider if you might qualify. Committees seek members with relevant expertise. Consider your background, skills, and knowledge related to the committee’s work. Even if you don’t have specific skills, committees also benefit from diverse perspectives. Your unique experiences and viewpoints can contribute significantly.

3. Submit an application. This may involve submitting a resume, cover letter, and other relevant documents. Highlight your qualifications, commitment, and passion for the committee’s mission. Sometimes, it may help to ask someone else to nominate you (e.g., a friend who is already serving on the committee).

4. Wait for a response. If shortlisted, you may be invited for an interview. Be prepared to discuss your expertise and commitment.

5. If selected, participate in orientation and training. Learn about the committee’s responsibilities, rules, and procedures. Understand your role, ethical guidelines, and confidentiality requirements. For example, Ohio has public records rules that govern how advisory committees need to operate.

6. Participate actively. Attend meetings regularly. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and provide input. Your insights matter. Try to add value and volunteer for assignments when you can. Collaborate with fellow members and city staff to stay informed and up-to-date with relevant issues, research, and policy developments.

7. Advocate for evidence-based decisions and communicate with other members, stakeholders, and the public to gather input and build support.

Funding for programs like those that the ESC has helped implement in Wyoming comes from the community's collective taxes. The city council ultimately approves the recommendations made by commissions. But it is often the expertise and evidence-based work of advisory committees that helps them decide what to do.

Influence in local government is not out of reach. When you get involved, you’ll realize that many of your community’s problems are manageable, that most people mean well. Rob has made new relationships and found an engaging way to be of service to his community—will you be next?

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