California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
Request for Nominations to the MLPA Statewide Interests Group

The California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force is accepting nominations through January 5, 2009 for members of the MLPA Statewide Interests Group (SIG) to support the MLPA South Coast Project. The SIG will consist of approximately 15 individuals, appointed by the MLPA executive director in consultation with the chair of the task force and director of the California Department of Fish and Game.

Charge of the SIG

The SIG is intended to provide a forum for enhanced communication between the task force and stakeholders over the course of the MLPA South Coast Project. To that end, the SIG will advise the chair of the task force and MLPA staff regarding:
* how to improve the progress in implementing, and statewide issues related to, the MLPA Initiative,
* ways to increase public and stakeholder participation in the MLPA Initiative,
* strategies for outreach to constituent groups,
* potential panel speakers for task force and other meetings, and
* other issues as identified by the task force.

The SIG's role is not to negotiate or decide issues for the task force, and participants are not expected to make commitments on behalf of their constituencies. Convening by teleconference approximately every ten weeks for approximately two hours, the first SIG meeting will be held on February 2, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.

Criteria for Selection

Members of the SIG are expected to have the following attributes:
* Commitment to providing constructive advice and supporting completion of all aspects of the MLPA Initiative
* Experience and willingness to communicate with as broad a constituency as possible
* Ability to bring a statewide perspective to discussions
* Willingness to express fundamental interests (as opposed to fixed positions) and to clearly convey the interests of one or more important stakeholder groups
* Ability to understand and integrate multiple stakeholder perspectives
* Ability to access and use an effective communication network to reach stakeholders and members of the public not in attendance at meetings

Taken together, selections will be made to achieve a diversity of stakeholder perspectives, expertise and geography. Efforts by multiple stakeholder groups to nominate a single individual are encouraged.

Nomination Process

Nominations to the SIG can be made by individuals themselves or may be made by others. Nominations should include the:
* nominator's name, full mailing address, phone number, and email address;
* nominee's name, full mailing address, phone number, and email address;
* perspective/interest represented by the nominee; and
* past involvement in the MLPA or similar processes by the nominee.

When a nomination has been received, the nominee will be contacted and invited to submit an application. Nominees will be asked to supply the following additional information:

* willingness to commit the time for full participation,
* demonstrated ability to integrate multiple perspectives,
* demonstrated ability to contribute to open and collaborative processes,
* descriptions of the organizations with which the individual will communicate, and
* specific communication and outreach mechanisms to be utilized.

Nominations must be received by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 2009. Submit nominations by email to SIGNoms@resources.ca.gov.

If you would like to submit a nomination by a means other than email, please phone the MLPA Initiative office for instructions at 916.654.1885.