CHARTER
SERVICE FIRST FIELD ADVISORY BOARD
4/26/2013
PREAMBLE
The Service First Field Advisory Board (Board) will develop ideas, direction, and tools for
implementing the Service First authority (PL 112-74) across the four agencies and provide input to the
Service First Leadership Team (SFLT). The Board operates under the authority of the SFLT. Use of the
Service First authority primarily takes place in the field. Because of the broad nature of the authority
language and the uniqueness of each Service First arrangement, the authority has been used in ways that
solve specific, local problems. While creative solutions are being developed at the local level, there is a
need for a more coordinated approach to recognizing opportunities, problem identification, and solution
implementation in order to expand the use of Service First to more locations.
I. PURPOSE
The purposes of the Board are:
1. To enhance each agency’s/bureau’s ability to seamlessly utilize the Service First authority to
help meet its mission.
2. To provide guidance and information to field level managers regarding the effective use of the
Service First authority as a management tool.
3. To provide field-based feedback to the SFLT concerning the current and future needs and
opportunities of the Service First community.
4. To serve as a forum for identification and discussion of institutional barriers that hinder
interagency programs and initiatives at the field level, and to develop recommendations and
solutions for removing those barriers.
5. To identify creative ways to use the Service First authority to improve constituent and customer
service and resource management through streamlined processes, increased efficiencies, and use
of emerging technologies.
II. REPRESENTATION
MEMBERS
The Board consists of nine members, as follows:
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•
•
•
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Two members appointed by the National Park Service from the field organization.
Two members appointed by the US Forest Service from the field organization.
Two members appointed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service from the field organization.
Two members appointed by the Bureau of Land Management from the field organization.
The National Service First Coordinator.
The Board may invite others, e.g., technical experts, working groups, and local Service First
practitioners, to participate and provide input on issues and/or projects as necessary. These additional
participants are non-voting members and shall participate with the Board only for as long as needed to
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complete the related activity or project. All meetings will be open to anyone who would like to observe,
and will be fully transparent with notes posted on the Service First website.
SELECTION
The current members of the SFLT from each agency will appoint the two members from their agency to
the Board. Current Board members may provide advice on future member nominations and selection.
TERMS
Initially, members will have two or three-year terms to promote continuity. Subsequent members will
have two-year terms. Members may serve additional terms, provided they are re-appointed by their
SFLT representative. If a member must resign from the Board prior to the end of his/her term, the SFLT
representative for that agency will appoint a new member to the Board to start a new term.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES, FUNCTIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS
It is the responsibility of all members to regularly attend meetings. In the unusual case that a member
cannot attend, they may designate an alternate representative.
It is understood that Board representatives serve as liaison between their agency’s programs,
organizations, regional directors, or regions and the Board, bringing input, issues and ideas to the Board,
and communication from the Board back out to the regional and field staff. It is also the responsibility of
members to serve on task groups and conduct work as necessary to formulate recommendations and
communication tools and messages.
Other agency staff and programs may be invited to participate in Board meetings on specific issues.
The Board may solicit input from subject matter experts as appropriate.
The Board may occasionally accept invitations from other groups to meet concurrently.
Minutes from each Board meeting will be posted on the Service First website.
IV. GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP, AND DECISION MAKING
The National Service First Coordinator is responsible for facilitating logistics in support of the Board. It
is the responsibility of the members to identify views and concerns of their respective Agencies and to
feed them into the Board's discussions.
The National Service First Coordinator is responsible for drafting an agenda of items for consideration
by the Board, drawing on the interest and issues identified by both the Board members and the SFLT.
Under this concept the Board will encourage the use of work groups to assist the members and to reach
out to the other programs and interests. The National Service First Coordinator will monitor and track
the Board's decisions and tasks and will work with members to develop a communication strategy to
ensure wide and thorough communication. The National Service First Coordinator will serve as the
direct liaison between the Board and the SFLT.
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When making recommendations, the Board will make decisions primarily by consensus. However, it is
recognized that from time to time consensus is not possible. In those instances, decisions will be made
by simple majority vote.
V. OPERATING PRINCIPLES
The operating principles of the Board include open communication, collaboration, flexibility, inclusion,
adaptive management (with learning and reflection), and open dialog. Using these principles, the Board
will operate in a proactive manner, modeling the behaviors of partnership including (but not limited to):
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Dealing directly with each other.
Being forthright.
Being responsive to each other's questions.
Always acting as a team.
Doing self-education and reflection.
Being responsive to each other's oral and written communication – including E-mails:
a. Indicating whether a communication can be shared with the field and partner organizations
or not; and
b. Clarifying when a response is needed.
VI. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS
Continuity of operations – including meeting arrangements, facilitation, logistics, general coordination,
and maintaining files for meetings and issues – for the Board will be provided by the National Service
First Coordinator.
VII. MEETINGS
The Board will determine the best method to conduct meetings whether by conference call, web meeting
tools, video teleconference, or in person depending on the nature of the work in front of the group. The
Board will meet at least quarterly, and more often if needed. Meetings will be facilitated, and the
facilitator will prepare notes of the meeting. The schedule for meetings may be changed as deemed
necessary by the Board, so long as all Board members are notified in advance.
VIII. TERM OF THE BOARD
The Board is intended to carry out its duties for a period of six years from the date that this Charter is
agreed to by the Board and the SFLT. The Charter and the Board may be extended, with the approval of
the SFLT.
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Current Board Members:
Trish Kicklighter
Paul Roelandt
Kate Walker
Kate Klein
Andrew Archuleta
Pam McAlpin
Cindy Barry
Shaun Sanchez
Chris Moyer
Service First Field Advisory Board Charter
National Park Service
National Park Service
US Forest Service
US Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Fish and Wildlife Service
National Service First Coordinator
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