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Clallam County MRC discusses changing member titles to ease recruitment amid open seats
Summary
The Clallam County Marine Resources Committee debated whether to keep role-specific member titles or adopt generic "member at large" designations to reduce barriers to recruitment for vacant positions. Committee members agreed to continue outreach to marine trades and other sectors and revisit the issue at the Nov. 17 meeting.
The Clallam County Marine Resources Committee spent a major portion of its Oct. 20 meeting debating how to fill eight open seats and whether to retain role-specific member titles such as "development community" and "shellfish grower." The committee did not change its bylaws at the meeting but agreed to continue outreach and return to the question at its Nov. 17 meeting.
The committee’s discussion centered on balancing two goals: accurately representing stakeholder sectors and lowering barriers that discourage potential applicants. Ed Bowlby, representing the academic community, said the committee’s founding purpose was to show "a broad spectrum and not just, individual members," and argued that MRC membership should reflect a cross-section of community organizations. "I think we still need to keep that in focus so we're not we're just not members, but we also represent a broader spectrum of the community," he said.
Jasmine, a port-affiliated participant, urged targeted outreach to larger organizations and economic sectors. "I think it's important that we have larger organizations and even, economic sectors, represented," she said, and offered to coordinate with port colleagues to contact marine trades. Catherine Fraser (Port representative) agreed to follow up with the marina/marine-trades community and report back.
Committee members discussed practical options including a hybrid approach: retain some role-specific appointments required by the Northwest Straits authorizing documents while opening other seats as "members at large" to attract applicants who have relevant skills but do not match a narrowly defined slot. Members noted other MRCs use simpler labels and that Clallam County’s 1999 authorizing resolution and the committee’s more recent bylaws differ in how positions are described.
The committee also acknowledged long-term outreach gaps. Chair noted that volunteer recruitment materials and a brochure exist and could be adapted; Anne offered to help with recruitment materials if updates are needed. The committee requested that members and county staff continue targeted outreach — especially to marine trades, commercial fishers and other underrepresented groups — and bring results to the November meeting when the group will decide whether to change its approach to labeling vacancies.
