RC&D and Lumberjack History
What is an RC&D?
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) is a rural development program focusing on conservation, development and the use of area natural resources to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions for area citizens. The National RC&D program was established by federal legislation in 1962 through the USDA Farm Bill. Lumberjack RC&D was established in 1968 as a local council. Local councils, along with a variety of organizations, companies and government entities provide assistance to local people in accomplishing their conservation goals. The RC&D Program was unfunded following the recession of 2008 with Lumberjack losing its federal funding in 2011. While this forced many RC&D's to close, Lumberjack remains a vibrant and successful RC&D and continues to provide quality programing.
Lumberjack RC&D
Who makes up the Lumberjack Council?
The Lumberjack RC&D service area is made up of 10 Sponsor counties in Northeastern WI. In order to be considered a Sponsor (a member in good standing with appointee and voting privileges) counties must pay annual dues of $200. The following counties are currently Sponsors: Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano and Vilas. The gray shaded area on the map to the right shows the nine counties. Marienette County, which falls within the Lumberjack RC&D Council Service Area, is currently not a Sponsor County.
County Boards of Supervisors and County Land Conservation Committees (LCC) sponsor the Lumberjack RC&D Council by providing one representative and one alternate to the Council's Board of Directors. In addition, the Council may approve up to seven At-Large members to serve on the board. At-Large members may not be elected or appointed county officials. Members are responsible to keep their counties up-to-date with current Lumberjack news and present local projects to their Land Conservation Committees for approval as a Lumberjack Community Project. (See Projects Page for the complete policy and application.)
The council meets quarterly in January, April, July & October. At the October meeting, the Council determines project funding for the following year. An Executive Committee meets as needed in between full council meetings to make personnel and other administrative decisions.
