Bill Rom Advocacy Fellowship offers opportunity for first-hand experience in wilderness protection

Bill Rom

The Friends is excited to announce the new Bill Rom Advocacy Fellowship — an advanced internship offered during the summer of 2012. Participants will get first-hand experience advocating for wilderness and related conservation issues.

The Fellowship will feature a trip to Washington, D.C. with Friends’ staff to meet with elected officials, government agencies, and staff at partner organizations.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working or volunteering in the environmental field;
• Educational experience in environmental law and policy, or a related field;
• Interest in professional or vocational work in the field of conservation;
• Experience in or knowledge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Responsibilities

The Friends seeks a time commitment of about 15 hours per week during May – August 2012. The trip to Washington D.C. will be scheduled for 3-4 days in late June. Duties include:

• Research issues and help develop messages
• Plan Washington, D.C. trip logistics and schedule meetings
• Organize a one-day visit to the Minnesota State Capitol to meet with elected officials and/or staff at public agencies
• Develop informational packets to give to meeting participants
• Actively participate in meetings with:
  • Elected officials and their staff
  • Staff from federal government agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service
  • National environmental organizations
• Write report on D.C. trip, including recommendation for follow-up actions
• Organize action in the realm of communications, legislative or administrative outreach, or grassroots advocacy

To Apply

Please submit the following: résumé, cover letter, three references, and a 500 – 1,000 word essay on the following topic:

What are your long-term aspirations in the field of wilderness and environmental conservation and how will the Bill Rom Advocacy Fellowship help you fulfill those goals?

Send materials to Greg Seitz at greg@friends-bwca.org or 401 North Third St., Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Applications must be received by 5 p.m., March 16, 2012.

Compensation

All travel expenses will be paid by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. In addition, Fellows will be awarded a $500 stipend at the completion of the program.

About Bill Rom

Bill Rom was born in Ely, Minnesota and spent virtually his entire life in the community. After World War II, he started one of the first wilderness canoe outfitting businesses, which he operated for 30 years. In addition to introducing thousands of people to the Boundary Waters, he was also a passionate wilderness advocate, working with Sigurd Olson and others to advance protection of the region. The Advocacy Fellowship is funded by donations made in Rom’s honor after his passing in 2008. More »

About the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness is a nonprofit organization with the mission to protect, preserve and restore the wilderness character of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico-Superior ecosystem. Founded in 1976, the Friends has worked for decades to keep the Boundary Waters wild. The group is currently active in efforts to prevent toxic pollution from sulfide mining in the region, protecting the horizons from visual intrusion by cell towers, and many other issues.

One Comment

• Friends Offers Advocacy Fellowship | Wilderness News Online says:

  February 29, 2012 at 9:59 am

  [...] Find details on the program and application information HERE. [...]