Youth Seat Applicatio - changes highlighted

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Youth Seat Application Form

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Youth Seat Application Form
Before applying for sanctuary advisory council membership, please review:
(1) the sanctuary advisory council charter provided in your application kit, and;
(2) the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Sanctuary Advisory Council
Implementation Handbook available online at
http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/acref.html (or you may obtain a copy
from your local sanctuary – see contact information below).
The charter outlines the purposes and governs the operation of the sanctuary advisory council.
The handbook provides broader operational requirements for sanctuary advisory councils. In
applying for sanctuary advisory council membership, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of
the charter and the handbook if you are selected as a youth council member or alternate. Also,
please note that youth seats are intended to engage high school students and, therefore, term
limits for youth seats may be further limited once a youth reaches his or her 18th birthday or
graduates high school.
As a part of the selection process, please note that the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will
conduct a LEXIS/NEXIS check and a departmental bureau check for potential conflict of interest
and other issues in your background.
Additionally, as per guidance from the White House on May 7, 2009, the Office of National
Marine Sanctuaries will conduct a database search (via the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure Act
Database) to determine if you have been a federally registered lobbyist. Individuals, who have
been a federally registered lobbyist in the two year period before the proposed appointment date
for the advertised council seat(s), may not be selected as an advisory council member or alternate.
Additional information and guidance regarding the use of the information you submit on this
form and its availability under federal law can be found at the end of this form. Please review
this information. Also, please note that the terms “youth” and “student” are interchangeable in
this application form.

Students filling the youth seat must:
 Be between the ages of 14 and 17 when they apply;
 Attend a school, including home schools (or other alternative high school option), in the
area affected by the sanctuary;
 Have proven ability to communicate and network with other students within their school,
in other schools within his/her community, or with home schooled students and with
adults;

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National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Youth Seat Application Form

 Possess an interest in sanctuary resource protection and management;
 Have experience and/or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary;
 Be able to travel to and attend council meetings and retreats (parent/guardian or student
provides transportation); and
 Provide written recommendation from one or more teachers.

Once selected, [insert site] National Marine Sanctuary staff will contact students who will be
required to provide:
 Parent/guardian permission*; and
 School permission*.
* Note: This will grant blanket permission for all council meetings and retreats.

Procedure for Application:
Step 1: Please provide your contact information and respond to the questions below.
Step 2: Have parent/guardian sign to acknowledge he/she is aware of and in support of your
application.
Step 3: The application deadline is [insert date]. Please return all pages of your completed
sanctuary advisory council youth seat application form, and any attached statements or
documents, to [insert local contact information].

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National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Youth Seat Application Form

Date: __________________
First Name*:_________________ Middle _____________ Last ________________________
* Please include full first, middle and last names.

Position(s)/Seat(s) applying for: _____ [insert Youth Seat (non-voting)]
_____ [insert Youth Seat Alternate (non-voting)]

Home Address
Address 1: ____________________________________________________________________
Address 2: ____________________________________________________________________
City:____________________________ State: _______________ Zip Code: ______________

Home Phone:____________________________ Home Fax: ___________________________
Student Cell Phone: ____________________________________________________________
Student E-mail: ________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Cell Phone: ____________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail: ________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement:
I acknowledge that I am aware of and support my son/daughter or ward applying for and
potentially serving on the [insert site] National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Parent/Guardian Printed Name: _________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________

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National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Youth Seat Application Form

Please thoroughly address each of the following in an attached statement, by number, in the same
order as below:
1. Why are you interested in serving on the sanctuary advisory council?
2. Explain your views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lake
resources, including natural (fish, coral reefs, etc.), historic and/or cultural resources.
3. Describe what you think is the role of the council, and how you will work to best support
the sanctuary as a sanctuary advisory council member or alternate.
4. How much time do you have and are you willing to give to sanctuary advisory council
activities (e.g., meetings, constituent outreach, retreats and reviewing written materials)?
Please address whether it is possible for you to miss a portion of or all of your classes and
club or team activities to attend a sanctuary advisory council meeting or retreat?
5. Explain how you will share information with your peers in the community, take action on
council-related issues, etc.
6. Describe what knowledge and experience you can bring to the sanctuary advisory
council. Be sure to include qualifications that you have or relevant information that you
think would be beneficial to the council.
7. List other groups you belong to or affiliations you have (e.g., student council, science
club, soccer team, hiking club, scouts, employment).
8. How long have you lived in the community or area affected by the sanctuary? Please
address whether you are a year-round or seasonal resident of the area.

Individuals 18 years of age and older are not eligible to apply for the sanctuary advisory council’s
youth seat, but may apply for other council seats as they become open and are advertised.
Information obtained through this application process will be used to determine the qualifications
of the applicant for membership on the sanctuary advisory council. The Office of National
Marine Sanctuaries intends affirmatively to disclose the applications only to DOC/NOAA staff
and other members of the applicant review panel. However, the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries may be required to disclose the applications in response to a court order, a
congressional request, or a request from the public under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA).
If disclosure is requested under the FOIA, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will
endeavor to protect the privacy of applicants by withholding personal information, such as home
addresses and telephone numbers. In contrast, statements of philosophy or opinions contained in
the application would likely be released. Applying for membership on the sanctuary advisory
council is voluntary.

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National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Youth Seat Application Form

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one hour per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East West
Highway, N/NMS, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number.

OMB Control #0648-0397
Expires TBD

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