NALMS Committees & Programs
The success of the Society relies largely upon our dedicated volunteers, members, and leaders who give of their time to serve on our many important committees. Please see below for a list of our active committees and a brief snapshot of the role they play in NALMS operations. If you are interested in joining one (or more) of these committees, please contact NALMS staff at info@nalms.org or the Committee Chair through our Contact page. You may also subscribe to receive program emails using the form directly below.
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws Committee
Committee Chair: Tracy Lizotte – click to contact!
“Turtle Trio” – photo by Clint Calhoun
Objective: review the structure of the Society and to organize ideas and proposals for changes and present them at the Midterm Board Meeting.
Conference Advisory Committee
Committee Chairs: Chris Doyle & Todd Tietjen – click to contact!
Objectives: work with Conference Coordinator, conference host committee, and NALMS staff to determine best strategies to make NALMS yearly symposiums successful.
Communications Committee
Committee Chair: Trea Nance – click to contact!
Objectives: regular and effective communications are essential to the functioning of a largely-volunteer organization like NALMS. The Communications Committee helps ensure that all communications coming from NALMS staff, officers, directors, committees, liaisons, and programs stay true to NALMS mission.
Development Committee
Committee Chairs: Brea Arvidson – click to contact!
Objectives: identify and help the Board and staff develop fundraising and marketing activities in support of the Society’s vision, mission and goals. The committee will develop a fundraising strategy to increase and diversify funding from various revenues sources, including membership, sponsorship, annual giving, government and foundation grants, and events. The committee will guide marketing activities for NALMS to improve the visibility of the Society in those areas where there is potential for developing financial support and promoting programs and educational activities. The committee is also responsible for identifying and pursing grants to carry out NALMS projects or activities, and for fundraising for the Society, with the help of the NALMS board, staff and volunteers.
Ethics Committee
Committee Chairs: Julie Chambers & Chris Mikolajczyk – click to contact!
Objective: to raise awareness about the NALMS Codes of Conduct and Professional Ethics. The Ethics Committee promotes the NALMS mission by fostering environments that are safe, collaborative, and productive for all members and event attendees. The Committee also supports NALMS members and event attendees in addressing missteps related to the Codes. To respect the need for confidentiality, issues are discussed in general terms during Committee meetings. Subcommittees consider details of specific situations and develop recommendations for responses. The Ethics Committee provides regular high-level updates to the NALMS Board.
Executive Committee
Committee Chair: Kellie Merrell, President – click to contact!
Objective: to provide leadership for the Society, the Board of Directors, and NALMS office staff. The Executive Committee is comprised of the NALMS President, Past President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. Meet our current Executive Committee!
Financial Advisory Committee
Committee Chair: Shannon Brattebo, Treasurer – click to contact!
Objective: to assist the President in preparing a budget for the next fiscal year, to provide investment alternative recommendations, and to monitor all investments.
Nominating Committee
Committee Chair: Victoria Chraibi – click to contact!
Objective: identifying active, dedicated leaders and encouraging them to seek positions of leadership within the Society.
Photo by Jason Smit
Policy Committee
Committee Chair: Byron Winston and Kiyoko Yokota – click to contact!
Objectives: establish guidelines to ensure all activities of the Society are consistent with the purposes and objectives of the Society, as well as the operational aspects of NALMS set forth in the Bylaws. The committee is also expected to formulate recommendations on emerging policy questions.
Publications Committee
Committee Chair: Imad Hannoun – click to contact!
Objective: responsible for maintaining the quality of all NALMS publications. This refers primarily to the major publication initiatives of the Society, namely the Journal Lake and Reservoir Management, and LakeLine Magazine.
Awards Liaison
Michelle Balmer – click to contact!
We want to hear, share, and recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, programs, and corporations who are making a notable impact in lake and reservoir management. Consider nominating a deserving individual or group for a NALMS Achievement Award.
Conference Advisory Liaisons
Jeff Schloss (National Monitoring Conference) & Sara Peel (NALMS Symposia) – click to contact!
Held each fall, NALMS’ premier event is our International Symposium where members and other lake management professionals come together for a collection of oral and poster technical presentations, hands-on workshops, field trips and non-stop discussions on managing lakes and reservoirs. Attendees are also treated to our exhibition hall where vendors display the latest lake-management tools. The symposium offers excellent opportunities for networking and lifelong professional associations are often forged at the NALMS symposium.
Inland HAB Program
“Peaceful Foggy Morning” – photo by Mark Howarth (2016 Editors’ Choice Winner)
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) impact lakes and reservoirs around the world. While research on the ecology, monitoring, and management of HABs exists, it is diffuse and not easy to find. Our goal is to solve these issues with the Freshwater HAB Program. Please visit our page on HAB-related info and resources to learn more.
JEDI Program
NALMS commits to continuing our efforts to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization while we advance lake management and science. This means promoting and instilling Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in everything that we do. Learn more about our JEDI initiatives.
Lakes Appreciation Month Program
You work and play on them. You drink from them. But do you really appreciate them? Growing population, development, and invasive species stress your local lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted. The month of July is Lakes Appreciation Month – learn more!
Partners Program
The Partners Program serves as a communication and coordination hub for our partners such as the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, Source Water Collaborative and Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies and a network of collaborators, including federal, state and local agencies, Corporations, the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network, and Citizen Science Association. Learn more about the program and our partners.
Professional Certification Program
The aim of our Certification Program is to recognize people like you that have special training and experience in lake management. If your work has a direct impact on lakes you should look into becoming certified as a Lake Manager or Lake Professional. Learn more about the program and how to apply!
Student Programs
Here at NALMS, we believe that our students and emerging young professionals are not only the future of our Society, but the future of freshwater research and conservation, as well. Learn more about the many exciting opportunities we offer our student members.
Secchi Dip-In Program
The Secchi Dip-In is a demonstration of the potential of volunteer monitors to gather environmentally important information on our lakes, rivers and estuaries. The concept of the Dip-In is simple: individuals in volunteer monitoring programs take a transparency measurement on one day during the month of July. Interested in learning more?