About IRIS

Our Mission -- fostering sustainable rural communities in North Central Washington by building on the successes and supporting the innovative spirit of its people and institutions. IRIS is a standing committee of the NCW Resource Conservation & Development Council.

IRIS Strategic Plan (PDF) »

One-page IRIS Fact Sheet (PDF) »

Committee Membership

  • John Thoren, Chair,
    Key Bank
  • Lisa Pelly, Vice-Chair,
    Washington Rivers Conservancy
  • Bob Bugert, Secretary,
    Chelan Douglas Land Trust
  • Rufus Woods, Treasurer,
    Wenatchee World
  • Jim Davis,
    Douglas County Wheat Grower’s Association
  • Kathleen Deason,
    Foster Creek Conservation District
  • Bob Gillespie,
    Wenatchee Valley College
  • Marilyn Lynn,
    Tilth Producers of Washington
  • Kirk Mayer,
    Washington Grower’s Clearinghouse
  • Marcia Ostrom,
    WSU Small Farms Program
  • Sherri Schneider,
    Community Farm Connection
  • Randy Ulrich,
    Washington Wheat Commission

IRIS Staff

 

Activities

Education

Specialized short courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences that address issues of importance to the community in sustainable farming, forestry and ranching, natural resource-based industry and rural communities.

Research

Projects that address gaps and regional needs, e.g., conducting surveys and synthesizing information that other entities are not equipped or motivated to take on, supporting business research, and other related activities.

Community Development

Promoting socially responsible human and community development that will improve conditions and advance sustainable rural communities, e.g., helping organizations organize and facilitate collaborative strategic planning.

Current IRIS Programs

The Nature of Place in North Central Washington

  • Connecting with Nature – Focuses on the encounters between people and nature across habitat types and seasons
  • Gathering Our Voice - Creates inspired stories for the future by developing a strong network of story gatherers and storytellers throughout the region
  • Witnessing Change - Engages people in using photography to see lands through the eyes of a landowner or manager working to improve the health of the land

Regional Food Systems

  • Habitat Farming Enterprise Program; developing economic remuneration model for orchards in the Entiat River watershed
  • Organizing Stewardship Success workshops and fieldtrips that highlight positive outcomes and provide training in innovative land stewardship practices

Healthy Lands

  • Working with the Washington Biodiversity Council to implement recommendations from the Healthy Lands Initiative, e.g., NCW Biodiversity Council, NCW Stewardship Cooperative
  • Facilitating protection of critical farm and timberlands by sharing and distributing information on incentive programs

Meeting Schedule

  • December 10, 2008
  • March 11, 2009
  • June 10, 2009
  • September 9, 2009
  • December 9, 2009
  • February 19, 2010
  • March 11, 2010

Meeting Resources

Notes

Agendas