Join the Montgomery County Food Council

The Food Council annually selects candidates to serve two-year terms on the 25-Member Montgomery County Food Council and/or its 9-Member Board of Directors.

  • Food Council Members serve in a volunteer capacity to guide the work of our four Working Groups and Policy Committee, serving as subject-matter experts and representatives of the Food Council’s work in the community.
  • The Board of Directors governs the overall affairs of the Council as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a focus on the mission, values, objectives, achievement of goals, and efficient use of resources.
  • A select number of Food Council Members simultaneously serve on both the Council and the Board to foster connectivity between the two groups.
  • Candidates are invited to express interest in serving on the Council, the Board, or both.

Ideal Food Council and Board of Directors candidates live, work, or have a strong investment in Montgomery County and have the capacity to bring specific expertise, community relationships, and/or resources to support our initiatives.

Food Council Members also bring expertise in local food-related issues and represent a food system sector or community stakeholder partner.

The Food Council is committed to building a Council that reflects the diverse population of Montgomery County’s communities and encourages applications from people of color and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

The Food Council is firmly committed to a policy against discrimination based on age, sex, race, religious creed, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin.

 

The Food Council is not currently accepting applications for new Food Council Members or Board Members. The next application cycle will occur in fall of 2021. Interested in joining our efforts? Click here to join a Working Group or contact info@mocofoodcouncil.org to learn more.

We seek Board and Food Council candidates who meet the following criteria:
  • Committed to improving the Montgomery County food system.
  • Live, work, or have a strong interest/investment in Montgomery County.
  • Capacity to bring specific food system or community relationships, expertise, and resources to the effort, as well as potential to represent diverse sectors of the local food system and/or the community at large.
Food Council Members:
  • Have expertise in one or more local food-related issues such as agriculture, food security and access, nutrition, food business and industrial practices, food education and research, reducing food waste and advancing composting, land use and urban food production and distribution.
  • Represent:
    • A food system sector: production, processing, distribution, consumption, waste management, AND/OR
    • a community stakeholder partner: business, local governance, community organizations, health or educational organizations, environmental organizations, rural and regional organizations
  • Develop collaborative solutions to community problems and be open to diverse ideas and opinions.
  • Actively participate in at least one working group (Food Recovery and Access, Food Economy, Food Education, or Environmental Impact) or internal committee of the Food Council.
  • Attend an Orientation meeting and the annual full-day Food Council Retreat.
  • Commit to a two-year term requiring attendance at 75% of all Food Council Meetings, including bi-monthly Internal Council meetings and monthly Working Group or committee meetings.
Board of Directors Members:
  • Actively participate on a board and/or council committee: Executive, Development and Communications, Nominating, or Policy and service on ad-hoc committees as necessary. Committees of the board meet an average of 6-12 times per year.
  • Attend bi-monthly Board of Directors meetings and an annual full-day Council retreat.
  • Attend a minimum of one working group and two special events per year.
  • Board Responsibilities include:
  • Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures.
  • Financial management, including adoption and oversight of the annual budget.
  • Outreach and promotion of the organization.
  • Fundraising; For every year served on the Montgomery County Food Council, each board of directors member shall contribute a personal, tax-deductible, charitable donation, of any amount, to demonstrate support for the mission and the work of the Council.
  • Organizational leadership and advisement
  • Safeguard the Council’s mission and ensure the stability of the organization.

Upcoming Events

Jan 30-March 20

Master Gardeners: Free Gardening Presentations (Español)

Montgomery County Master Gardeners are offering three free gardening presentations in Spanish via Zoom!

Learn more

Mar 8

Food Security Community Call

Every other Monday, 1:00 to 2:00 or 2:30pm. Please register in advance.

Learn more

Mar 9

Resource Webinar to Support Seniors facing Food Insecurity

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is hosting an informational webinar on how to help aging and homebound seniors stay nourished. 

Learn more

Mar 17

Food Economy Working Group Meeting

Third Wednesday of each month, 9-10:30am via Zoom.

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Mar 22-23

Basic GAP Training

Register now for a Basic Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training, open exclusively to Montgomery County farmers!

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Mar 23

Food Education Working Group Meeting

4th Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11am via Zoom.

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Mar 25, Apr 1, Apr 8

Growing a Healthy Food System in a Pandemic World

Western Maryland Food Council presents "Growing a Healthy Food System in a Pandemic World" virtual conference, 1-3:30PM March 25th, April 1, April 8.

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Apr 6

Environmental Impact Working Group Meeting

First Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11am via Zoom.

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April 27, July 27th, Oct 26th

Gardening Grant Showcase

The Food Education Working Group (FEdWG) would like to cordially invite you to our Gardening Grant showcase that we will be taking place over the course of four (4) FEdWG meetings in 2021.

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Apr 28

Stop Food Waste: Driving Awareness to Fight Food Waste

Stop Food Waste: Driving Awareness to Fight Food Waste. 2021 Virtual Event.

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