Volunteers still needed for several boards

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is looking for volunteers interested in filling vacancies on two boards:

Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA)
Veterans Advisory Board (VAB)

Individuals interested in the LMTAAA or the VAB should submit an application (click here for the application) and a letter of interest (click here for a sample) by 3 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025, in one of the following three ways:

By mail at 351 N.W. North St., Chehalis, WA 98532.
Via email at committees@lewiscountywa.gov (include the committee name in the subject).
In person at the Commissioners’ Office in Room 210 of the Historic Courthouse at 351 N.W. North St. in Chehalis.

The BOCC also is sharing information regarding two other volunteer opportunities available:

Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) Advisory Board – this position is appointed by the Lewis County Board of Health
Boundary Review Board (BRB) – this position is appointed by the governor

Following is information about the various boards and committees (including details about how to apply for the PHSS Advisory Board and BRB vacancies):

Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) Advisory Council

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) Advisory Council is sponsored by its three member counties (Lewis, Mason and Thurston) to manage, monitor, plan, fund, coordinate and advocate for services and programs that serve the elderly and younger disabled persons.

The LMTAAA Advisory Council meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon the first Wednesday of each month at the AAA office in Olympia. Members are assigned to committees that cover topics such as health promotion, small-project support and public information. Members are not paid, but LMTAAA offers mileage reimbursements to offset the cost of attending meetings. Appointees can serve up to three consecutive two-year terms, and applicants are asked to send their applications in duplicate to the BOCC (committees@lewiscountywa.gov) and the LMTAAA (chrissy.franklin@dshs.wa.gov).

Additional details about the group can be found at https://www.lmtaaa.org/advisory-council.

Veterans Advisory Board (VAB)

The Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) helps determine how to best support local veterans. Members weigh in on how the county should allocate money from its Veterans’ Relief Fund, which helps indigent Lewis County veterans and their families with financial resources, shelter, food, utilities and transportation.

The group meets at 11 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the Lower Level BOCC Room of the Lewis County Historic Courthouse at 351 N.W. North Street in Chehalis.

Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) Advisory Board – Board of Health-appointed position

The eleven-member Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) board focuses on providing recommendations to the Board of Health (BOH) regarding a variety of community health, environmental health and social service issues.

The BOH is seeking a volunteer to fill a vacancy in the Medical Provider sector. Individuals interested in the PHSS Advisory Board position should download an application (available online at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health) and then email the completed form to the BOH at BOH@lewiscountywa.gov.

Boundary Review Board (BRB) – governor-appointed position

The Boundary Review Board (BRB) is a five-member quasi-judicial administrative body that reviews proposals for boundary changes by cities, towns and special-purpose districts (such as fire districts) within Lewis County, including city or district annexations. The actions that most commonly come before the BRB are annexations.

The BRB’s vacancy is one that is filled by the governor. To apply for the position, visit the governor’s website at https://governor.wa.gov/boards-and-commissions/boards-commissions/apply-serve.