In order to interview four finalists for the district’s new Director position, the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District Commission (OIPRD) is conducting two Special Public Meetings at the Eastsound Fire station. The OIPRD Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 18, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Orcas Island Fire District Station in Eastsound, and will interview three candidates. Another Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to interview the fourth candidate. The meetings are open to all.

In April, the OIPRD Commissioners designed and implemented a plan to attract qualified persons to apply for the District’s new Director position. Applicants were instructed to post professional resumes to the OIPRD between May 1, and May 31. 50 responses, in good order, were received. The majority of these described highly qualified candidates with professional experience, education, and Parks and /or Recreation aptitude, including 13 with local Orcas Island roots. Resumes were received from 7 US States and the territory of Guam. Using only the resumes, the commissioners culled the field to 17 through deliberations at the June Regular Meeting. Later in June 12 generous and apt local Citizens participated in four rounds of phone interviews. The citizen interview process generated invaluable discussion, an expanded point of view for the commissioners, and a systematic evaluation.