Community

Join the RIPPLE Community Advisory Board(CAB)

The RIPPLE Study is seeking adults with different experiences and perspectives from the Stella area to advise the research team. Community Advisory Board (CAB) members will help us make study materials and procedures useful and understandable to the community.

Members are paid $33 per hour for approved meetings and study-review time.

Complete the CAB interest form

The form takes about 5–10 minutes.

Who can apply?

Adults (18 years or older) who live in the Stella Township or a surrounding area


Current government staff whose roles qualify them for the Government Advisory Board
cannot serve on the CAB. This includes employees of Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources (DNR), Health Services (DHS), Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and
the Oneida County Health Department. UW–Madison study-team members and selection-
committee members are also ineligible

What will the CAB advise on?

Recruitment, survey questions, clinic procedures, participant materials, return of results, and communication with the community

How CAB members are selected

The committee will check interest forms for eligibility, then select five to seven members
with a range of experiences and perspectives. A selection grid helps identify those
perspectives. Applicants are not scored or ranked by points. Each person may bring several
perspectives.
The committee will consider location, years connected to the area, and family, recreation,
work, and community experiences. Relevant perspectives include:

  • Using a private well or having a household affected by PFAS contamination.
  • Parenting or caring for children or adolescents.
  • Living in the area for 15 years or longer.
  • Gardening or growing local food.
  • Fishing, hunting, or regularly eating local fish or wild game.
  • Farming, agriculture, land management.
  • Paper mill, forestry, or logging experience.
  • Owning a local business or participating in community organizations.
  • Past government or public service, public health, or health care experience.
  • Other relevant experiences and the ability to attend meetings.

The goal is broad representation across the group. No member is expected to represent just
one category. When more applicants than needed bring similar perspectives, a random drawing will be used rather than personal preference, popularity, or writing quality. The committee will
document the perspective needed, applicants included, drawing method and date, and
selection. Alternates or replacements may be chosen using the same process