Section 1.71. Policy on friends groups.

 

(1)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage and provide for the establishment of friends groups, including not-for-profit concession corporations and cooperating associations. The department may work with a friends group established under the provisions of this section as the lead volunteer organization for a property, facility or program. The department may grant friends groups certain privileges, such as use of department equipment and facilities, under the terms of a written agreement. Nothing in this section prohibits the department or its individual properties, facilities and programs from accepting benefits from other groups or individuals, or from entering into separate agreements with others, if not in conflict with agreements executed with a friends group.

(2)   Applicability. The provisions of this section are applicable to all friends groups formed to support department properties, facilities and programs, including not-for-profit concession corporations and cooperating associations.

(3)   Definitions.

(a) "Cooperating association" means a friends group organized to support only interpretive programs.

(b) "Friends group" means a non-profit, non-stock, tax-exempt corporation organized to support, assist and promote the mission and activities of department properties, facilities and programs and other activities as approved by the department under the provisions of a written agreement with the department.

(c) "Not-for-profit concession corporation" means a friends group organized to sell goods and services in a department facility and to return the profits to the department under the provisions of a written agreement with the department.

(4)   Objectives and organization.

(a) Objectives. The objectives of friends groups shall be to:

1. Promote department properties and programs to visitors and potential visitors through publications, special events and interpretive programs.

2. Provide and coordinate volunteer service for department properties and programs.

3. Provide financial support to department properties, facilities and programs for such things as development projects, land acquisition, programs and interpretation. Friends groups may raise revenues for department properties, facilities and programs through such methods as membership fees, grants, donations, sales and special events.

4. Put particular emphasis on supporting the interpretive, educational and visitor service programs of department properties.

5. Not serve as an official advisory group to the property or program with which affiliated.

(b) Organization.

1. To be recognized as a friends group, the group shall organize as a non-profit, non-stock, tax-exempt corporation, and shall be structured through articles of incorporation and by-laws to direct its mission and activities to the support of the property, group of properties, or other department facilities and programs as approved by the department.

2. The department shall enter into written agreements with each qualifying friends group to ensure statewide consistency and fiscal accountability. The agreements shall, at a minimum, include provisions that require friends groups to:

a. Provide an annual fiscal and program report to the department, which may not include a list of donors or itemized donations,

b. Provide meeting notice which is reasonably likely to apprise interested persons,

c. Permit a fiscal audit by the department upon request,

d. Maintain non-profit status,

e. Provide liability insurance indemnifying the department if requested by the department,

f. Prohibit department employees from serving as officers or directors,

g. Agree to not represent their employees and volunteers as department employees,

h. Permit the department to promote the friends group in its publications and announcements,

i. Distribute assets upon dissolution to another not-for-profit corporation benefiting the same property, another DNR friends group, the Wisconsin natural resources foundation, inc., or the department. The agreements will include a provision for termination upon reasonable notice by either party.

3. The department may assist friends groups by making department facilities and equipment available to them, dependent upon availability, and as specified in written agreements.

4. Permanent department employees may be members of a friends group, but may not serve as directors or officers of the group. Department employees may, incidental to their regular duties, sell items on behalf of the friends group.

History: Cr. Register, July, 1989, No. 403 , eff. 8-1-89; CR 07-026 : am. (4) (b) 4. Register December 2007 No. 624 , eff. 1-1-08.