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Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012
N e w s w i r e
APPL NEWS After twelve years of service to our Association, APPL Executive Director Donna Asbury has announced her retirement from APPL effective April 30, 2013. In a message to APPL’s membership, APPL President Emilyn Sheffield expressed the board’s appreciation for Donna’s work. Under her leadership APPL has grown to be a recognized and respected voice for the value of nonprofit partnerships in achieving agency goals for visitor engagement, educational and interpretive services, and philanthropic and voluntary support. While I will fully continue in my position throughout the coming months, including presiding at the 2013 convention, I felt it was important to provide APPL with significant lead time to manage the transition process, said Donna. I have greatly enjoyed my time at APPL and have been honored to serve this organization and its amazing network of members and partners. Together with APPL’s staff and board we have in place the dedicated individuals and a strong and viable organizational structure to address new opportunities. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months to carry out our priorities and assist in realizing a smooth leadership transition. Our judges have completed their scoring and we are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2013 APPL Media and Partnership Awards. Please join us in Portland, OR on the evening of Wednesday, March 13 for the announcemnt of the winners of this year’s competiton. The finalists, by category, may be found at www.appl.org/files/2013%20Awards/2013%20APPL%20Media%20%26%20Partnership%20Award%20Finalists.pdf. APPL members –your 2013 renewals are due January 2, 2013. Those who renew by that date will be eligible to win a free pre-convention seminar registration for the 2013 convention in Portland, OR. Contact Nancy Kotz, Member Services Coordinator, at [email protected] or 301-946-9475, extension 224 is you have questions regarding renewals At its November meeting, APPL’s Board of Directors recognized two departing board members and elected one new board member. Departing after six years of consecutive board service, Greg Moore decided to step down to accommodate the growing scope of Golden Gate National Park Conservancy’s initiatives and partnerships. Greg joined APPL’s board for the second time in March of 2006 and was active in government relations and in representing the perspectives of larger scale cooperating association and philanthropic organizations. Marla O’Byrne stepped down following two years of service, in which she served on both the governance and finance committees and represented the growing friends constituency within APPL as executive director of Friends of Acadia (FOA). While remaining a passionate parks and public lands enthusiast since leaving her position at FOA, Marla’s professional interests are now more removed from the national park friends community and thus she decided to end her term on APPL’s board. APPL is pleased to welcome Nick Hardigg as its newest board member, fulfilling the vacancy left by Greg Moore. Nick is Executive Director of Portland Parks Foundation, serving the city where APPL's next convention will be held. He brings an impressive range of experience to APPL, having formerly served as Executive Director of the Alaska
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Phone: 301
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E-mail: [email protected]
Newswire is a monthly publication dedicated to news and information on issues important to the public lands community. Deadline for submissions is the third Thursday of each month. Items may be submitted for review and publication to [email protected]. To subscribe to Newswire, please send an e-mail with your complete contact information to [email protected]. We also encourage you to add your board members to Newswire’s electronic distribution list. Support APPL through the Combined Federal Campaign. Use identification #12051 on your CFC designation form. Interact with APPL and continue the dialogue at:
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Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 2
Conservation Foundation, Director of Finance and Operations for The Nature Conservancy in Portland, Chief of Tourism and Concessions for the National Park Service at Grand Canyon National Park and Denali National Park, and Director of Marking/Producer at Earth Vision, Inc. Among his volunteer commitments, he has also served on the board of Alaska Geographic. Please join us in welcoming Nick as he begins his term at APPL’s next board meeting this January in Albuquerque, NM. APPL received the following reports from our members affected by Hurricane Sandy last month: • All of Eastern National’s employees along the storm’s
path are safe, although some in the greater New York area had significant personal property damage. Most parks in the NYC area suffered extensive damage to core infrastructure.
• Great Smoky Mountains Association reported that Newfound Gap Road closed for 3 days due to heavy snow, which affected visits and sales at Oconaluftee VC; and Clingmans Dome Road and Information Center closed 4.5 days due to heavy snow, so no visitation or sales.
Eastern National has put out a special supplemental edition of The Arrowhead on the impacts of Hurricane Sandy on National Park Service areas and on the NPS response. Download the supplement at www.appl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3324. The deadline to apply for 2013 Convention Scholarships is December 14. This is an APPL Members Only benefit and is open to staff, board members and volunteers. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like an application of if you have any additional questions. Long time public lands advocate and retail guru Cliff Harrison died on Sunday, November 18. APPL and its member organizations have lost a friend and colleague of long standing. A graduate of University of Texas, Cliff began his career in the field of non-profit retail as the Manager of Retail Operations at the Zoological Society of Houston. Fortunately for America’s national parks, he entered the world of cooperating associations joining the team at Jefferson National Parks Association as Director of Sales and Marketing. While at Jefferson, he was instrumental in revolutionizing the retail mix with the addition of the period-perfect Suttler's Store. Additionally, he acted as both Director of Merchandising and Product Development and interim Executive Director for Parks and History Association in Washington DC. Finally, he returned to his beloved St. Louis as Retail Sales Director at the St. Louis Art Museum.
Throughout his work with National Park cooperating associations, Cliff revolutionized the manner in which product development and merchandising occurred. His dynamic "Real" series brought imagination, verve and a modern approach to retailing the Wild West story at the Arch. He brought a sharp sense of design to store development, made hundreds of valuable vendor connections and willingly shared his knowledge and talents with associations nationwide. At APPL annual conventions, his frequent seminars always sold out and standing room was the norm. In all he did Cliff brought a vibrant enthusiasm for learning, serious insight and a childlike sense of fun. His business acumen was enhanced with whimsy and discovery. Cliff pressed the creative and pragmatic buttons at the same time. Cliff created and shared innovative concepts and guidelines for Association sales outlets that are both fun and business worthy. He was a retail pioneer in our arena and was responsible for modernizing and professionalizing how public lands stores are laid out, designed and merchandised. Cliff’s favorite tag line in any learning session was, “If I have taught you NOTHING, please remember ______________”. Each of us can fill in the blank. The world of Associations owes Cliff a huge “Thank You”. He will be greatly missed. A guest book is available at www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=george-clifton-harrison-cliff&pid=161217475&fhid=8519#fbLoggedOut where you can leave a personal message to Cliff’s loved ones. Here’s a recap of the most recent discussion on our online Member Forum: • Website question for Friends Group • Travel insurance for staff • Death Valley Institute job announcement • Medals help • E&AA Establishes Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund /
Hurricane Sandy Relief & Information • Donations from Bookstores • Paying instructors • Samples of Job Announcement • Ebooks
Have a question for your peers? Want to access the Forum archives to read previous posts? Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about APPL’s members only online discussion groups.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 3
Members are invited to participate in the 2012 APPL Benefit Survey, which looks at the benefits your organization is providing to its year-round employees. This survey is open to all APPL member organizations. The more organizations who respond the more useful the results so please take 15 minutes to complete the survey using the link below. Please just provide one response per organization. As an added incentive for your participation in the survey your name will be entered into a drawing for a $200 credit towards one attendee registration to the 2013 APPL Partnership Convention and Trade Show taking place March 10-14 in Portland, OR. Look for a special message from us soon that will contain a link to the survey. Questions regarding the survey may be directed to us at [email protected].
Training News Learn how the APPL Training Corps can assist your organization at www.appl.org. Join us for APPL’s inaugural Fundraising Academy January 15–17, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM. Designed to help you define your organization's potential for public support and direct the process to achieve it, you will gain a clearer picture of organizational sustainability, with concrete tools in place to realize the same. Building on the highly interactive model of its successful Partnership Academy, the Fundraising Academy is an intensive three-day workshop designed to engage nonprofit and public lands agency leadership in developing a comprehensive fundraising philosophy. Participants will participate in discussions, exercises, and games with like professionals to receive clear, practical and helpful guidance to take fundraising efforts to the next level. Some of the topics to be covered include: • Fundraising Philosophy • What Donors Want • Articulating Your Cause (including plans and case
statements) • The Fundraising Process • The Ask (including successes and failures) • Board Responsibilities • Donor Stewardship • Trends • … and much more! Early registration is open until December 15, is $295 for the three days - less than half of many comparable fundraising courses. Rates are exclusive of lodging, meals, and transportation. Regular registration fee of $325
applies on or after December 16. APPL has secured a rate of $81/night for participants at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque. For more information on the Fundraising Academy, please visit http://bit.ly/Rl7sV3, or contact Education Coordinator Chuck Benjamin at [email protected] or 301.946.9475 x225. APPL traveled to the Mather Training Center November 5–7 in Harpers Ferry, WV to provide two days of partnership training and one day of sales/retail training for a contingent of representatives from Iceland National Parks and affiliated non-profit organizations. The training was part of a larger, two-week training, conducted in collaboration with Alcoa Foundation, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, the National Park Service, and the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountain National Parks, in which the Icelanders gained knowledge of systems, policies, and procedures of the National Park Service and America’s public lands in general. APPL Training Corps member Kimberlee Riley conducted the training. Also in November, APPL Training Corps member Nicki Phelps traveled to Hawaii to conduct training in visitor/customer service for the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association. Training focused on “Level 2.0” visitors services skills training; the understanding and optimizing of the value of NPS partnership; mission, vision, and values—what a rebranding means to the organization; and the enhancement of sales and revenue potential. Earlier, in October, APPL consultant Robert Lieber ventured to the Glacier Association to conduct a sales outlet review and to provide recommendations for the store layout redesign of two stores within Glacier National Park. For further information about these or trainings for your organization, please contact APPL Education Coordinator Chuck Benjamin at [email protected].
Bridge To Tomorrow News APPL’s Bridge to Tomorrow (B2T) program provides young leaders an opportunity to develop their professional network and learn more about public land partnerships.
Applications for APPL’s 2013 Bridge to Tomorrow Program are due December 14. Visit www.appl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3335 to learn more about the program and download the application materials.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 4
NEWSBITS The board of the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) is pleased to announce that David Houghton has been chosen as the organization’s new President. Houghton, who previously served as Executive Vice-President, has a long and distinguished association with the NWRA, and has been recognized in recent years for his outstanding working bringing together diverse stakeholders to protect large landscapes beyond refuge boundaries. Houghton succeeds Evan Hirsche whose eleven years of dynamic, dedicated service grew the organization into an effective and recognized voice in the conservation community and immeasurably strengthened NWRA's advocacy in support of the Refuge System. Learn more about the NWRA at http://refugeassociation.org/. More than 100 recreation community leaders from across the nation and representing public and private organizations key to enjoyment of public lands and waters will participate in Partners Outdoors 2013 on February 19-21. Meeting at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, participants will focus on three important topics: 1) innovative and supplementary funding for recreation sites and operations on federal lands and waters; 2) opportunities to attract international visitors to America's Great Outdoors and assist both the economy and understanding of American values; and 3) using the recent transportation legislation known as MAP-21 and more to support access to and travel through America's Great Outdoors. Additional information on Partners Outdoors 2013 may be found at www.funoutdoors.com. Independent Sector (IS) is seeking nominations for the 2013 John W. Gardner Leadership Award. This award recognizes individuals whose leadership in or with the nonprofit and philanthropic community has been transformative and who have mobilized and unified people, institutions, or causes that improve lives. The deadline for nominations is 11:59 pm EST on January 31, 2013. More information about the 2013 Gardner awards is available at www.independentsector.org/gardner_leadership_award. National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) 2013 will be celebrated on Saturday, June 8. This will be the sixth year of a partnership effort by hundreds of government agencies, recreation and healthcare businesses and
nonprofit organizations to introduce America’s youth to the healthy fun of America’s Great Outdoors. Events will be held at 200+ sites in urban centers, state and local parks and other places and the USDA Forest Service will waive many recreation fees on GO Day in national forests covering 192 million acres of the nation. To learn more visit www.funoutdoors.com. The Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons Association (PPCA) is pleased to announce the debut of their National Parks and Monuments Board Game - The Colorado Plateau Challenge. Race your family and friends to as many National Parks & Monuments as you can - Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Arches and many more! Along the way, discover the Parks and Monuments of the Four Corners region and the treasures they protect. Become a Ranger and challenge other players in this exciting game of strategy. Every move is packed with fun and facts about the most famous destinations in the American Southwest. It’s great educational family fun. Learn more about the game at www.cnha.org/product.cfm?id=A4F0B69D-F758-BF64-7D3F90E3CA890749 To boost the capacity of public lands groups nationwide in supporting parks and other public lands, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and PwC have launched free, online financial training at the Public Lands Every Day website, www.publiclandseveryday.org. NEEF and PwC collaborated on the development of six learning modules to meet a growing need for knowledge of financial management and reporting among organizations known as public lands friends groups. The training is designed to help organizations monitor and manage their finances, successfully seek grants, and overall become more sustainable. The online modules cover topics such as budgeting, filing a Form 990 IRS return, developing balance sheets and understanding different accounting methods. Users can dive into the topics at their own pace and in any order, based on their needs and interests. The training is free and offered through NEEF’s Public Lands Every Day program, nationally sponsored by Toyota, to encourage Americans to enjoy, protect and maintain public lands through public engagement, professional development and partnerships. The direct link to the online modules is: www.publiclandseveryday.org/learning-center. The Public Lands Every Day program will soon offer other resources for public lands organizations, including
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 5
more online training and tools that will help public land managers connect their communities with service, recreation and environmental education. Public Lands Every Day also links groups to grant opportunities to further strengthen their organizational capacity.
AGENCY NEWS The Obama Administration has released the 2012 America's Great Outdoors Progress Report. It details key successes of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, including advancing local conservation priorities, expanding access to lands and waters for recreation, restoring critical landscapes, and creating great urban parks and water trails in American communities. The full text of the 2012 America's Great Outdoors Progress Report can be downloaded at www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ago_2012_progress_report.pdf. The Department of the Interior has announced dates in 2013 when more than 2,000 national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and other federal lands will offer free admittance to everyone. The fee waiver does not cover expanded amenity or user fees for things such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours. Active duty military members and their dependents are eligible for a free annual pass that provides entrance to lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service. The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program also offers a free lifetime pass for people with disabilities, a $10 lifetime senior pass for those age 62 and over, and a $80 annual pass for the general public.
Date Event Agency Participating
January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
National Park Service Fish & Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management US Forest Service
April 22 - 26 National Park Week
National Park Service
June 8 Great Outdoors Day
US Forest Service
August 25 National Park Service Birthday
National Park Service
September 28 National Public Lands Day
National Park Service Fish & Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Reclamation US Forest Service
October 13 National Wildlife Refuge Day
Fish & Wildlife Service
November 9 - 11 Veterans Day weekend
National Park Service Fish & Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Reclamation US Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
BLM’s 2012 Excellence in Interpretation or Education Awards were presented at a November 15 ceremony at the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) National Workshop in Hampton, VA. These awards recognized outstanding BLM interpreters and educators for their work on employee-conducted programs that enhanced public appreciation and understanding of the natural and cultural riches on our public lands, as well as management issues in the context of the BLM’s multiple-use mission. This year’s award winners were: • GOLD AWARD winner: Margaret (Peggy) McGuckian,
Archaeologist, Humboldt River Field Office, NV, for Lovelock Cave Days field trip for fourth grade students.
• SILVER AWARD winner: Leisyka Parrott, Interpretive Specialist, Arcata Field Office, CA, for Ocean Day coordination and outreach to local schools.
• SILVER AWARD winner: Terina Goicoechea, Fire Education and Mitigation Specialist, Western Montana District, MT, for kindergarten- sixth grade fire education program.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 6
Each of this year’s winners has done exceptional work with partners and communities to create meaningful interpretive and/or educational experiences and materials for public land users. The three winning BLM employees were selected by a review panel composed of both BLM staff and representatives from partner organizations, including the National Association for Interpretation. BLM Excellence nominees were judged on the quality of their work, their ability to involve partners, their effectiveness in enhancing public understanding of cultural and natural resources, their programs’ or products’ accessibility and sensitivity to diverse audiences, and their efforts’ success in helping the BLM to accomplish its management goals.
National Park Service The E&AA Trust has established a relief fund to collect donations to assist the members of the NPS family who have experienced personal catastrophic loss from Hurricane Sandy. This storm has had devastating impact on the lives of NPS employees and other employees who serve the visiting public at the National Parks of New York Harbor including Statue of Liberty NM, Ellis Island, Governor’s Island NM, African Burial Ground NM, Castle Clinton NM, Federal Hall NMEM, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace NHS, General Grant NMEM, Hamilton Grange NHS, St. Paul’s Church NHS, Gateway NRA; and at national parks on Long Island and in New Jersey including Sagamore Hill NHS, Fire Island NS, Morristown NHP, and Thomas Edison NHP. Employees at these parks have had severe damage to their homes or have lost personal belongings. According to the NPS Northeast Regional Office, “Employees and their families are in need of whatever assistance others can provide. Many evacuated with limited belongings and need temporary housing, food, etc. Out of pocket expenses can be tremendous for families trying to stay together and recover from this catastrophic disaster.” The Employees and Alumni Association of the National Park Service is committed to providing assistance with all available resources at its disposal to bring relief to these unfortunate members of our NPS family. The Trustees of the NPS E&AA Trust Fund have directed management to provide all support possible to those who have been adversely affected by the storm. One hundred percent of all donated funds received will be promptly distributed to assist those members of our NPS family in need of help. You can help by making a tax deductible donation electronically by visiting www.eParks.com and clicking on the icon provided for disaster relief; or by writing a check payable to NPS E&AA Trust Fund for Disaster Relief and sending it to:
NPS E&AA Trust c/o Eastern National 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1 Fort Washington, PA 19034
Please direct questions on this fund (applications or donations) to Jack Ryan at 267-464-7124 or [email protected]. Regular updates on the recovery progress may be found at www.nps.gov/morningreport/. Ranger Renee Albertoli from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is the 2012 recipient of the National Park Service’s Freeman Tilden Award for interpretive excellence. Albertoli was honored for creating a writing enrichment program for high school students entitled Project Write – Inspire Me! Albertoli received the award during the Excellence in Interpretation awards ceremony at the annual workshop of the National Association of Interpretation in Hampton, VA. Learn more about the Tilden award at www.nps.gov/aboutus/tildenaward.htm. The Denali National Park and Preserve quarter, the 15th in the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful series, was officially launched on November 15th. For more information on the quarter, visit www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/atb/?local=denali. Brian Keith McCutchen took over as the new superintendent of Fort Donelson National Battlefield on October 21st. He most recently served as superintendent of the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Margaret L. Goodro has been selected as the new superintendent of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. She will begin her new assignment in January. More information on the park is available at www.nps.gov/lacl.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has launched a special Hurricane Sandy Wildlife Response effort to support and expedite rapid assessments of the ecological impacts resulting from Hurricane Sandy and assist with urgent remedial needs. The action will evaluate the consequences of the storm and determine the most effective short- and long-term actions to protect the wildlife species and their habitats. Learn more about the fund at www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Publications2
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 7
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CONVENTION NEWS Crossing Bridges, Blazing Trails - 2013 APPL Partnership Convention & Trade Show, March 10-14, DoubleTree Hotel, Portland, OR. Details are available at www.appl.org. Join us on Monday, March 11 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at our convention keynote luncheon Portland: A Green City for People, Wildlife, and Conservation. The Intertwine Alliance is a unique coalition in Portland that has brought together public agencies, private businesses, and nonprofits to celebrate, protect, and improve the region’s network of outdoor places and trails. Partners in the Intertwine Alliance work side-by-side toward a common mission. Speakers Michael Wetter of the Intertwine Alliance and Mike Houck of the Urban Greenspaces Institute will address how, by joining forces, organizations in the city are boosting their collective effectiveness to increase investment in their parks and to expand conservation efforts. Tickets for the event are $40 with convention or companion registration. For further information about the keynote luncheon, please contact APPL Education Coordinator, Chuck Benjamin, at [email protected]. Convention materials and online registration are now available at www.appl.org. You can request additional hardcopies of the convention registration program to share with staff, board members, and agency partners by emailing Amy Matthews at [email protected] (include the number of copies requested and mailing information). Take advantage of additional savings and networking benefits by staying at the Doubletree Hotel. Visit www.appl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3371#Special_offers and use your Doubletree Hotel Portland confirmation number at time of convention registration to receive over $150 in special event tickets, complimentary wifi, and meal tickets. Board members can enhance their governance skills and network with other association board members at the convention. There are a variety of educational sessions that relate to governance issues, providing your board members with knowledge they can apply to their role in effectively governing and leading your organization. Bring several board members to the convention so they can attend different sessions and share information with the entire board when they return home.
Here are just a few of the convention sessions that are geared towards board members: • Board Members’ Roundtable: Purposeful Boards,
Powerful Results • Federal Lands and the New Congress • Building a Fundraising Board • Dating Your Donors: The Courtship of Cultivation • FIDU U 201: Bridging the Gap Between Mission and
Money • Making Giving Easy: Strategies to Capture New
Donors On-the-Go • The Multi-Generational Landscape of Leadership • Nonprofit Boards: The Rules of Engagement Board members might also be interested in: • Your Voice Matters: The Truth About Advocacy • Understanding and Utilizing the IRS 990 to Your
Organization’s Advantage • I Can See Clearly Now… New Visual Demographic
Information • Avoiding the Bear Traps: Limitations and Effects of
Noncompliance • Engaging Hispanic/Latino Communities in Public
Lands • How to Engage Millennial “Trail Blazers” For more detailed descriptions of the sessions download the complete convention program at www.appl.org. What products and services are you looking for at the 2013 Trade Show? We’re trying to sell out the remaining booths and want to make sure we have the vendors you’re looking to do business with at the show. Check out the list of registered exhibitors to date at www.ptfassociates.com/secure/appl13/exhibitorlist_alpha.asp. If there are specific vendors and/or products and services you don’t see represented in the list please email your suggestions to [email protected] as soon as possible. Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) will be the decorator for the 2013 APPL Trade Show. More information and a link to their online exhibitor kit can be found at https://ordering.ges.com/061003530/185. Discounted rates are being offered for orders placed prior to Monday, February 18, 2013. As a reminder, the exhibit hall at the Oregon Convention Center is NOT carpeted. Portland, for every mile of road they build, they build two miles of trails. If you love the outdoors (which we know you do) Portland is the perfect city to enjoy Mother Nature without even having to leave the city limits! Forest Park is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 5,000 acres (bigger than
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 8
New York’s Central Park!). Portland is also home to Mill Ends Park, the world's smallest park (a two-foot-diameter circle). Before heading out on your trip, download the Oh Ranger! Park Finder App to your tablet, Android, or iPhone for a list of parks nearest your location. Get out there and enjoy the natural beauty Portland has to offer! Also, check out the following websites before you arrive: • www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/35300 • www.travelportland.com/things-to-see-and-
do/attractions/gardens-parks • www.groupon.com/local/portland/outdoor-activities
FEDERAL UPDATES Last month retailers and trade groups, including the American Booksellers Association, the National Association of College Stores (NACS), and the National Retail Federation (NRF), asked a judge to reject a proposed class-action settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit over skyrocketing Visa and MasterCard credit card swipe fees. In a brief submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the groups argued that the proposed settlement would fail to bring credit card swipe fees charged by Visa and MasterCard under control and does not give retailers that oppose the settlement an adequate mechanism to opt out. Nine merchants supporting the settlement filed a motion with U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn, New York, on October 19 asking for preliminary approval of the proposal. Preliminary approval would start a process in which, over a period of many months, all retailers that accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards would be sent notices giving them the opportunity to either accept the settlement or opt out of part of it. Arguments regarding the merits of the settlement and whether it should be given final approval would not begin until sometime next year, NRF reported. More information on this issue may be found at www.retailmeansjobs.com/swipefees. The IRS has announced that the standard mileage rate for business travel will increase to 56 ½ cents per mile in 2013 (up from 55 ½ cents per mile in 2012). Many nonprofits use this rate when reimbursing their employees for work-related driving. The volunteer mileage rate - the amount that volunteers can deduct as a charitable donation when they drive in pursuit of a nonprofit’s mission - remains set at the outdated statutory rate of 14 cents per mile. Details on the mileage rate are available at http://1.usa.gov/SsszC6.
Legislative Update APPL is tracking the following legislation relevant to the nonprofit public land partner community. H.R. 5840 National Park Service 100th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act H.R.3415 American Parks American Products Act S. 2268 American Parks American Products Act HR 12 American Jobs Act S. 1832 The Marketplace Fairness Act S.2233 Jobs Originated through Launching Travel
Act S. 2237 Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act Track the progress of these bills by visiting www.govtrack.us. To let your congressional representatives know your views on these pieces of legislation visit www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt.
MEMBER NEWS Alaska Geographic is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara Elfman Bell as their new Executive Director. She begins her new role January 2, 2013. Ms. Bell holds a Master of Business Administration degree, earned from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She knows the public lands community, having served as Chair of the Education Committee for the Association of Partners for Public Lands. Ms. Bell’s professional experience includes highly successful leadership roles in national and international organizations. She was the Human Resources Manager for The Pew Charitable Trusts, Director of Human Resources for The Glenmede Trust Company, and for 12 years was Director of Human Resources for Eastern National. She is currently serving as Executive Director of the highly-respected, 100-year old law firm, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, in Philadelphia, PA. Read the announcement of Barbara’s appointment at www.alaskageographic.org/blog/post/alaska-geographic-welcomes-a-new-executive-director. Cabrillo National Monument Foundation has received a $5000.00 donation from the Hervey Family Non-endowment Fund at the San Diego Foundation. The donation is to be used for the installation of Centennial flags lining the entrance of the park and for marketing for the park's Centennial in 2013.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 9
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be hosting the 2013 Residential Environmental Learning Center Directors’ Conference at its Environmental Education Center from January 18–22, 2013. The RELC Conference is a biennial gathering of directors of centers that offer residential environmental education programs. The conference is also appropriate for program directors and coordinators who have a responsibility for, and interest in, leadership issues. The conference registration fee of $295 covers meals, accommodations, and conference registration. For more information and registration, please visit www.conservancyforcvnp.org or call 330-657-2796 x100. Eastern National is pleased to announce the availability of the following new products: • The Moton School Story: Children of Courage tells the
story of the 1951 student strike at the Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, VA
• The 2013 Passport To Your National Parks® commemorative stamp sets have been released are now available.
• The Department of the Interior in the Age of the Civil War is a comprehensive history of the Department of the Interior during this tumultuous time.
For more information about these and other Eastern National publications and products, please visit www.eParks.com or call 877-NAT-PARK (877-628-7275). Meg Foley has joined Joshua Tree National Park Association (JTNPA) as their new Managing Director. Learn more about JTNPA at www.joshuatree.org. Joshua Tree National Park Association is now accepting nomination forms for the 2012 Minerva Hoyt California Desert Conservation Award. Nominations must be received by January 13, 2013, and the winner will be announced in mid-February, 2013. You can find a nomination form and guidelines at www.joshuatree.org/minerva-hoyt-award, or contact the JTNPA office at 760-367-5530 for more information. Mesa Verde National Park has been selected to receive a 2012 Active Trails grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). Now in its fourth cycle, the National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program promotes national parks as venues for community engagement, and encourages healthy living through various forms of recreation and volunteer service on land and water trails. The NPF grant provided Mesa Verde National Park with funding to improve winter trails and purchase materials for winter ecology interpretive programs in the park. Mesa
Verde is joining with the San Juan Mountains Association and the San Juan Four Corners Native Plant Society to offer a series of free winter ecology hikes during the 2012-2013 winter season. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mount St. Helens Institute are pleased to announce a new education and volunteer program launching in 2013. The Mount St. Helens Volcano Naturalist Program will provide in-depth education about and within the Mount St. Helens landscape. It will also empower participants to share what they learn in their community. For more information and to apply to the program, visit www.mshinstitute.org. For questions, contact Amy Tanska, MSHI Volunteer Programs Manager, [email protected], 360-449-7826. The National Park Foundation (NPF), in partnership with the National Park Service and Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, and their Summit partners the National Parks Conservation Association and National Park Hospitality Association invite you to join the new Next 100 Years for America's National Parks online community. Visit and register at www.nextcenturyforparks.org. NPF has also release the 2012 Friends of the Parks Report. It analyzes Friends Groups responses regarding governance, programs, fundraising and operations to partnership, communications and challenges facing park partners. The report is available at www.nationalparks.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/2012%20Friends%20of%20the%20Parks%20Report.pdf. Jane Muggli of the Theodore Roosevelt Nature and History Association is retiring at the end of 2012. Well wishes can be sent to her at PO Box 167, Medora, ND 58645 or by e-mail to [email protected]. In mid October the Yellowstone Association celebrated the opening of new museum-quality exhibits highlighting the park's world-class treasures at Destination Yellowstone in the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Other partners in this new venture are the Yellowstone Park Foundation, National Park Service, and the airport authority. Yellowstone Association provided funding for the Park Store and information desk, and Yellowstone Park Foundation provided funding for the exhibits. The exhibits and the items sold will help educate visitors about Yellowstone's wonders and wildlife immediately upon arrival to Bozeman.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 10
Visit www.bozemanairport.com/about.php to learn more about the exhibits, the store and the partnership that help make them possible.
VENDOR SUPPORT NEWS
It’s never too late to donate! APPL is still accepting donations for fiscal year 2013 for our Vendor Support Program. Details on the program as well as a list of companies who have already made
their donations of 2013 can be found at www.appl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3306. The Wagner Family and Impact are pleased to announce the formation of the Impact Photographics Employee Stock Ownership Plan or ESOP Trust, thus transitioning Impact to a 100% Employee Owned Company. The new age of employee ownership begins January 1, 2013. They are very excited to reward all of their dedicated and incredibly loyal employees with ownership of the company. They are convinced this is the best succession strategy that will insure the highest level of commitment to outstanding customer service and management of all their business operations. They have always known that they are only as good as the players on their team and what better way to improve team performance now and in the future than giving them ownership in the company they represent. Impact’s management goal in designing this ownership transition is to put the company and its customers and suppliers first, and to keep doing business as usual. The Wagner Family has generously offered to finance the entire sale over a long term period thus insuring business as usual. There will be no disruption in services, changes in employees, or management. In fact, they believe their business will become stronger with owner employees having a vested interest in your success. They are very grateful to all their customers, suppliers, and service providers for their support and commitment to making Impact what it is today. Learn more about Impact’s products and services at www.impactphotographics.com. Xplorer Maps is preparing to hire a sales and marketing professional beginning early in 2013. Emphasis will be placed on developing new collaborative partnerships with APPL members and affiliated groups and overseeing an expanding product line in growing regional markets throughout the Northwest. Anyone
interested in learning more about their business and this opportunity can visit them at www.xplorermaps.com.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The BoatU.S. Foundation's Grassroots Grants Program supports local nonprofit organizations, boating clubs, and student groups that develop innovative projects to promote safe and clean boating on local waterways. Information designed for boaters and delivered to boaters should be a key component of funded projects. Projects should also be planned to get wide exposure in the local community, and be replicated by others. Grants of up to $10,000 are provided. The application deadline is December 17. Selected applications will then move on to the online voting phase, and the projects with the most votes will be awarded grants in the spring of 2013. Online application guidelines are available at www.boatus.com/foundation/Grants/default.asp. The National Trails Fund, sponsored by American Hiking Society (AHS), provides funding to grassroots nonprofit organizations throughout the country working toward establishing, protecting, and maintaining foot trails in America. The Fund’s grants, ranging from $500 to $5,000, help give local groups the resources they need to secure access, volunteers, tools, and materials to protect America's public trails. The following types of grants will be considered for the 2013 program: projects that have hikers as the primary constituency; projects that secure trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors and the costs associated with acquiring conservation easements; projects that will result in substantial ease of access, improved hiker safety, and/or avoidance of environmental damage; and projects that promote constituency building surrounding specific trail projects. Applying organizations must be AHS Alliance Members. Applications may be submitted between November 1 and December 15. Visit www.americanhiking.org/ntf/ for application guidelines as well as information on becoming an AHS Member. The Ground Work USA program provides support for the establishment of new Groundwork Trusts, which are nonprofit organizations established in places that have experienced decades of decline in their physical and social environments. Letters of intent are due December 14. The application deadline is June 28, 2013. Details are available at http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=204573.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 11
The National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program (MAP) provides support to nonprofit organizations and Native American tribes throughout the U.S. to engage in on-the-ground conservation and citizen-based monitoring projects benefiting National Forests and Grasslands. Funded projects must address at least one of the following program areas of emphasis: Wildlife Habitat Improvement, Recreation, Watershed Health and Restoration, or Community-Based Forestry. All grants require at least a one-to-one cash match through non-federal donations. The next application deadline is January 9, 2013. Visit www.nationalforests.org/conserve/grantprograms/ontheground/map to learn more about the application process. National Endowment for the Humanities’ America’s Media Makers program provides support for projects in the formats of interactive digital media, such as websites, games, mobile applications, virtual environments, streaming video, or podcasts; film and television projects intended for national distribution; and radio projects intended for regional or national distribution. Grant categories include development grants and production grants. The application deadline is January 9, 2013. Visit www.neh.gov/grants/amm for information on how to apply for funding under this program. The America's Historical and Cultural Organizations program provides support for museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities. Planning and implementation grants are available. The application deadline is January 9, 2013. Visit www.neh.gov/grants/ahco to learn more about this opportunity. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Seeks Letters of Interest for their Undergraduate Conservation Research Program. A grant of up to $500,000 a year for three years will be made to a nonprofit organization for a new nationwide program designed to engage students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in conservation research. Details on this opportunity are available at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=399500013. The deadline for Letters of Interest is December 13. The Cedar Tree Foundation is dedicated to the belief that the power of individuals and organizations can make significant changes in our world. The Foundation's grant making focuses on the following areas of concern: sustainable agriculture, environmental
education, and environmental health. The Foundation gives particular consideration to proposals demonstrating strong elements of environmental justice and conservation. Although the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working in the Foundation’s program areas are welcome to submit letters of inquiry at any time. Visit www.cedartreefound.org/index.html for instructions on developing letters of inquiry.
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
January 2012 Deadline for 2013 APPL membership renewals, January 2. Members who renew by this date are eligible for a chance to receive a free a pre-convention seminar registration at the 2013 APPL Partnership Convention & Trade Show in Portland. OR. Contact us at [email protected] for details. APPL Fundraising Academy, January 15–17, Hyatt Regency. Albuquerque, NM. For more information contact Education Coordinator Chuck Benjamin at [email protected] or 301-946-9475 x225. APPL Board of Directors Meeting, January 18-19, Albuquerque, NM. Contact [email protected] for more information. Residential Environmental Learning Center Directors’ Conference, January 18–22, Peninsula, OH. Hosted by the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visit www.conservancyforcvnp.org for additional information.
February 2013 Corps Network National Conference, February 10-13, Washington, DC. Log on to www.thecorpsnetwork.org to learn more. Peaks, Plateaus, and Canyons Association meeting, February 12-14, Cortez, CO. Hosted by Mesa Verde Museum Association. Partners Outdoors 2013, February 19-21, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. Details are available at www.funoutdoors.com National Park Friends Alliance Spring Meeting, February 25-27, Washington, D.C. For more information contact Tom Powers at [email protected] or
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 12
Dan Puskar at the NPF at [email protected] and 202-354-6462.
March 2013 Crossing Bridges, Blazing Trails - 2013 APPL Partnership Convention & Trade Show, March 10-14, DoubleTree Hotel, Portland, OR. Visit www.appl.org for details. Attendee and Exhibitor registration are now open. American Associations Day, March 18-19. Learn more about this day devoted to association advocacy, visit www.asaecenter.org/Education/EventDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=208316
April 2013 58th MSA Retail Conference & Expo, April 13–15, Los Angeles, CA. Registration is now open at www.museumstoreassociation.org. American Trails International Trails Symposium, April 14-17, Fort McDowell Yavapai National Resort, AZ. Details are available at www.americantrails.org. Earth Day, April 22. Visit www.earthday.org for more information. Global Youth Service Day, April 26-28. Visit www.gysd.org to learn more.
May 2013 National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-12, Nationwide. More information is available at www.ustravel.org. Book Expo America, May 30 - June 1, Javits Center, New York, NY. More information is available at www.bookexpoamerica.com.
June 2013 National Trails Day, June 1. Details may be found at www.americantrails.org. National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) 2013, June 8. To learn more visit www.funoutdoors.com. International PowWow, June 8-12, Las Vegas, NV. Visit www.ustravel.org for more information.
September 2013 National Wildlife Refuge Week, September 14-20. More information is forthcoming at www.fws.gov/refuges.
LEAD ON: 2013 Independent Sector National Conference, September 29-October 1, New York, NY. Conference registration opens February 14. Details to be available soon at www.independentsector.org.
MARKETPLACE Featuring donors to APPL’s Vendor Support Program (VSP). View a directory of all our VSP donors at www.appl.org. Waterford Press, a leading publisher of nature guides, advances into 2013 with the release of 19 new titles focused on the spectacular nature viewing areas in our national, state and regional parks. And to do their part to help preserve the natural beauty of this land, they return a portion of proceeds from the sale of these titles to the sponsor agency in support of their education and outreach programs. With the release of this catalog, the total number of Waterford Press guides to America’s parks has reached 34 – and growing every year. In the age of information overload, Waterford Press Pocket Guides offer a concise visual representation of species with key distinguishing features described in 50 words or less. Some of the broader titles from their new catalog – suitable for most locations - include Waterfowl, Hummingbirds and Seashells. You can choose from a wide-ranging catalog of over 400 nature titles in all – or develop a custom branded guide, using Waterford Press’ considerable resources and talent (not to mention their winning fold-out format). For more information on their products or on how to become a custom publishing partner, please contact Jill Smith at 800-434-2555, email [email protected] or visit their website at www.WaterfordPress.com. Xplorer Maps (Missoula, Mt) is proud to announce a new collaborative partnership with Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF) to help complete their soon to be released hand-drawn illustrated fine art map of Olympic National Park. In addition to donating the original artwork and signed Artist’s Proofs to help with their fundraising efforts, Xplorer Maps has also committed to donating 10% of all proceeds in perpetuity from the sale of these prints to help benefit specific projects at Olympic. The board and staff at WNPF have been incredibly receptive and amazing to work with thus far and are providing invaluable historic, interpretive and cultural perspectives for the project. They will be unveiling complete details (and a completed fine art map!) of this exciting new project at the APPL show in Portland.
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 13
In addition to Olympic, Xplorer Maps has created hand-drawn maps of Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks and they look forward to forging new partnerships with other interested APPL organizations in the near future as they expand their product line to include 6 additional parks and the National Mall. Learn more about all of Explorer’s products at http://xplorermaps.com.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE Additional position listings may be found at www.appl.org. The Deschutes Forest Conservation Association(DFCA) is a new organization created by Discover Your Northwest and the Deschutes National Forest in Bend, OR. They are currently seeking an Executive Director. This position reports to the Discover Your Northwest Executive Director in Seattle and is full time/exempt. Details are available at http://bend.craigslist.org/npo/3379236826.html. Please reply with cover letter and resume to [email protected]. National Association for Interpretation’s (NAI) search for an executive director is underway. See the full announcement at www.interpnet.com/about_nai/Exec_Dir.shtml. Point Reyes National Seashore Association is seeking an Executive Director. The ideal candidate will possess an outstanding track record in leadership and fundraising to extend their relationship with the National Park Service, build a strong relationship with staff and the Board, and manage a budget of at least $1M. The successful candidate has a deep appreciation of both the Seashore and the National Park Service. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. CEA Recruiting is assisting PRNSA with this search. Please direct all applications to CEA Recruiting. This position will remain open until filled. www.ceaconsulting.com/what/position_details.aspx?client=CEA&jobId=209. The resume should include educational and work history, and references to articles or other publications, if any, authored by the applicant. The cover letter should succinctly describe the applicant’s goals, suitability for the position, salary requirements and other pertinent facts that may not appear in the resume. Principals only. No phone
calls please. For more information about PRNSA, an equal opportunity employer, please go to www.ptreyes.org. People across the globe dream about a trip to Yellowstone National Park. 3 million are lucky to make the trip each year. Several thousand come to live and work in Yellowstone each summer. And fewer still are able to call Wonderland home. As the Human Resource Manager for the Yellowstone Association, you will be one of the lucky ones. Living, working and playing with Yellowstone as your big backyard. In addition, you will have the unique opportunity to recruit and work with the diverse, committed, passionate and active YA family as they Inspire. Educate. Preserve. Read the full job posting at www.yellowstoneassociation.org/jobs or email [email protected]. Teton Science Schools (TSS) is seeking a dynamic, energetic leader to be its new Executive Director (ED). TSS encompasses seven strong program areas each with a proven approach to achieving the TSS mission of connecting people, nature and place through education, science and stewardship. TSS strives for excellence by focusing on pedagogical innovation in education while maintaining an entrepreneurial culture in a tightly knit community. For more information please visit their website at http://bit.ly/QwYPXd.
RESOURCES Suggest a resource by e-mailing [email protected]. BoardSource has developed leadership certificate programs focused exclusively on the issues that confront nonprofit board chairs and chief executives. Learn more about these programs at www.boardsource.org/Workshops.asp. BoardSource and Points of Light have joined forces to create the Board Member of the Month Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals for their commitment to advancing the public good through exceptional nonprofit board leadership. Would you like to honor an extraordinary board member? If so, nominate him or her! Learn more at www.boardsource.org/AboutUs.asp?ID=203. NonprofitMarketingGuide will be presenting the following webinars this month: • 12/5: 7 Steps to Enlist and Build Your Dream Team
Board (with Gail Perry)
Association of Partners for Public Lands News and Notes December 2012 page 14
• 12/13: Social Media Starter Kit: LinkedIn and Twitter for Nonprofits
• 12/19: Creating a Nonprofit Annual Report People Will Actually Read
See their full schedule of courses at http://bit.ly/QLX4pf. Quarterly All-Access Passes to NonprofitMarketingGuide.com webinars are available for $145; Annual Passes are $465. Details on All-Access Passes may be found at www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/resources/all-access-pass/. NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network has released a new report, The State of Nonprofit Data. The study found that 99 percent of nonprofit organizations are tracking metrics in areas such as finance and operations, communications and marketing, program effectiveness, and client outcomes. The most commonly reported data among all of the 398 surveyed nonprofits was financial information. A majority of organizations said they rigorously track financial data and reported that it was “critical” for budgeting decisions. Communications, fundraising, and program data were less consistently tracked and analyzed. Some of the internal and external barriers hindering nonprofit data collection and strategic use included not having enough man power or time, not knowing what data to collect or how to use it, competing demands or conflicting reporting requirements, and limited money or technology. The study listed several recommendations to help nonprofits better leverage data, including changing an organization’s culture to value data, starting small, and establishing quantifiable goals that help an organization achieve its mission. Read the report at www.nten.org/blog/2012/11/14/new-research-the-state-of-nonprofit-data. Idealware will be offering the following online training in December and January: • Choosing a Low-Cost Donor Management System,
December 6, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (EST) • Building an Effective Email List, December 13, 1:00 pm
- 2:30 pm (EST) • Branding Through Social Media, January 10, 1:00pm -
2:30pm (EST) • Getting Beyond the Like: Social Media Engagement,
January 17, 1:00pm - 2:30pm (EST) • Measuring Your Social Media Efforts, January 24,
1:00pm - 2:30pm (EST) • Creating a Social Media Policy, January 24, 1:00pm -
2:30pm (EST)
Want more? Visit their training calendar at www.idealware.org/online-training to see a schedule of all upcoming live seminars and to check out their growing library of more than 25 recorded seminars ready to go whenever you need them.
Association of Partners for Public Lands 2401 Blueridge Avenue Suite 303 Wheaton, MD 20902 Phone: 301-946-9475 Fax: 301-946-9478 www.appl.org
