(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 department, 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 department, 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.
