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Association of Partners for Public Lands

U.S. Forest Service

June 5, 2014

Presenters

United States Forest Service • Emily Biesecker • Kristen Nelson • Clark Woolley

Association of Partners for Public Lands • Dan Puskar • Chuck Benjamin (moderator)

USFS, Interpretive Associations and APPL • History of engagement on training and recognition

• Future opportunities to strengthen partnerships

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The Importance of Partnerships

• The agency’s work with partners is: vast, diverse, and long-standing (and expanding!)

• A strong partnership is about: Building sustainable relationships; effective communication; managing expectations; and doing more together than we could alone.

• Agency support: Resource Staff, Grants & Agreements, National Partnership Office

What’s new with expanded authority?

• Amends the existing Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act

• Clarifies language to drive consistent application

• Provides legal definition of “cooperator” and allowed

activities for mutual benefit agreements

• Contemporizes language

What’s new?

• Provides initial approved list of health, safety, and convenience items

• Articulates the treatment of contributions of volunteers in-kind contribution of the cooperator for purposes of any cost sharing requirement under mutual benefit agreements.

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Expanded Authority: In Summary

What’s different? What’s the same? Comprehensive authority Health and safety items Interpretive / educational partnership with non-IA partners Volunteers

Hot Topic #1: Agreements Processes and templates

New language for new activities G&A and RVHR are available to help Beta-testing

Going Forward…Together Same process, same participating agreement but with enhanced partnership opportunities

1. Field employees consult with assigned G&A field specialists early 2. G&A field consult with GA-WO 3. GA-WO engage appropriate WO-Program Managers [RHVR, WFW, Fire, Research] to collaborate on language (new agreements)

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Hot Topic #2: Funding / Financial Work together to provide exceptional customer service

• Share front desk and sales operations Provide oversight of cooperators’ goods and services

• Annual operating plans • Annual financial reporting

Restricted aid account for developing mutually beneficial products, services and programs

Hot Topic #2: Funding / Financial Recreation Enhancement Act (Recreation Fees and Passes)

• Separate law • Use recreation agreement form • Contact Regional Fee Coordinator

Special Use Permits for commercial activities where organization produces a profit (36 CFR 251.51)

• Separate law, separate process • Contact Regional Special Uses Coordinator

Hot Topic #3: Educational and Interpretive Programs • Authority: “educational” aimed at heightening public

awareness and enhance visitor enjoyment of National Forest System lands.

• Definitions, standards, acceptable practices FSM 1623, 1630 and 1640 and FSM 2390

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Hot Topic #3: Educational and Interpretive Programs

Technical Experts • Regional Interpretive Specialists • Center for Design in Interpretation, R2 • Regional Public Affairs Specialists • NAI certified employees • Interpretive Associations

Setting-up a Feedback Loop • Valid for 5 years, expires September 30, 2019

• Need to collect success stories and areas for

improvement for reauthorization

• Opportunity to expand and fine tune how we work with partners

Questions?

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Additional questions? Please contact us.

Emily Biesecker -- ebiesecker@fs.fed.us

Kristen Nelson – kristennelson@fs.fed.us Clark Woolley – cmwoolley@fs.fed.us

Dan Puskar -- dpuskar@appl.org

Chuck Benjamin -- cbenjamin@appl.org

Webinar recording and resources will be posted on:

www.appl.org

www.fs.usda.gov/main/prc/home

Thank you for joining us!