Work Group Guidelines
At the 1998 National Military Fish & Wildlife Association (NMFWA) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, a set of guidelines were adopted by the membership to allow for the establishment of Working Groups within NMFWA. The guidelines are as follows:
GOALS/PURPOSE: The establishment of a Working Group(s) within NMFWA shall be to:
TOPICS FOR WORKING GROUPS: Topics for which Working Groups may be formed are not restricted. Some examples of potential topics are –
ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP: NMFWA members that wish to establish a Working Group for a particular topic can solicit interest from other NMFWA members by several different methods such as through THE FAWN, through the NMFWA web site bulletin board, and, through telephone calls, e-mail, and direct mailings. Once ten NMFWA members have committed to forming a Working Group for a particular topic, the Group shall make written (or electronic) application to the NMFWA Board of Directors (the Board) requesting that the Working Group be officially sanctioned and recognized. Once the Board has given tentative approval, the Group has six (6) months to develop a charter to submit to the Board for approval. The charter must contain the stated objectives of the Working Group (an example can be provided upon request). The Group must also either appoint or elect a chair and a recording secretary.
RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITY: A Working Group must conduct at least one (1) activity/project/event each year in order to maintain official recognition from NMFWA. Some examples are: a newsletter; an e-mail discussion forum; sponsor a session at the NMFWA Annual Meeting & Training Workshop; conduct a meeting at the NMFWA Annual Meeting or at another time and location; conduct a training workshop/ seminar for the Working Group’s members. A written report detailing the Working Group’s activities for the previous year must be submitted to the Board before the completion of the NMFWA Annual Meeting & Training Workshop. Minutes of any meeting held must also be sent to the Board. A Working Group shall not represent NMFWA in any official capacity unless directed to do so by the Board.
ORGANIZATION SUPPORT: NMFWA may provide financial support for a Working Group’s activity if the Board approves and funds are available. The Board shall determine the authorization limit for funds that may be provided. Some potential uses for funds: seed money for a training workshop or seminar; printing a newsletter.
DISSOLUTION OF A WORKING GROUP: The Board can withdraw recognition of a Working Group that misrepresents NMFWA or causes harm to the organization or its members. A Working Group that is inactive for one year shall be granted a one-year grace period in writing by the Board. Should the Group remain inactive for that grace period, the Board shall dissolve that Working Group.
GOALS/PURPOSE: The establishment of a Working Group(s) within NMFWA shall be to:
- Provide NMFWA members a forum to interact and share knowledge, skills, and ideas on a particular topic and to address issues related to that topic that are common to installations.
- Encourage and increase the networking among installations and NMFWA members within all branches of the Armed Services.
- Provide an opportunity for those NMFWA members unable to attend Annual Meetings to be active within NMFWA.
- Provide a body of expertise for NMFWA to draw on with regard to the issues/topic for which a Working Group has been established.
- Provide an opportunity for NMFWA members to further their professional development.
TOPICS FOR WORKING GROUPS: Topics for which Working Groups may be formed are not restricted. Some examples of potential topics are –
- A PARTICULAR ECOSYSTEM (i.e. longleaf pine ecosystems; Southwest desert ecosystem)
- SPECIES CATEGORIES (i.e. herptiles; rare plants; grassland species; white-tailed deer; black bass) MANAGEMENT TOOLS (i.e. controlled burning; electrofishing; GIS; GPS)
- SPECIFIC PROBLEMS (i.e. urban nuisance wildlife; training lands restoration)
- GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS (i.e. Pacific islands; Northern Rocky Mountains; Atlantic Flyway)
- BROAD MANAGEMENT TOPICS (i.e. Native American issues; timber management)
- EDUCATION (i.e. methods of reaching the troops about conservation topics)
- OPERATIONAL TOOLS WITHIN AGENCIES (i.e. contracting/ agreement vehicles for developing funding and partnerships)
ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP: NMFWA members that wish to establish a Working Group for a particular topic can solicit interest from other NMFWA members by several different methods such as through THE FAWN, through the NMFWA web site bulletin board, and, through telephone calls, e-mail, and direct mailings. Once ten NMFWA members have committed to forming a Working Group for a particular topic, the Group shall make written (or electronic) application to the NMFWA Board of Directors (the Board) requesting that the Working Group be officially sanctioned and recognized. Once the Board has given tentative approval, the Group has six (6) months to develop a charter to submit to the Board for approval. The charter must contain the stated objectives of the Working Group (an example can be provided upon request). The Group must also either appoint or elect a chair and a recording secretary.
RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITY: A Working Group must conduct at least one (1) activity/project/event each year in order to maintain official recognition from NMFWA. Some examples are: a newsletter; an e-mail discussion forum; sponsor a session at the NMFWA Annual Meeting & Training Workshop; conduct a meeting at the NMFWA Annual Meeting or at another time and location; conduct a training workshop/ seminar for the Working Group’s members. A written report detailing the Working Group’s activities for the previous year must be submitted to the Board before the completion of the NMFWA Annual Meeting & Training Workshop. Minutes of any meeting held must also be sent to the Board. A Working Group shall not represent NMFWA in any official capacity unless directed to do so by the Board.
ORGANIZATION SUPPORT: NMFWA may provide financial support for a Working Group’s activity if the Board approves and funds are available. The Board shall determine the authorization limit for funds that may be provided. Some potential uses for funds: seed money for a training workshop or seminar; printing a newsletter.
DISSOLUTION OF A WORKING GROUP: The Board can withdraw recognition of a Working Group that misrepresents NMFWA or causes harm to the organization or its members. A Working Group that is inactive for one year shall be granted a one-year grace period in writing by the Board. Should the Group remain inactive for that grace period, the Board shall dissolve that Working Group.