Our Friends organization has been under pressure for several years to enter into a formal partnership arrangement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), making us part of their official Friends program. We resisted signing the proposed Partnership Agreement with the FWS because our Board of Directors felt that it infringed too much on our status as a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization. FWS is now requiring that all Friends groups sign the Agreement in order to continue their close association with the refuges. In light of that new requirement, the Board weighed the options further and, reluctantly, has again decided not to sign “at this time.” On one hand, we realize that it is not unreasonable for FWS to exert some control over Friends organizations that are using refuge facilities, and often are, or seem to be, working in conjunction with FWS on refuge improvements, group activities, and fund raising. One can imagine a rogue Friends group engaged in activities that do not benefit or reflect well on the refuge system. On the other hand, the details of the Partnership Agreement gave us pause, once again. For example, it requires us to agree to:
The board decided that despite it being reasonable for the FWS to have some oversight, the level of control that the Partnership Agreement requires us to voluntarily give to FWS feels excessive. Other Friends groups are also pushing back against this requirement. While the discussions are continuing, we will maintain our close and effective relationship with our Refuge Manager and all our Refuge staff members, and will keep you informed of the status of things. The Board members would welcome your comments about this issue either in this blog, by email at [email protected], or in person.
6 Comments
Cindy Svec
11/18/2020 10:11:07 pm
Thank you for being strong during a time of authoritarianism. Please resist and we will all hope that change for the better is coming soon.
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Friends of Refuges
11/19/2020 09:02:57 am
Thanks for the feedback, Cindy. It very much helps to know what Friends members think on this hard issue. We really want to find the best way to continue working with, and building community support for, our Refuges.
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Bruce Morgan
11/19/2020 12:40:55 pm
This is a deliberate attempt by the FWS to control the narrative and stifle dissent pertaining to the management of our refuges. The various "friends" groups are already too tame. We, who love and use our public lands, must not be silenced!
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Friends of Refuges
1/18/2021 12:55:12 pm
Thanks Bruce. We want to be team players and have always had a strong and collegial relationship with our Refuges and their managers. But agreeing to follow the lead of the Washington headquarters of FWS gives us pause.
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Libby Cagle
11/20/2020 04:33:31 pm
Glad to hear this decision. This is definitely a power grab. Since the Refuges are not getting the needed tax dollars to support them, they are trying to get control of funds from the nonprofits. Their demands were extreme. Maybe in January things will change with the administration.
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Friends of Refuges
1/18/2021 12:58:31 pm
Thanks, Libby. We are hopeful that by working with other Friends groups from across the nation we will be able to assure that Friends independent nonprofit status can be honored and protected in any Agreement that FWS requires.
Reply
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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532 Cedar Key, FL 32625 [email protected] We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. |
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