Principles and Procedures for Establishing Positions on Park Issues
Adopted July 12, 2004
Principles
The Friends of Baxter State Park will give priority to issues that:
· are directly connected to terms in the Deeds of Trust establishing the Park, and to the Friends’ primary mission to preserve, support, and enhance the wilderness values of the park;
· pose immediate or irreversible threats to the wilderness values of the Park;
· combine several related issues in order to take a more integrated or Park-wide approach (e.g. long range planning, structures and facilities, etc.)
The Friends will not expend its limited energy and resources on issues of low significance or little threat to the wilderness values of the Park.
The Friends will address issues raised by Park staff and the Park Advisory Committee, but will also evaluate other issues and bring them before the Authority when needed.
The Friends recognizes that the Scientific Forest Management Area and Hunting Zones in the Park are managed for different objectives, but believes that wilderness values can and should be preserved in them to the extent possible, and will take positions on issues that affect wilderness values in these areas when needed.
Procedures
The Friends Policy Committee will present issues to the Board of Directors for discussion. The Board will approve position statements and their recommended actions through the voting process. The Board will also ensure that approved actions are carried out and that Friends positions are communicated to the Authority, Advisory Committee, Park staff, and others.
The Policy Committee process will be to:
1. consult with Park staff and other interested parties and research original sources such as the Deeds of Trust and other materials to gather information and gain a full perspective;
2. develop a recommended position statement;
3. take recommended position statements to the Board of Directors for them to adopt, reject, table, or remand to the committee for further work.
Each position statement will be presented in the format described below:
1. Statement/Name of the issue
2. Background information and related issues
3. Friends position
4. Rationale – how and why this position enhances wilderness values, adheres to the Deeds of Trust and other writings or Governor Baxter, and supports the Friends of Baxter State Park mission
5. Actions to be taken
Fast Breaking Issues
The above process may be waived and action may be taken by the Board by phone, e-mail, special meeting, or other manner.
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