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What is a cooperating association? interpretive association? friends
group?
A cooperating association is defined as
a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the
education and preservation goals of the partner agency. Cooperating
associations accomplish this through bookstore sales, membership
support, book and publication development, research funding and
other educational activities. The term is used by
the National Park Service to describe the not-for-profit partners
that operate their sales outlets. It is also the term that the US
Fish and Wildlife Service uses to describe their Refuge Support
Groups that operate
sales outlets. The US Army Corps of Engineers also calls their
not-for-profit partners cooperating associations. The term
interpretive association is used by the Bureau of Land
Management and the USDA Forest Service to describe the same type of
not-for-profit organization.
Associations produce or purchase for sale the
finest publications and other merchandise related to the themes and
resources of the areas they serve. Unlike concessionaires, who have
for-profit commercial operations in national parks and forests,
cooperating and interpretive associations are founded for
educational purposes. And the purchases visitors make at a
cooperating or interpretive association sales outlet generate
revenues that help support additional interpretation, education, and
visitor service programs.
These organizations are as diverse as the sites
they serve. Cooperating associations range from having a single
sales facility to many outlets, from working with one government
agency to many. Some have expanded their activities through
mail-order and Internet sales and locations outside park or forest
boundaries. Some have memberships and a variety of programs in
addition to bookstore operations. The largest associations are
designed to serve multiple parks and to operate in areas often too
small or remote to sustain an independent association. Through a
concept of shared resources, their revenues help support national
and regional programs as well as those of individual park units.
Although their primary role is to enhance public
knowledge and understanding of America’s public lands, associations
donate substantial support to their agency partners. Proceeds from
sales and other association revenues help fund publications; museum,
library, and research activities; and other education and
conservation efforts.
Friends groups are generally
not-for-profit organizations that partner with a public lands
management agency to concentrate on activities other than retail
sales. Friends groups and other non-profit groups support public
lands in a broader variety of ways including fundraising,
volunteerism, resource preservation and protection, education, and
research. These organizations can range from membership
organizations to volunteer-driven fundraising groups.
How do I start a cooperating association? interpretive association?
friends group?
How
many not-for-profit partner associations are there?
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BLM:
Cooperating Sites = 28
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NPS:
Cooperating Associations = 65
Friends Groups = 160
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USACE:
Cooperating Associations = 30
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USFWS:
Cooperating Associations / Friends Groups = close
to 200
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USDAFS:
Interpretive Associations = 62
How many public lands sites are partnered with APPL member
associations?
Over 600. For a complete listing of the public lands sites that
each of our members serves consult our
Member
Directory .
How many delegates attended the APPL Convention this year?
452 people attended the 2008 APPL Convention is
Denver, Colorado.
How many companies exhibited at the APPL
Trade Show this year?
134 companies participated in the 2008 APPL Trade
Show in Denver, Colorado.
How can I market my company's products to public land
partner associations?
Each cooperating or interpretive association makes its own buying
decisions. Each government agency with whom they partner has its own
review processes and selection guidelines. As a general rule, items
sold in association sales outlets must pass through a review
committee and be approved by the government agency. The review
process can take anywhere from one month to more than one year. For
this reason, the APPL Annual Trade Show tends to be a
“preview” show for new exhibitors and a “selling” show for returning
exhibitors. Once an item is approved for sale, orders are typically
repeated yearly.
More>>
The APPL Vendor Support Program allows vendors to take
advantage of year-round marketing opportunities to the APPL's
members and their partners.
More>>
How do I get my products approved for sale at
a public land partner association?
Government
partners approve products sold by cooperating and interpretive
associations. APPL works with the National Park Service, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service,
Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, and
some state agencies. Many government agency representatives attend
the Trade Show to become familiar with products and services.
Cooperating and interpretive association buyers are loyal. Once
products are approved and relationships are established, business
usually continues for many years.
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