Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) was known for its first twenty years as the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations (CNPCA), an organization that worked to advance the common purposes of its national park-affiliated members. In November 1997, CNPCA’s members voted to expand their umbrella to include not-for-profit organizations that serve all public land management agencies.
APPL MEMBERSHIP
APPL has two membership categories:
Full voting membership, open to any not-for-profit organization recognized by a public land management agency through a formal agreement as a “cooperating” or “interpretive” association for the purposes of operating a sales outlet and providing interpretive materials to visitors at that agency’s site's);
Affiliate, non-voting, membership, available to not-for-profit groups, such as “friends” organizations, that support public land agencies in ways other than sales of interpretive materials.
Download APPL's Membership Brochure (in PDF Format)
Full Membership Application (in PDF Format)
Affiliate Membership Application (in PDF Format)
APPL PUBLICATIONS
Newswire, a six-to-eight-page newsletter, is distributed the last week of each month, by standard mail and electronically. Items include news, legislative and policy information, personnel and directory changes, position announcements, book and product news, training and conference notices, and other items of interest.
The Member Directory lists full and affiliate member organizations, including mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail or cc:Mail address, executive director, and areas served. Multiple copies of the general directory are available free to APPL members and their partner agencies. The directory is revised yearly, and notices of changes are made monthly through Newswire.
VENDOR SUPPORT PROGRAM
The Vendor Support Program, initiated in 1997, recognizes the important role of APPL in bringing together the individuals and companies involved in producing, selecting, purchasing, and merchandising high-quality interpretive materials for association sales areas. Corporate Sponsors at $250 and Corporate Benefactors at $750 receive various benefits to assist in reaching APPL members. In addition to subscriptions to APPL publications, sponsors and benefactors receive APPL membership labels for promotional use, product announcements in APPL's Newswire, guaranteed booth space for annual trade shows, early registration discounts, and published recognition of their support. Plus, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they are contributing to the programs and services of APPL.
Download Vendor Support Program Enrollment Form (in PDF Format)
CONVENTIONS
Every year, representatives of the APPL community gather from across the nation for a major happening. Conventions are outstanding educational and networking opportunities for association administrators, program staff, and volunteer board members; federal and state public land managers and staff; and others working or volunteering in support of public lands. A two-day trade show offers the best one-stop-shopping event for anyone involved in the selection, production, or merchandising of interpretive products.
Conventions alternate between eastern and western locations and are usually held in February or March.
Convention Web Page
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
An expanded education committee is guiding the redesign of existing courses and creation of new programs to reflect the multi-agency focus of APPL.
Management and Operations is a basic orientation course focusing on legal, financial, and structural tools for the stability of not-for-profit organizations. Topics include association bylaws, agency agreements, financial management, boardsmanship, store operations, and publications.
Other special-topic and advanced management courses are offered periodically, with costs kept to a minimum. APPL members are eligible for scholarship assistance.
Download APPL's Training Brochure (in PDF Format)
APPL SPECIAL FUNDS
APPL currently has two special funds: the Murfin Fund, and the APPL Scholarship Fund:
The Murfin Fund was established in 1988 “to sponsor guest faculty in the publications field at APPL training programs and conventions.” This memorial fund carries on the legacy of James V. Murfin who, as NPS servicewide cooperating association coordinator from 1974 to 1985, did much to improve the quality of association publications. The fund is made up of voluntary contributions.
The APPL Scholarship Fund began in 1996 to sponsor participation at APPL conventions for associations that could not otherwise afford representation. In 1998 the APPL board extended the Fund beyond conventions to other APPL training programs. Applicants for scholarship funds must be APPL members and must be approved by the APPL executive committee.
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN
In addition to membership dues and these two special-use funds, APPL receives contributions through the Combined Federal Campaign as a member of the Conservation and Preservation Charities of America. APPL and its predecessor, CNPCA, have participated in this program since 1995.
Please visit www.conservenow.org to learn more about contributing to APPL.
FINANCIAL NOTES
APPL follows the dues philosophy
set out by the founders of the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations
in 1978. They recognized that, because of qualifying criteria, membership
would be limited. They wanted all member associations, regardless of size,
to have an equal opportunity for training, services and delegate voting
power. Voting members have a single vote regardless of the amount of dues
paid. As in America’s democratic government, those with higher incomes
pay more to support the system’s existence for the good of the whole.
Annual dues are calculated on a sliding scale based on the organization's
gross receipts for the preceding year. Minimum dues are $500.00 and there
is a dues cap of $7,500.00. Affiliate, non-voting, members pay flat annual
dues of $500.00. Dues are assessed on a calendar-year basis. Payment plans
must be approved by the APPL board treasurer.
APPL's dues income is supplemented by several sources of non-dues revenues:
annual conventions, training course fees, contracts, Vendor Support Program,
and Combined Federal Campaign.