For Officers

Submissions to The Wildlife Professional

To get your subunit news in The Wildlife Professional, please send announcements about new publications, conference activities, awards, partnerships, or any other interesting happenings to editor@wildlife.org.

Deadlines:

• Summer 2012 by April 6
• Fall 2012 by July 6
• Winter 2012 by October 5

Report Forms

Submit the following forms to Katie Edwards, katie.edwards@wildlife.org:

• Section Officer Report - submit within 20 days of the election.
• Chapter Officer Report - submit within 20 days of the election.
• Student Chapter Officer Report - submit within 20 days of the election.
• Working Group Officer Report - submit within 20 days of the election.
• Tax Report Form - the treasurer must complete and submit by March 30 of each year.
• Dues Renewal Form - submit every summer.

Submit the following form to current president and Yanin Walker, yanin@wildlife.org:

• Sample Working Group Report to TWS Council - each working group must submit a report one month before each TWS Council meeting.

Model Bylaws, Charter & Strategic Plan

• Model Bylaws for Chapter
• Model Bylaws for Student Chapter
• Model Charter for Working Groups
• Model Strategic Plan

Policies for Subunits

• Subunit Policy Guidelines
• Policy Toolkit for Subunits (includes lobbying info and IRS rules)
• Guidelines for Successful Working Groups

Publication of Workshops and Proceedings

• Working groups are required to follow the Working Groups Guidlines for Publishing Proceedings of Workshops or Symposia.
• Sections, chapters, and student chapters that wish to publish materials (such as proceedings from conferences) that display the TWS logo must follow the peer-review process as described in Guidelines for Successful Working Groups. This requirement will help ensure that any publication bearing the official logo (see the Identity Guide) is consistent with the Society's guiding principles of science-based wildlife conservation.

Identity Guide

Thinking of printing stationary for your chapter, section or working group? Are you designing a new logo for your subunit? Consult the Identity Guide to see how to use the official TWS logo, colors, and other branding elements.

Please use the official TWS PowerPoint Template for all presentations made on behalf of the Society.

Use the TWS Business Card Template for subunit business cards, for use with Avery Business Card #5371 template.

Forming a New TWS Subunit

Submit the following forms to Katie Edwards, katie.edwards@wildlife.org:

• Petition to Form a Chapter and Model Bylaws
• Petition to Form a Student Chapter and Model Bylaws
• Petition to Form a Working Group

Tax Forms

• IRS e-postcard (Form 990N) for subunits whose yearly gross revenue is less than $50,000 and for those subunits that didn't pay for lobbying – must be submitted to IRS by May 15 each year; forward confirmation email to Katie Edwards, katie.edwards@wildlife.org, by May 15.
• IRS Form 990 for subunits whose yearly gross revenue has been more than $50,000 for the past three consecutive years or for those subunits that paid for lobbying – must be submitted to IRS by May 15 each year; forward confirmation email to Katie Edwards, katie.edwards@wildlife.org, by May 15.
• Tax Report Form - the treasurer must complete and submit to Katie Edwards, katie.edwards@wildlife.org, by March 30 of each year.
• TWS Subunits Obligations to the IRS

Workshops and Other Resources

• Tax-Exempt Status – How can you keep your 501(c)(3) exempt?
• Unrelated Business Income – Does your organization generate taxable income?
• Employment Issues – How should you treat your workers for tax purposes?
• Form 990 – What records should your organization keep to prepare to file an accurate Form 990?
• Required Disclosures – What items are open to public inspection and what disclosures are exempt organizations required to make?
• Tax-Exempt Organizations and Gaming

Waivers

• TWS Waiver and Release of Liability for Subunits

Awards

• Chapter of the Year Award
• Student Chapter of the Year Award (Also see Student Chapter of the Year Powerpoint, from the 19th Annual Conference in Portland.)

Online Elections

TWS is available to run online elections for subunits that have online elections already part of their bylaws. Contact Aniket Gajare, agajare@wildlife.org, with the following information: name of subunit, date to open elections, date to close the elections, name of positions and candidates for the election, and any other restrictions you might have.

Deadlines:

• Two to four weeks in advance of the date you plan to open elections, if all of your subunit members are also members of TWS (parent society).
• Four to six weeks in advance of the date you plan to open elections, if all of your subunit members are NOT also members of TWS (parent society).
• Shorter notices can be accommodated on a case-to-case basis.

Membership Rosters

Officers can access their subunit membership roster in the Membership Center. You must be a current TWS member to be able to access the roster. The roster includes only those members who have paid your subunit dues through TWS (parent society).

Student Toolkit & Benefits

• Student Toolkit - teaches student chapter officers how to host events, conduct fundraising, hold elections, apply for awards, work with the media, create opportunities for professional growth, and learn networking skills.
• Student Benefits PowerPoint - describes the value of a TWS membership.

Conservation Affairs and Subunit Leadership Workshop Materials

Download the PowerPoints and PDF materials from this workshop at the 19th Annual Conference in Portland. Download zip folder.