to advance forest science, technology, practice, education, and a conservation ethic to benefit society

WSSAF Foundation: Charter

purpose

This Foundation is being established to provide scholarships for worthy forestry students, as a source of funds for other purposes related to forestry education, or other purposes as the Foundation Trustees may determine.

Such funds will:

  1. Provide, as a primary source, financial assistance to needy and worthy students from throughout Washington State, enrolling or enrolled in Forest Management or Forest Technician curriculums at an SAF-accredited college or university in the state of Washington or other educational opportunity as the Foundation Trustees determine appropriate. This financial assistance may be for tuition or other assistance with other direct college-sponsored activities that enhance the student's forestry education.
  2. Provide visibility for WSSAF within the state and schools as well as providing a form of liaison with those schools for future foresters and SAF members.
  3. Provide a continuing source of funds for other educational projects as might be determined by the WSSAF Executive Committee and the Foundation Trustees.

  4. Provide a medium for WSSAF members and others to express their interest and support for forestry education and outreach in Washington throughout bequests in wills, outright gifts of money, or other resources and in other ways such as Foundation fundraisers.

scholarship requirements

  1. Scholarship Types
    1. For students enrolled in an SAF-accredited four-year forestry program or advanced forestry degree in the state of Washington or other educational opportunities as noted above, with preferences to undergraduate students with junior or senior standing.
    2. To outstanding students from any high school or community college within Washington State who chooses to attend a four-year forestry program.
    3. To outstanding students from any high school or community college within Washington State who chooses to attend a forestry technician program.
  2. Division of scholarship funds between a., b., and c., above will be on an equal basis at the discretion of the Foundation Trustees as soon as funds are sufficient for the Foundation to be fully operative. This will be when the fund reaches $20,000.00.
  3. Basis of Selection
    1. College students and prospective students will be considered on a basis of proven scholarship, potential for success in the profession, and the needs of the student. The Trustees will establish a set of requirements and criteria for selection and continuation of scholarships. Forestry staffs at SAF-accredited colleges will be asked to assist the Trustees by suggesting candidates and in screening and selecting students. The Foundation Board of Trustees shall make the final selection.
    2. Local WSSAF chapters will have the opportunity to assist with nominations, by acquainting high schools within their respective areas of the scholarship opportunities. College will be asked to assist with locating eligible high school students.
  4. Recipients may receive scholarships for more than one year.
  5. Selection of students will be made in the winter for the following academic year and announced in a timely manner for student scholarship presentations at schools and institutions and to provide local publicity for the student, the school, and SAF where appropriate.
  6. The number of scholarships and the monetary amount(s) will be set each year by the Trustees, depending upon earnings of the endowment. The amount shall be paid to the institution or the recipient in equal installments at the time of registration for each term.

grant requirements

Other educational outreach efforts may be funded by a grant from the Foundation. these projects must meet the following requirements:

  1. Have potential for local, state, or national forestry educational impacts.
  2. Meet criterial developed by the Trustees and approved by the WSSAF Executive Committee.
  3. Be sponsored by the WSSAF Executive Committee or a WSSAF chapter.
  4. The number of grants and the monetary amount(s) will be set each year by the Trustees, depending upon earnings of the endowment. The amount shall be paid to the recipient upon granting the award.
  5. Distribution of funds to and between approved grant applications will be on an equal basis at the discretion of the Foundation Board when the fund reaches $30,000.00. Scholarships are held to be a higher priority.

fund administration

  1. Agency: Funds shall be administered by a bank, trust, or other entity as may be selected by the WSSAF Foundation Trustees and approved by the WSSAF Executive Committee.
  2. Trustees: A group of five Trustees shall be selected by the WSSAF Chair with approval by the WSSAF Executive Committee to have general supervision of the Foundation. They will have responsibility to select the fund Administrator, make the final selection of scholarship recipients and educational grants, and perform other duties, as needed, to oversee the Foundation.
  3. By-laws: The Trustees shall function within a set of by-laws for the administration of the Foundation as outlined in this Charter. The WSSFA Executive Committee shall approve the by-laws and amendments to the by-laws.
  4. Trustee Terms: Trustees will serve for one- to three-year terms, varying as established by the position numbers. The varying term lengths will assure continuity as the cycle of appointments rotate over time.
  5. Trustee Meetings: The Trustees shall meet two times per year to review the status of the Foundation and determine what funds should be made available for scholarships or grants and the criteria for scholarships grants. The Trustees will meet to make the final selection of the recipients for scholarships or educational grants.
  6. Chair: The Chair of the Foundation shall be elected annually by the Foundation Trustees and approved by the WSSAF Chair.
    1. The Foundation Chair shall represent the Foundation on the WSSAF Executive Committee and make bi-annual reports on the status of the Foundation and dispersal of funds.
    2. The Foundation Chair shall appoint a secretary to record minutes for the meeting of the Trustees and provide a copy of the minutes to the WSSAF Chair and Secretary.

sources of funds

  1. WSSAF shall put into the Foundation account the donation of $4,500.00 received from a member to start the Foundation.
  2. Members and others will be encouraged to provide provisions in wills or make other donations to the Foundation. A strong effort will be made to advertise and make known opportunities to support the Foundation.
  3. WSSAF fundraisers for the Foundation may include:
    1. Planning raffles or other fundraising means at State Conventions and elsewhere for the Foundation.
    2. Encouraging chapters or others to plan annual Foundation fundraising efforts.
  4. Make an initial fundraising drive from among the state membership. Make periodic donation drives thereafter. These fundraising efforts will be the responsibility of the Foundation Trustees.
  5. The Foundation Trustees will undertake other appropriate fundraising, donations, or solicitations as opportunities become available.

The Washington State Society of American Foresters Executive Committee approved this Charter on December 5, 2003.