Request for Submission of Cooperating/Interpretive Association Reports for Calendar Year 2009; DD: 05/15/2011
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWashington, D.C. 20240April 15, 2011In Reply Refer To: 1114 (172) PEMS TRANSMISSION 04/20/2011Information Bulletin No. 2011-044To: All Field OfficialsAttn: Interpretive LeadsFrom: Director, Office of the National Landscape Conservation System and Community PartnershipsSubject: Request for Submission of Cooperating/Interpretive Association Reports for Calendar Year 2009DD: 05/15/2011Cooperating/interpretive associations are private, non-profit, federally tax-exempt organizations that assist Federal agencies by operating sales areas within visitor centers, interpretive information centers, public rooms, and other government facilities. The net profits from sales are often used to develop interpretive and educational products and supply materials for special events.The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires that all cooperating/interpretive associations operating under formal cooperative or assistance agreements file annual reports based on association records and the data contained in Internal Revenue Service Form 990, "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax." The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to request documentation on monetary and non-monetary contributions provided to the BLM by cooperating/interpretive associations during the 2009 calendar year. Because of recent staff turnover in the Washington Office, the request for 2009 information is significantly overdue.The BLM and other Federal land management agencies have worked with the cooperating/ interpretive association community to develop a unified reporting form entitled "Annual Report of Operations and Aid to Federal Land Management Agencies," included here as Attachment 1. This consolidated form outlines reporting requirements and provides a standard report format. Please note that there is also a separate section of the form designed to specifically account for association services that are not direct financial aid.We are also requesting that each BLM office with formal cooperating/interpretive association agreements provide a short narrative summary of association activities that occurred in 2009. The narrative should highlight three noteworthy association-related events or achievements and be limited to 500 words. Please include photographs, if possible (digital only), and follow the attached style guide (Attachment 2) when writing the narrative.Attachment 3 is a sample letter that BLM Field Officials may use to contact cooperating/ interpretive associations in their jurisdictions to request reports. Completed forms, narratives, and photos must be submitted by May 15, 2011, to BLM National Lead for Interpretation Brianna Candelaria via second-day Federal Express to the address below or by email to BCandela@blm.gov.Brianna CandelariaBureau of Land Management20 M Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Brianna Candelaria, National Lead for Interpretation, at (202) 912-7583.Signed by: Carl Rountree, Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community Partnerships Authenticated by: Robert M. Williams Division of IRM Governance,WO-5604 Attachments1 - "Annual Report of Operations and Aid to Federal Land Management Agencies -- Excel spreadsheet with instructions (5 pp)2 - Style guide for Cooperating/Interpretive Association narrative (3 pp)3 - Sample letter to cooperating/interpretive associations (1 p)4 - Statement of Operations (3 pp)