Notes on corporate structure and Chapter governance. In 1998, NYFOA established a sister organization, New York Woodland Stewards (NYWS) as a 501(c)3 corporation which could legally accept tax-deductible financial support. In 2004, to simplify administration, NYFOA and NYWS were combined, retaining the NYFOA name and the 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. During the course of this transition, each chapter submitted individual chapter operational guidelines: AFC, CDC, CNY, LHC, NAC, NFC, SAC, SFL, SOT, and WFL. In addition, to comply with 501(c)3 requirements, each chapter had to sign the Agreement between NYFOA and each Chapter document. These aforementioned documents constitute the basis of the formal state-chapter relationship.

• Resources for Chapter Steering Committees
  • The NYFOA Chapter Operations Manual (v1.1.1), a guide for chapter steering committees. The downloadable PDF version and the on-line readable version.
  • Some chapter's track financial expenditures against a budget. Here's a Financial Tracking Workbook. as used by the WFL chapter.
  • A compendium of ideas for programs can be found in the Program Sharing document, compiled by Ron Pedersen.
  • To share event information with the public you can use this Public Service Announcement template and Interview guide.
  • As far in advance of an event, as possible you should submit the NYFOA Event Announcement Form. Doing so allows the website administrator to post it under the “Events” link on the website, which makes available for the editors of neighboring chapters to reference in their newsletters, if they so chose.
  • Subsequent to events Chapters should submit the on-line Chapter Activity Report. This information is compiled for an overall activity report provided to the Board and at the Annual Membership Meeting.
  • The Safety Checklist for NYFOA Events.
  • NYFOA Event Attendance Form.
  • Suggestions for Getting New Members by Sarah Stackhouse.

• Organizations with which to Partner
  • The Kindred Organizations web page in the RNYW section may generate some ideas on potential partners for both meetings and woodswalks.

• Resources Pertaining to COVID-19
  • Form: ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY RELATING TO CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19
    

• Resources for Woodswalk Coordinators
  
  • Walk in the Forest- a Guide for Promoting Forests and Forest Management. Some idea starters on organizing and conducting a woodswalk from the American Forest Foundation (parent organization of American Tree Farm) and the Society of American Foresters.
  • Woodswalk Checklist as developed by the Restore New York Woodlands committee in 2012.
  • Examples of woodswalk supportive handout material from the Stackhouse woodswalk of June, 2011: Property Satelite Map, and Station Topics
  • Form for Event Evaluation by attendee (print multiple copies). Event Evaluation by Attendee.
  • Woodswalk direction signs: Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Straight Ahead, and Parking. Print out on 8 1/2" X 11" paper. If you have access to a laminating maching you might want to laminate them. Otherwise you might want to protect them against the weather with some sort of sheet protector.

• Resources for Meeting Presenters
  
  • Here's NYFOA's Speakers Bureau. Chapter Program Directors are encouraged to use it.
  • Here are agendas for a selection of programs offered by Yates County Cornell Cooperative Extension and compiled by NYFOA member Sarah Stackhouse.
  • Here is a Power Point presentation with accompanying notes entitled “New York Forests – An Endangered Species?”. The presentation was developed by Jerry Michael to educate forest owners and all forest stakeholders about the forest regeneration crisis and the rationale for NYFOA’s “Restore New York Woodlands” initiative. The presentation has been delivered dozens of times around the state and has been well-received. Chapters are encouraged to share the presentation with kindred organizations and the general public.

• Resources for Chapter Newsletter Editors
  
  • If, when a Newsletter Editor reads an article in another chapter's newsletter that they think might be of interest to their members, he/she is encouraged to contact that chapter's Newsletter Editor and 1) Obtain permission to use the article and 2) If an e-version is not readily extractable from the newsletter PDF, request a version that is. Cross sharing of articles between chapters (with acknowledgment) is to be encouraged.
  • We are compiling a collection of "stock" articles here. These articles are for use by chapter newsletter editors as they see fit. Please indicate the author(s) when using them in your newsletter. They may also be used by chapters for placement in local newspapers to raise the visibility of NYFOA and make the general public aware of forest stewardship issues. Sometimes local CCE offices have newspaper space reserved and would welcome input from NYFOA in helping them with content."
  • Are Deer Damaging Your Woodlot?" by John Hammer.
  • "Looking for the Birds May Lead You to the Bug" by Jim Bagley and Associated Pictures: "Downy Woodpecker","EAB Galleries", "EAB on a Penny", "EAB Side View", "Woodpecker Damage on Bark", "Woodpecker Forage - Thumbnail" by Jim Bagley.
  • "Master Forest Owner Volunteers - Free Assistance for Woodland Owners" by Sarah Stackhouse. This one is about the MFO program and the services they can provide.
  • "Improve Your Forestland and Improve Its Value with TSI" by John Hammer.
  • "Lessons from the Woodlot" by Carl Wiedemann.
  • "CCE - Working with NYFOA on Behalf of Forest Landowners" by Richard Gast. Extension Program Educator, Agriculture Programs Assistant, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County.