12290 Treeline Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33913 www ... - LobbyTools
March 19, 2014 Office of Governor Rick Scott State of Florida The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Board of Directors 2013- 2014
Re: Citizen Support Organizations (CSOs) – SB 1194 and HB 1153
Officers Sally Hess President
Dear Governor Scott:
Don Philpott President Elect
I believe that you and your wife care deeply about Florida’s state parks. I wanted
Maryjo Morris Secretary
1153 if passed.
Paula Russo Treasurer Tammy Gustafson Immediate Past President
to make you aware of the perhaps unintended consequences of SB 1194/HB
Currently there are 84 state park and trail CSOs that generate more than $4.2M ($4,230,931) in revenue through fundraising events and donations. They contribute $2.5M ($2,539,447) in direct program services for park visitors from supporting interpretive programs to purchasing ADA equipment for universal
Board Members Cristal Cole Richard Goldman Marylou Klein Ron Piasecki Amy Rodriguez Michael Trout
Board Members Emeritus Tom M. Pennekamp Allen Trovillion George Crady Paula Dockery Steven M. Seibert
access to all visitors. During the recent economic downturn, CSOs provided critical funds for everything from board walk/building repairs to mowers, trams, and road paving and continue to do so. This public/private partnership has worked well for many years. The park service currently has strict guidelines for individual CSO annual reporting. While I understand the desire to standardize reporting for all CSOs and DSOs, the deadlines set in the bill could cause extreme difficulty if there is no allowance for extensions.
Ex-officio Board Members Donald Forgione W. Dale Allen Pamela Jones-Morton, Ph.D. Janet Buhl
Much more important than reporting criteria, however, is the statute change that would dissolve all state park CSOs in 2019 and every 5 years thereafter if the legislature does not vote to reinstate them prior to that date. Not only is this a
Legislative Liaison
clear disincentive for volunteer fundraising, we believe it will cause donor issues
Fritz Musselmann
as well. I personally, would not care to donate to a cause in which there was a good possibility that my donation would not be used as originally intended.
12290 Treeline Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33913 www.friendsoffloridastateparks.org
Individual CSOs will be talking to their legislators about the impact of this bill to our state parks, but I wanted to also make you aware of the issues we see. Thanks for your consideration. Best regards,
Sally Hess, President Friends of Florida State Parks, Inc. “Get a Little Park on Ya!”
12290 Treeline Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33913 www.friendsoffloridastateparks.com
Re: Citizen Support Organizations (CSOs) – SB 1194 and HB 1153
Officers Sally Hess President
Dear Governor Scott:
Don Philpott President Elect
I believe that you and your wife care deeply about Florida’s state parks. I wanted
Maryjo Morris Secretary
1153 if passed.
Paula Russo Treasurer Tammy Gustafson Immediate Past President
to make you aware of the perhaps unintended consequences of SB 1194/HB
Currently there are 84 state park and trail CSOs that generate more than $4.2M ($4,230,931) in revenue through fundraising events and donations. They contribute $2.5M ($2,539,447) in direct program services for park visitors from supporting interpretive programs to purchasing ADA equipment for universal
Board Members Cristal Cole Richard Goldman Marylou Klein Ron Piasecki Amy Rodriguez Michael Trout
Board Members Emeritus Tom M. Pennekamp Allen Trovillion George Crady Paula Dockery Steven M. Seibert
access to all visitors. During the recent economic downturn, CSOs provided critical funds for everything from board walk/building repairs to mowers, trams, and road paving and continue to do so. This public/private partnership has worked well for many years. The park service currently has strict guidelines for individual CSO annual reporting. While I understand the desire to standardize reporting for all CSOs and DSOs, the deadlines set in the bill could cause extreme difficulty if there is no allowance for extensions.
Ex-officio Board Members Donald Forgione W. Dale Allen Pamela Jones-Morton, Ph.D. Janet Buhl
Much more important than reporting criteria, however, is the statute change that would dissolve all state park CSOs in 2019 and every 5 years thereafter if the legislature does not vote to reinstate them prior to that date. Not only is this a
Legislative Liaison
clear disincentive for volunteer fundraising, we believe it will cause donor issues
Fritz Musselmann
as well. I personally, would not care to donate to a cause in which there was a good possibility that my donation would not be used as originally intended.
12290 Treeline Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33913 www.friendsoffloridastateparks.org
Individual CSOs will be talking to their legislators about the impact of this bill to our state parks, but I wanted to also make you aware of the issues we see. Thanks for your consideration. Best regards,
Sally Hess, President Friends of Florida State Parks, Inc. “Get a Little Park on Ya!”
12290 Treeline Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33913 www.friendsoffloridastateparks.com
