Agency
As used in Module 320, agency refers to any federal,
state, or county government entity. The National Park
Service is a federal agency. The term refers to overarching
mission statements or mandates which are the foundation
for unit mission or vision statements.
Board
A group of people who volunteer to direct an organization.
Not-for-profit organizations must have a governing board
and bylaws, legally. The board has officers and elects
members as needed. It directs a manager of the non-profit
organization who is generally paid.
Cooperating Association
A not-for-profit (or non-profit) organization which
has a formal partnership contract with one or more NPS
units. Cooperating associations often support the interpretive
and resource management functions of the park by providing
funding through the sale and publication of educational
materials.
Cooperative Agreement (CA)
A written, legal agreement between the NPS and another
party for which the primary purpose is to transfer money,
services, or anything of value to the recipient to accomplish
a purpose for public good. The NPS level of involvement
is substantial.
Director's Orders
These were formerly referred to as NPS Guidelines. The
following Director's Orders can provide guidance for
implementing, coordinating, and evaluating formal and
informal partnerships: Director's Orders #7 on Volunteers
in Parks (formerly NPS-7), Director's Orders #20 on
NPS Agreements (formerly NPS-20), Director's Orders
#32 on Cooperating Associations (formerly NPS-32), Director's
Orders #6 on Interpretation (formerly NPS-6), and Director's
Orders #48 on Concession Management (formerly NPS-48).
Formal partnership
A formal written agreement between the National Park
Service and one or more individuals, agencies, or organizations
where there is an exchange of money, supplies, material,
service, or involvement of personnel. The agreement
is detailed in a Memorandum of Agreement, Memorandum
of Understanding, Cooperative Agreement, Volunteer Agreement,
or Special Use License.
General Management Plan
This plan is an example of partnership itself. It involves
the participation of all divisions within a park unit,
as well as planning support from within the agency.
Public involvement is critical. The plan charts the
course of a park unit for the next ten to twenty years.
Often other plans spin off General Management Plans,
as they are the basis for management planning decisions.
Informal partnership
A verbal or written agreement between the National Park
Service and one or more individuals or organizations
where there is an exchange of service or personnel.
Memorandum of Agreement
A written, legal agreement between the NPS and a non-federal
party when funds are to be received by the NPS.
Memorandum of Understanding
A written, legal agreement between the NPS and another
party for mutual benefit or assistance. There is no
transfer of funds.
Minimum Interpretive Program
The level of interpretive programming defined in the
most recent unit interpretive reports or planning documents
described as the lowest level of services which will
still serve the public. At this level, the resource
is not fully or even adequately interpreted. Basic services,
such as general information, safety, and resource protection,
are a focus.
Mission
A statement of what an agency, unit, or partnership
should be doing. The mission encompasses the presently-existing
goals and objectives; it describes the ongoing task
of the organization.
Not-For-Profit (non-profit) Organization
An organization that was not established or maintained
for the purpose of making a profit and qualifies for
tax-exempt status for federal or state income tax purposes.
Optimal Interpretive Program
The level of interpretive programming defined in the
most recent unit interpretive reports or planning documents
described as the appropriate level of services which
will still serve the public. At this level, the resource
is fully interpreted. Basic services, such as general
information, safety, and resource protection, are a
foundation for a variety of personal and non-personal
interpretive services which tell the significant unit
stories.
Partnership in Interpretation
Partnerships in interpretation are collaborative efforts
between an NPS unit and another entity (such as cooperative
associations, friends groups, other not-for-profit organizations,
volunteers-in-the-parks, universities, businesses, and
concessionaires) which produce or enhance interpretive
products or services that help each partner achieve
their vision consistent with their mission.
Unit
A unit as used in Module 320 is a designated National
Park Service site. This national unit could be a park,
monument, lakeshore, scenic river, memorial, historical
park, or other designation.
Vision
A statement of desired future conditions. In an optimal
situation, the vision statement describes what the programs
and services would be in the future. It describes the
existing conditions
