The investment committee has proposed how to invest and divest donations made to the state chapter.  Please review.

The Floyd Bjerke inheritance was an unexpected and unique gift given to the Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society (Chapter) in 2006.  The sum of money is considerable for an organization like the Chapter.  The gift affords the potential for long term financial participation in a variety of worthy projects that can advance the profession of wildlife biology. 

The corpus of the Bjerke inheritance will be invested and protected from expenditure to provide long term stable income.  The inheritance will be named the Floyd Bjerke Fund (Fund) to honor the donor.  The Fund will be managed by the Investments Committee of the Chapter following investments guidelines approved by the membership.  Only interest earned on the Fund may be utilized for funding appropriate projects.  The Chapter will form a Fund Raising Committee to grow the Fund.  Funds raised by the Fund Raising Committee will be permanently added to the Bjerke corpus and protected from expenditure as provided above.

USE OF PROCEEDS FROM INVESTMENTS OF THE FLOYD BJERKE FUND

Programs and projects that shall be given priority consideration are:

-      Continuing education that enhances and advances the skills of practicing wildlife biologists,

-       Scholarships to deserving college students enrolled in wildlife biology curriculum,

-       Publications of symposia, workshops or projects sponsored by the Chapter,

-      Research that advances the knowledge and understanding of wildlife biology,

-      Other?

Programs, projects and activities for which the Fund will not be used are:

-      Political lobbying,

      -      Animal rights projects or activities,

-      Wildlife habitat management,

-      Literature review,

-      Books or publications not sponsored by the Chapter,

-      Capital improvement projects,

-      Other?  

PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING, AWARDING, DISTRIBUTING GRANTS FROM THE FLOYD BJERKE FUND

The Chairman of the Investments Committee shall inform the President and the Executive Committee of the status of the Fund and any earnings that are available for distribution on a semi-annual basis.  Previous commitments for funding will be deducted and itemized.

Requests for funding:

-      Requests will be considered on an annual basis.

-      Requests shall be submitted to the Chapter President no later than January 1 of each year.

-      Requests must include:

          -the name, address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address and affiliation of  the requester;                                                                              

          -a description of the activity or project and how it fulfills the purposes of the

            Fund;

          -the activity or project budget;

          -amount of Bjerke funds requested;

          -date funds are needed;

          -method to be used to report back to the Chapter on the use of the funds and success of the activity or project.                                           

Awarding the grant:

-     The Chapter President shall forward copies of all grant requests to the Executive Committee by February 1.

-     The Executive Committee shall meet in person, via teleconference, or e-mail prior to the annual meeting of the Chapter to formulate a recommendation on each request.

-   The membership shall vote during the annual business meeting of the Chapter to decide which grant requests shall be funded.

Distributing and Evaluation of Grants:

       -    On behalf of the President, the Chapter Secretary/Treasurer shall notify each grant requester of action taken  by the Chapter within 30 days of the annual business meeting.     

       -    The Chapter Secretary/Treasurer shall arrange for the transfer of funds by the date requested.

-    Grant recipients shall report back to the Chapter on use of the funds and success of the activity or project.