Sections and chapters should have clear objectives, procedures and structure outlined in a Bylaws document to be successful. Additionally, a Strategic Plan may help the group achieve both short- and long-term goals.

Submit the following forms to Kristi Confortin at KC********@******fe.org.

Within 20 days of your annual elections and any other change in officers, submit the Officer Report Form to ensure that your officers continue to receive important news and updates from TWS headquarters.

By January 31, an officer must complete and submit the section or chapter Annual Report & Tax Report Form. A submission link will be distributed directly to officers each year.

By April 30, submit your Dues Renewal Form to request dues changes, which will go into effect July 1. TWS cannot guarantee that members will submit the most up-to-date renewal form along with dues payments. Therefore, if the incorrect amount of dues is paid via mail to TWS Headquarters, the Section, Chapter or Working Group must determine whether or not they wish to contact the individual and obtain the correct amount of money. This form only needs to be submitted if dues are being changed.

TWS staff will manage the annual filing for 990 forms to the IRS on behalf of all sections and chapters. Sections and chapters will usually file one of two forms to the IRS:

• IRS e-postcard (Form 990N) for subunits whose yearly gross revenue is less than $50,000 and for those subunits that didn’t pay for lobbying – must be submitted to IRS by May 15 each year; TWS Staff will submit this form on your behalf and send you confirmation.
• Form 990-EZ for subunits whose yearly gross revenue is more than $50,000 and/or for those subunits that paid for lobbying – must be submitted to IRS by May 15 each year; forward confirmation to Kristi Confortin at KC********@******fe.org, by May 15.

Varying levels of risk are involved whenever a group makes educational opportunities and events available to members, guests and other individuals. In these situations, sections and chapters should consider asking participants to complete a waiver and release of liability form. Additionally, TWS recommends sections and chapters purchase liability insurance for their events.

Officers can access their section or chapter membership roster in the member portal. You must be a current TWS member to be able to access the roster. The roster includes only those members who have paid your section or chapter dues through the TWS website or by mail to TWS headquarters. An explanation of how to download the rosters is available here.

Various free platforms are available to host video and conference calls, such as Zoom Basic, Google Meet and freeconferencecall.com.

The Wildlife Society staff and Council actively encourage the formation and success of sections and chapters and provide ongoing assistance to them. Staff support may consist of, but is not limited to, promoting membership; collecting annual dues; maintaining membership lists; providing space for section and chapter news in TWS’ publications and on TWS’ website; fostering meetings for sections and chapters; and other actions as Council or the Executive Director deem appropriate.

If your bylaws allow online elections, we can run them for you. Email Aniket Gajare at ag*****@******fe.org with:

• Your section or chapter name
• Election open date
• Election close date
• Positions and candidates
• Any restrictions

Deadlines:

• Two to four weeks in advance of the date you plan to open elections, if all of your organization unit members are also members of The Wildlife Society.
• Four to six weeks in advance of the date you plan to open elections, if all of your organization unit members are NOT also members of The Wildlife Society.
• Shorter notices can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis.

As the scientific society for professional wildlife managers and conservationists, TWS has a responsibility to address national and international issues that affect the current and future status of wildlife in North America and throughout the world. The diligent development of authoritative, science-based statements on wildlife issues is essential for interjecting wildlife concerns into decision-making processes. The Wildlife Society fills this role through development of position statements.

Working groups may also desire to formulate position statements pertaining to subjects in their locale or subject area. They are authorized to do so when the statement addresses a topic upon which TWS does not have a position statement, when the statement would be consistent with existing TWS position statements, and when that statement is within the scope of TWS’ policy engagement. These statements, if approved by TWS Council, are considered position statements of The Wildlife Society.

A position statement is a carefully prepared and concise exposition on a wildlife issue that defines the issue, contains factual background data, describes the most probable biological, social, and economic results of alternative actions, and may also contain a recommended course(s) of action. For more information on how these are developed by TWS (main/international), please click here.

Position statements developed by Sections and Chapters must be reviewed and approved by TWS Council for adoption as a position statement of The Wildlife Society. Sections and Chapters are encouraged to communicate with TWS staff when developing position statements. Staff may also coordinate with Sections and Chapters to request support on position statement development.

Sections and Chapters engage with TWS’ policy program beyond the development of position statements. They may work with TWS staff to develop fact sheets and policy briefs on issues impacting wildlife within their scope of expertise. TWS staff coordinate with Sections and Chapters to produce comments on proposed rulemaking and draft legislation. Section and Chapter members may also be identified as expert witnesses to deliver testimony to decision makers, and are often nominated by The Wildlife Society to serve as members of Federal Advisory Committees.

Contact tws staff 

Sections and chapters that wish to publish materials (such as proceedings from conferences) that display the TWS logo must follow the “Guidelines for Publishing Proceedings of Workshops or Symposia” as described for working groups. This requirement will help ensure that any publication bearing the official TWS logo is consistent with the Society’s guiding principles of science-based wildlife conservation.

Thinking of printing stationary for your chapter or section? Are you designing a new logo for your organization unit? Please refer to the chapter and section brand toolkit. Chapters may also use these logo templates from TWS.

Any designs using The Wildlife Society’s name, including t-shirts, must be approved in advance by TWS to ensure that the designs are in conformance with the TWS mission and objectives. A PDF and request for approval can be sent to Kristi Confortin at KC********@******fe.org.