FRIENDS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY STATE PARKS
our goals
who we are
Since its inception The Friends of Franklin County State Parks, formerly named The Friends of St. George Island State Park, has been instrumental in raising funds to support needed park projects. Our organization is responsible for the for offsetting costs to the parks, especially in areas of accessibility and inclusion, visitor services, and organizing events that benefit our parks and support the area economy. Our organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Friends mission is to generate support for state parks through work projects, community relations, exhibits, fund raising activities, special events, and educational activities. We seek additional funds to augment the parks’ existing funding in order to enhance and expand the parks’ services to the public.
Our organization is made up of park volunteers and people like you who have a love of our State parks and a desire to support their recreational, environmental and economic value to the community. As a member of our organization you will be promoting the mission of the Florida Park Service to preserve and protect our parks’ natural and cultural resources and to provide recreational opportunities to area visitors and residents. FOFCSP is the official Citizen Support Organization of three of the four State parks in Franklin County; Bald Point is managed by the Ochlockonee River State Park in Wakulla County. Membership dues and other funds raised by this organization are for the exclusive use of St. George Island State Park, the John Gorrie Museum State Park and the Orman House Historic State Park in Franklin County.
CODE OF ETHICS
Each Florida State Park Citizen Support Organization is required by Section 112.3251, Florida Statutes, to post its Code of Ethics on its website. Ours follows:
Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc.
CODE OF ETHICS
PREAMBLE
(1) It is essential to the proper conduct and operation of Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc. (herein “CSO”) that its board members, officers, and employees be independent and impartial and that their position not be used for private gain. Therefore, the Florida Legislature in Section 112.3251, Florida Statute (Fla. Stat.), requires that the law protect against any conflict of interest and establish standards for the conduct of CSO board members, officers, and employees in situations where conflicts may exist.
(2) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state that no CSO board member, officer, or employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties for the CSO. To implement this policy and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people in Citizen Support Organizations, there is enacted a code of ethics setting forth standards of conduct required of Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc. board members, officers, and employees in the performance of their official duties.
STANDARDS
The following standards of conduct are enumerated in Chapter 112, Fla. Stat., and are required by Section 112.3251, Fla. Stat., to be observed by CSO board members, officers, and employees.
1. Prohibition of Solicitation or Acceptance of Gifts
No CSO board member, officer, or employee shall solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the CSO board member, officer, or employee would be influenced thereby.
2. Prohibition of Accepting Compensation Given to Influence a Vote
No CSO board member, officer, or employee shall accept any compensation, payment, or thing of value when the person knows, or, with reasonable care, should know that it was given to influence a vote or other action in which the CSO board member, officer, or employee was expected to participate in his or her official capacity.
3. Salary and Expenses
No CSO board member or officer shall be prohibited from voting on a matter affecting his or her salary, expenses, or other compensation as a CSO board member or officer, as provided by law.
4. Prohibition of Misuse of Position
A CSO board member, officer, or employee shall not corruptly use or attempt to use one’s official position or any property or resource which may be within one’s trust, or perform official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption.
5. Prohibition of Misuse of Privileged Information
No CSO board member, officer, or employee shall disclose or use information not available to members of the general public and gained by reason of one’s official position for one’s own personal gain or benefit or for the personal gain or benefit of any other person or business entity.
6. Post-Office/Employment Restrictions
A person who has been elected to any CSO board or office or who is employed by a CSO may not personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the governing body of the CSO of which he or she was a board member, officer, or employee for a period of two years after he or she vacates that office or employment position.
7. Prohibition of Employees Holding Office
No person may be, at one time, both a CSO employee and a CSO board member at the same time.
8. Requirements to Abstain From Voting
A CSO board member or officer shall not vote in official capacity upon any measure which would affect his or her special private gain or loss, or which he or she knows would affect the special gain or any principal by whom the board member or officer is retained. When abstaining, the CSO board member or officer, prior to the vote being taken, shall make every reasonable effort to disclose the nature of his or her interest as a public record in a memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the memorandum in the minutes. If it is not possible for the CSO board member or officer to file a memorandum before the vote, the memorandum must be filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting no later than 15 days after the vote.
9. Failure to Observe CSO Code of Ethics
Failure of a CSO board member, officer, or employee to observe the Code of Ethics may result in the removal of that person from their position. Further, failure of the CSO to observe the Code of Ethics may result in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection terminating its Agreement with the CSO.