The Burke Centre Board of Trustees is taking a closer look at what those groups it charters are giving back to the Conservancy in exchange for the privileges they receive.
Under the direction of the board, Conservancy staff is currently examining the guidelines surrounding charter organizations in advance of changes later this year.
"We pay with our assessments to support these groups. The question is: are we getting enough back from them for chartering them?" said trustee Luanne Smith (At-large).
According to Conservancy administrative assistant Nancy Sherman, who is reviewing the charter guidelines, chartered groups in Burke Centre include Boy and Girl Scouts, moms clubs, Toastmasters, service groups like Burke Cares and sports groups like Burke Athletic Club. These groups have all signed agreements to abide by the terms of their charter, which includes donating volunteer time to Burke Centre in exchange for free use of the community centers. In most cases, said Smith, the groups volunteer at the Burke Fall Festival and Earth Day events.
"I think the boards in the past have said 'We don’t support charities,' because not everybody will agree to support that charity. It’s supposed to be a reciprocal thing," said Smith. "If they provide labor for those events, we can say to all of Burke Centre’s residents, 'you are getting a benefit from this group existing.'"
The groups have their charters renewed every year and must submit their reports and activities by Dec. 31 each year. In November 2004, the Board requested that staff take a closer look at the charter guidelines, but couldn't get to it before the end of the year, so Sherman has been reviewing the charters this year.
"It's a move to try to get some consistency, that any insurance issues are addressed, that it's clear what is to be had in exchange for these privileges," said Patrick Gloyd, the Conservancy executive director.
Charter organizations in Burke Centre must be composed of at least 50 percent Burke Centre residents. Smith said keeping a tighter leash on the practices of charter organizations is important, since free use of community centers is a valuable commodity.
"We have to maintain (the community centers), and rentals support that type of thing," she said. "We’re starting to realize the magnitude of what we’re giving away and what we’re getting back."
Pending approval from the board, the new charter guidelines would be presented to the organizations in late summer.
"Maybe nothing will change, maybe the whole structure will change," said Sherman.