Welcome to the FNPS Handbook!
The purpose of the FNPS Handbook has always been to augment the bylaws with procedure: the nuts and bolts of how things are done. In this handbook, you will find out how the Society runs, and find all kinds of documents to help your Chapter be more effective. As times change, our strategies change as well. Although the content is steeped in the rich history of FNPS, this is a living document, and we hope you will use your experience as a member of the Florida Native Plant Society to contribute to its quality.
How to use the Handbook
This handbook is divided into four main sections: general information about FNPS, Society Governance, Council of Chapters, and Chapters. Each section has multiple pages which you can access either from the top menu or from a menu for the specific subsection on the right.
On each page, you will be able to read about the topic, and access supplemental material through links as you go along. It is a beautiful thing. Content has been chunked out to make it more discrete and digestible. Much has been added that was not addressed in the previous handbooks; much is still under development. We can guarantee that this handbook will grow with the new convenience of editing in this format.
We look to the Chapters to help the FNPS Board members prioritize what should be added or updated. That said, we think it is a good start, and hope you find value in it.
Proposing Changes
The content of this handbook is intended to be a living document. It will change with time. All content comes from FNPS members active in the management of the society — FNPS officers, committee chairs, and board members, representatives to the Council of Chapters, chapter leaders. Before becoming part of the handbook, changes must be approved by the FNPS Board of Directors.
To propose a change
- Go to the page where you would like the change
- Highlight the entire main text
- Create a MS Word document
- Copy the text into the document
- Turn on track changes
- Make your proposed edits
- Save
- Email the document to handbook@fnps.org
Once approved, the change will be made by a designated editor. If you have basic website editing skills, we encourage you to volunteer to be a designated editor. Just send an email to handbook@fnps.org with your name and contact information. You must be a member of FNPS. You do not need to be in a leadership role.