The Friends of Camp Helen State Park is a Citizens Support Organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and improving this park through volunteer projects, community events and fundraising. Some of our most recent projects include: The Americana Concert series, Movies & More, Fall Festival, Pumpkin Patch, International Coastal Clean-up, and park improvements.
As our community grows it becomes more and more important to protect this treasure. Please consider joining the Friends, volunteering, or making a donation.
Welcome from Lex Wahl, president of Friends of Camp Helen State Park.
The Friends of Camp Helen is a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving, maintaining and improving our State Park. Camp Helen was dedicated as a state park in 1997 by the State of Florida and the Friends came into existence in 2004. As a Citizen Support Organization (CSO), we are celebrating our fifteenth year as a successful partner to one of the premier state parks in Florida. To date, our biggest accomplishment could be construed as being selected CSO of the year in 2016 by the Florida Park Service. Being blessed with an active board of directors and a Friends membership of numerous active participants from all walks of life have contributed to this success. I moved to Bay County permanently in 2006 and have been involved with Camp Helen since 2012. I recall residents of Bay County telling me they have never heard of Camp Helen. I don’t hear that today. If you have not visited Camp Helen, you are missing a “diamond” in Bay County. While you are here, check out the “Friends” and come join us.
Welcome from Wesley Myers, park manager Camp Helen State Park.
I would like to welcome you to Camp Helen State Park! Come out and enjoy one of our relaxing trails, learn about the history of the property, or take a swim in the beautiful waters of the gulf. This hidden gem is home to many important natural resources such as sea turtles, shore birds and an array of native plants/animals. My favorite area of the park to visit is the north trail near sunset as it tends to be very quiet and serene at that time of the day. The Friends of Camp Helen do a tremendous job of supporting the park and I would encourage you to become involved if you haven’t already done so. It can be a very rewarding experience as there are a variety of opportunities to contribute. Thanks for visiting this site and come see us at the park!
FRIENDS OF CAMP HELEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Executive Director: Courtney Harper
[email protected] - Emeritus: Lynn Cherry
- Immediate Past President: Lex Wahl
- President: Patrick Hodges
- Vice President: Ryan Kirk
- Secretary: Christi Ferry
- Treasurer: Pete Barton
- Barrie Ainslie
- Lisa Barker
- Kelly Baron
- Ryan Canavan
- Mary Doyle
- George Garcia
- Howard Houk
- Maggie McKinney
- Kelly Stobaugh
- Ted Turnbough
- Lex Wahl
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THE FRIENDS OF CAMP HELEN STATE PARK
CODE OF ETHICS
July, 2014
PREAMBLE
- It is essential to the proper conduct and operation of The Friends of Camp Helen State Park (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.
- 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 The Friends of Camp Helen State Park 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.