What is a Partner?

The answer is a little tricky. The Great Basin National Heritage Area is designated by Congress but the local coordinating entity is the Great Basin National Heritage Partnership. The Partnership is a non-profit corporation associated with local, regional and national partners that have an interest in the Heritage Area (often in economic development based on heritage features or in research, interpretation or management of the heritage features themselves.) Partners agree to cooperate in some way in the life of the official Heritage Area. Partners can support the Partnership organization directly or engage in activities that constitute the mission of the Heritage Area. So, it bears restating this mission.

The mission of the Heritage Area is to:

        Help identify, research and evaluate, conserve, protect, interpret and promote the archaeological, historical, cultural,
        natural, scenic and recreational resources of the Great Basin National Heritage Area in a way that enhances economic
        opportunity without managing or regulating land use. Note: our mission derives from the authorizing legislation for the
        Great Basin National Heritage Area.    

The Mission of the Heritage Partnership is the same, only it incorporates the seeking, and development of partnerships to carry out the above mission.

Any entity that has an interest in any one or more of the stated objectives can become a partner—in fact we encourage this!

Partners can play active or passive roles.

Passive Partners

There are two types of passive roles: in the first, an entity merely states support for the Great Basin Heritage Area concept or for the Great Basin Partnership and maintains no further interaction. The In the second, the entity simply goes about its normal business but the nature of the business tends to support the mission of the Heritage Area or Heritage Partnership. Passive partners can become active partners.

Active Partners get involved with the Partnership and vice versa

An active partner formally interacts with the Partnership on a regular, and hopefully, ongoing basis. They are encouraged (but not required) to develop an agreement of some sort with the Partnership that states their particular interest. The agreement, in the form of a letter, or memorandum of understanding (or rarely a contract) may explain in some detail how the entity will carry out the mission of the Heritage Area or support the Partnership. It may also explain how the Partnership intends to interact with and even support the entity to also further the mission of the Heritage Area.

To Become a Partner:

If you think you or your organization would like to consider becoming a partner, please contact us for a membership invitation packet and to speak with someone about partnership.

Contact:

Office:
        Great Basin National Heritage Partnership
         87 Baker Avenue
         Baker, Nevada

Mailing Address:
        Great Basin National Heritage Partnership
         P.O. Box 78 Baker, NV 89311

Phone:
         775-234-7171

E-mail:
        greatbasinheritage@wirelessbeehive.com