ORGANIZATION
P.U.R.E. is a non-profit membership organization led and operated by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will act as the organization’s governing body and will be responsible for making decisions and acting in the best interest of P.U.R.E.’s members, stakeholders, and travelers.

LEGAL STRUCTURE
P.U.R.E. is an industry trade association that is funded by member businesses and operates within the sustainable tourism industry. As a trade association, P.U.R.E. will participate in activities such as education, marketing, and advocacy on behalf of the industry. Furthermore, a Board of Directors and a clearly defined set of bylaws govern the organization.

P.U.R.E. is a non-profit, professional organization that is exempt from federal taxes under IRC sect. 501 (c)(6). As such, member’s dues to P.U.R.E. are not tax deductable as a charitable expense. In order to maintain this status, the organization must continue to meet all of the following requirements:
• The organization must not be organized for-profit;
• No part of the net earnings of the organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual;
• The organization must be an association of persons or organizations having a common business interest;
• The organization’s purpose must be to promote a common business interest or interests. The IRS has construed “business” broadly to include almost any enterprise or activity conducted for remuneration;
• The activities of the organization must be directed to the improvement of conditions of one or more lines of business;
• The organization must not be engaged regularly in a business of the kind ordinarily carried on for profit;
• The activities of the organization must not be confined to the performance of particular services for individual members; and
• The organization must be a business league and in the same general class as a chamber of commerce or board of trade. The IRC defines a “business league” as “an association of persons who have some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit.”

LICENSES AND PERMITS
Trademarks The organization’s name, P.U.R.E., "Pacific Northwest Uncommon & Responsible Explorations" and logo will be a Washington State registered trademark. This will prevent other entities with a similar concept and product offering from using this organization’s identity for unauthorized purposes.

Master License Application If/when P.U.R.E. is able to hire an employee(s) to manage the organization’s daily operations, the organization will need to complete a Master License Application (MLA) with the State of Washington. After the MLA is complete, P.U.R.E. will receive a unique Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number that will identify the organization as an employer to the State.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
A volunteer team of professionals will lead P.U.R.E. With the exception of contract work for special projects, all work for the organization will be on a volunteer basis. P.U.R.E.’s entire leadership team should have personal and/or professional interest in helping P.U.R.E. achieve its mission and vision. The members of the leadership team will work collaboratively with one another to make key decisions and move the organization forward.

Roles of Founding Members in the Future
The Founding Members of P.U.R.E. will continue to play a very important role in the organization as it grows and matures. Their continued involvement in the organization is completely voluntarily and can provide the organization with industry expertise, institutional knowledge, and resources. The Founding Members may sit on the Board of Directors or the Advisory Board and may serve the organization by providing:
• Experience and expertise – provide P.U.R.E.’s leadership with historic and institutional knowledge and industry expertise
• Guidance – help set the strategic and tactical direction of the organization
• Shape the Organization – help the organization grow in a manner that is consistent with its original mission, vision, and values
• Volunteer – offer time, labor, and intellectual capital at no cost to the organization

Board of Directors
P.U.R.E.’s Board of Directors is the organization’s governing body responsible for overseeing P.U.R.E.’s activities. The board’s powers, duties and responsibilities are delegated and determined by the organization’s official bylaws and may include:
• Governing the organization by establishing broad policies and objectives;
• Selecting, appointing, supporting and reviewing the performance of the chief executive;
• Ensuring the availability of adequate financial resources; • Approving annual budgets;
• Accounting to the stakeholders for the organization's performance.

The Board is made up of a body of elected or appointed members. For management purposes, P.U.R.E’s Board of Directors will have a maximum of 15 members at any one time and will operate on a 3-year rotation period.

The Board’s Executive Committee will have four officers including: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Finance Director.

President - Presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, if present. Provides leadership to the Board in reviewing and deciding upon matters that exert major influence on P.U.R.E.’s organization. Acts in a general advisory capacity to the Board and volunteers. Performs such duties as may be conferred by law or assigned by the by-laws or articles of in-corporation. Respects the confidentiality of Board discussions and publicly supports actions take by the Board.

Vice President - Assumes the responsibility of the President in his or her absence. Assists the President in carrying out the functions of that office and performs specific duties delegated by the President. Ensures that the mission, goals and strategic plan of P.U.R.E. are fulfilled by participating, deliberating and making decisions that are in the best interests of the organization, the industry and the common good of the community. Respects the confidentiality of Board discussions and publicly supports actions taken by the Board.

Secretary - Ensures that records are maintained of all P.U.R.E., Board and Executive Committee meetings. Serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Ensures that the mission and goals of P.U.R.E. are fulfilled by participating, deliberating and making decisions that are in the best interests of the organization, the industry and the common good of the community. Respects the confidentiality of Board discussions and publicly supports actions taken by the Board.

Director of Finance - Ensures the integrity of the fiscal affairs of P.U.R.E. Serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Ensures that the mission and goals of P.U.R.E. are fulfilled by participating, deliberating and making decisions that are in the best interests of the organization, the industry and the common good of the community. Respects the confidentiality of Board discussions and publicly supports actions taken by the Board.

Board Member - Acts as a voting member of the Board with full authority and responsibility to develop policies, procedures and regulations for the operation of P.U.R.E.; assists with the monitoring of P.U.R.E.’s financial health, programs and overall performance; provides the President with resources to meet the needs of those the organization serves. Desired skills for members of the Board of Directors include: legal, marketing, land management, finance, culinary, lodging, public lands (Parks, NPS), land trust, and local economic development. The collaborative combination of these skills will give P.U.R.E.’s governing body a balanced approach to decision making.

P.U.R.E.’s current Board of Directors (as of April 2010) include:
• Jake Haupert, EverGreen Escapes and Explorers 3 Adventures
• Dawn Endean, Cave B Inn and Winery
• Dan Moore, EverGreen Escapes and Explorers 3 Adventures
• Mick Pearson, KAF Adventures
• Shauna Lunde, Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau Advisory Board

The Advisory Board advises P.U.R.E.’s Board of Directors and provides expertise as necessary. Members of the advisory board do not have authority to vote on corporate matters and they do not have legal fiduciary responsibility.

Recommendations for the Advisory Board include (as of April 2010):
• Tammy Guill, Washington State Tourism
• Ryan Murray, Seattle Paddle Sports and Mountain Methods