Executive Director for Wisconsin Land Surveyors Association

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors

• Issued by Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors
• Scope Association management services
• Proposals due August 10th
• Anticipated start September 15th, following transition with current association management provider

Purpose. WSLS seeks proposals from qualified individuals, association management firms, professional services teams, or qualified combinations of association management and surveying expertise to provide executive director and association management services.

Important note on lobbying. This RFP is focused on association management services. WSLS may retain separate lobbying and government relations representation. Respondents may identify any lobbying or policy services as a separately priced optional service, but should not assume those services are included in the base association management fee unless expressly stated.

The Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors (WSLS) invites proposals for comprehensive association management services. WSLS is seeking a provider that can support a volunteer‑led professional society, maintain strong daily operations, manage member‑facing systems, provide reliable financial and compliance support, coordinate publications and events, and help the Board continue serving Wisconsin's surveying profession.

The selected provider will serve as WSLS's association management team and will designate a primary executive director or lead association manager. The provider should be prepared to work closely with the President, Board of Directors, Treasurer, committees, chapters, NSPS representatives, UW‑Stevens Point partners, and other stakeholders.

WSLS is a statewide professional association organized in 1952 to promote and maintain high standards of professional ethics and practice in land surveying, promote professional uniformity, and support public confidence in licensed surveyors and their work. WSLS has historically served more than 1,000 members, including approximately 800 Regular Members licensed to practice land surveying in Wisconsin, along with Fellow, Life, Associate, Affiliate, Student, and Sustaining members.

• Governance WSLS is governed by a 17‑person Board of Directors, including chapter representatives, the Young Surveyors Network President, the NSPS Director, at‑large directors, immediate past president, president, president‑elect, and treasurer.
• Chapters WSLS has nine regional chapters. Chapters are separately organized with their own bylaws and financial responsibilities, but are affiliated with WSLS.
• Core activities Legislative and regulatory issues, continuing education, public relations, ethics and standards, member service, publications, contests and awards, and coordination with NSPS and other partner organizations.
• Major annual event The Annual Institute is a three‑day event administered jointly by the Annual Institute Planning Committee and the University of Wisconsin‑Stevens Point.
• Other recurring events WSLS typically supports three to four seminars or workshops each year, a summer meeting, board and membership meetings, chapter and committee support, and presence at selected partner conventions.

WSLS's current association management arrangement is ending, and WSLS intends to select a new provider that can assume responsibilities through an orderly transition. The current provider is expected to cooperate with a transition process covering records, digital assets, financial records, member data, publications, event files, historical practices, and pending operational items.

• Maintain uninterrupted service to members, the Board, chapters, committees, and the public.
• Transfer ownership and working access to WSLS records, digital files, publications, financial records, website and database systems, event history, forms, templates, contracts, and archives.
• Document recurring monthly, quarterly, and annual responsibilities so the new provider can operate without a loss of institutional knowledge.
• Clarify whether lobbying and government relations will remain separate from association management or be included as an…