Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, chartered to pursue an educational mission dedicated to building collaborative partnerships across the public and private sectors for the benefit of rural Wisconsin. Wisconsin Rural Partners' mission is 'to build networks, leadership and voice for rural Wisconsin." Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. is Wisconsin's official, federally-recognized State Rural Development Council in the National Rural Development Partnership. Over the past fourteen years, Wisconsin Rural Partners (also known here as WRP or the Partnership) has evolved into the premier network for rural community residents, leaders and service providers who want to improve the quality of life in rural Wisconsin. Since 1993, we have built public-private partnerships to creatively address the issues that rural communities deal with on a day to day basis. Our focus is to build rural community capacity; develop strong rural leaders; and provide a network for rural community support. Issues and strategies that the Partnership develops originate from public input at the Wisconsin Rural Summit. WRP members and others who may be interested, work together through programs, partnerships and events to address the issues. The result is stronger rural communities.
Organization & Operation
The Partnership is administered by a 10-member Board of Directors which meets quarterly. Elections are held at the annual meeting each fall. Officer terms [President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer] are for 1 year. Board terms are 3 years. Partnership operations are coordinated by the Executive Committee with assistance from a contracted executive director.
History
Since December 1992, the organization has served as Wisconsin's state rural development council (SRDC) through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture. In November, 2003, Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. received formal federal recognition to continute this responsibility into 2007. Federal designation is re-authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. Wisconsin Rural Partners is an active member of the National Rural Development Partnership.