Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1 | SFA'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY CONDUCT EMERGENCY BUSINESS OF THE ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 | SFA UPDATED ITS BY-LAWS DURING 2013. THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE AS FOLLOWS: ADDED A VISION STATEMENT, TO REFLECT SFA'S OVERALL BRANDING, MISSION, AND DIRECTION. CHANGED MEMBER VOTING REQUIREMENTS, DUE TO NEW PROVISIONS IN THE NEW YORK NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS STATUTE. AUTHORIZED THE ADOPTION OF A POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL THAT WOULD CONTAIN DETAILED POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE RULES, SUCH AS RULES GOVERNING POLICIES FOR COMMITTEES, DETAILED STANDARDS FOR INFORMATION THAT THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER, ETC. THE POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL WOULD HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND AUTHORITY AS THE BY-LAWS, BUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO AMEND ITS PROVISIONS, IF WARRANTED. ENLARGED THE ARTICLE ON COMMITTEES TO ADDRESS ALL ESTABLISHED COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE AMENDED BY-LAWS CONFER ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THE POWER TO CONDUCT EMERGENCY BUSINESS OF THE ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. REVISED DEFINITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS. THE AMENDED BY-LAWS PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD IS EMPOWERED TO REVOKE OR CHANGE MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS BASED ON SALES INFORMATION, WITH GUIDELINES FOR DOING SO TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL. REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP RESULTING FROM UNPAID DUES WILL BE CHANGED TO AN AUTOMATIC PROCESS, FOLLOWING NOTIFICATION OF THE DELINQUENCY, WITHOUT REQUIRING A BOARD VOTE. EMPOWERED THE BOARD TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS. INCLUDED CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECTORS AND NON-EMPLOYED OFFICERS OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE IN THOSE POSITIONS, INCLUDING SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION ESTABLISHING THAT ELIGIBILITY. CLARIFIED THE PROCEDURES AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AN OFFICER OR DIRECTOR MAY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE. ADDED PROCEDURES FOR DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | MEMBERSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE SPECIALTY FOOD INDUSTRY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | ALL BOARD POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO BI-ANNUAL ELECTIONS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP. THE ASSOCIATION'S NOMINATING COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH SELECTING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE CHANCE OF BEING ELECTED TO THE BOARD. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B | AMENDMENTS TO THE ASSOCIATION'S BY-LAWS MUST BE APPROVED BY A MEMBERSHIP VOTE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 | THE DRAFT FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE ASSOCIATION'S BUDGET & AUDIT COMMITTEE. AFTER THE COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE DRAFT FORM, IT IS THEN SENT ON TO THE BOARD FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | ALL MEMBERS OF STAFF AND THE BOARD ARE BOUND BY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. IN ADDITION, AS MEMBERS OF THE SFA, BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALSO BOUND BY THE SFA'S STANDARDS OF MEMBER CONDUCT WHICH DICTATE ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES AND FAIR DEALING. FOLLOWING EACH ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS, THERE IS A "BOARD ORIENTATION" SESSION. THE PROHIBITION AGAINST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IS ONE OF THE TOPICS COVERED AT THE ORIENTATION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A | THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS THE BODY CHARGED WITH REVIEWING THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS MARKET DATA AND THE PRESIDENT'S PERFORMANCE IN DETERMINING WHAT AN EQUITABLE COMPENSATION PACKAGE SHOULD BE. IN TURN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION IS CHARGED WITH PREPARING EVALUATIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICERS BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL'S PERFORMANCE DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. THIS DATA IS THEN USED BY THE PRESIDENT IN SETTING COMPENSATION PACKAGES FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICERS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | SFA MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C | THIS PROCESS HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |