Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Client Note 1 | Client Note 1 - Statement Regarding Associate Member Dues__________________________________________Total Associate Member Dues $13,000Salaries and Wages - Directly Connected (1,088)Payroll Taxes (70) Communications (31)Office Supplies (10)Depreciation (3)Rent (133)Associate Member Event (39) _______ Net Income(Loss) - Associate Member Dues 11,626 _______ _______ |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 3: Ceased Conducting or Significant Changes To Services | The federal rule-making process for Economic Data Reports was completed in 2013. Therefore, the Association was not involved in this in 2014. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 2: Description of Business or Family Relationship of Officers, Directors, Et | Louie and Craig Lowenberg are family members and business partners. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 4: Description of Significant Changes to Organizational Documents | The organization's bylaws were amended to restrict voting membership to individuals and businesses who hold quota share as opposed to the previous membership model in which voting members were management cooperatives.The bylaws were amended to formally constitute voting districts and to require that members associate themselves with the voting districts established in the bylaws. The bylaws permit the board of directors to amend the name and number of voting districts from time to time.The bylaws established standards for admitting members to voting districts.The bylaws were amended to dissolve one of the voting districts and to create another voting district.For all issues requiring vote by the Board of Directors except for changes to the bylaws and the admission/expulsion of a member, the required threshold was lowered from unanimous to 78% once a quorum has been established. The quorum did not change. Due to changes in the membership structure, the bylaws were amended to change the manner in which the governing body is elected. This is discussed in more detail at Schedule 0 for part VI line 7a.In addition to the existing provisions for director resignation, suspension and removal, the bylaws were amended to provide for removal of a director or alternate director upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of directors. Vacancies resulting from such removal are filled by election of a new director or alternate director by the members of the voting district that the terminated director or alternate director represented.The bylaws were amended to permit membership meetings to be called by the president, the board of directors, or by members holding not less than 10% of the member votes entitled to be cast. Prior to the change, member meetings could be called for by the board president or a majority of the directors.The bylaws were amended to increase the notification period for proposed amendments to the bylaws from not less than two days to not less than twenty days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 6: Explanation of Classes of Members or Shareholder | The Association has two classes of members - regular members with voting rights, and associate members with no voting rights. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 8: Explanation of No Contemporaneously Documentation of Meetings | During 2014 there were no committees with authority to act on behalf of the governing body. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process | The board members receive a copy of the Form 990 for review before filing. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts | Disclosure is made on at least an annual basis via email or other appropriate correspondence between the Association and Covered Officials (described below). Disclosure is shared with the Association's Board of Directors, which may take such further action it deems appropriate. In addition, any relationship or circumstance that is created or arises in the interim is disclosed to the Board President and Executive Director as soon as possible.Covered officials include the board of directors, officers and key employees.Once a conflict of interest arises, in addition to disclosure, the person with the conflict should use their best judgment as to whether and to what extent they should recuse themselves from deliberations, voting, decision-making, and other participation with respect to the matter at issue, and whether they should resign from an office or position. In making this determination, the best interests of the Association should be the sole criteria. The Board of Directors may require full or limited recusal or other measures, including resignation from an Association office or position. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management | The board reviews and compares similar pay grades in other organizations as a baseline for compensation decisions relative to performance. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available | Governing documents, policies and financial statements are available upon request. |
| Software ID: | 14000265 |
| Software Version: | 2014v5.0 |