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 6 | THE ORGANIZATION HAS MEMBERS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS ELECT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B | IN THE ELECTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS, THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS HAVE THE POWER TO CONTEST A NOMINATION OR PROPOSE OTHER CANDIDATES. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP VOTES ON THE NOMINATED CANDIDATES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 | THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY THE CHAMBER'S ACCOUNTING FIRM, SMITH SCHAFER & ASSOCIATES, LTD, USING THE FINANCIAL RECORDS, SCHEDULES AND STATEMENTS OF THE CHAMBER. MEMBERS OF THE ACCOUNTING FIRM DISCUSS WITH THE CHAMBER'S FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR ANY ITEMS THAT NEED CLARIFICATION OR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THE CHAMBER'S FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR IS ALSO A FORMER CPA WHO WORKED IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING AND PREPARED FOR PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT TAX RETURNS. SHE REVIEWS THE COMPLETED RETURN AND COMPARES IT TO THE CHAMBER'S RECORDS. AFTER ANY QUESTIONS ARE RESOLVED THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED WITH THE CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND THEN SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT AND FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED WITH THE CHAMBER'S TREASURER OF THE BOARD BEFORE MAILING THE RETURN. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A NONPROFIT, TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. MAINTENANCE OF ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS IS IMPORTANT BOTH FOR ITS CONTINUED FINANCIAL STABILITY AND FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT. THEREFORE, THE IRS AS WELL AS STATE REGULATORY AND TAX OFFICIALS VIEW THE OPERATIONS OF ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS A PUBLIC TRUST, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY BY AND ACCOUNTABLE TO SUCH GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. CONSEQUENTLY, THERE EXISTS BETWEEN ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ITS BOARD, OFFICERS, AND MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC A FIDUCIARY DUTY, WHICH CARRIES WITH IT A BROAD AND UNBENDING DUTY OF LOYALTY AND FIDELITY. THE BOARD, OFFICERS, AND MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADMINISTERING THE AFFAIRS OF ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONESTLY AND PRUDENTLY, AND OF EXERCISING THEIR BEST CARE, SKILL, AND JUDGMENT FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THOSE PERSONS SHALL EXERCISE THE UTMOST GOOD FAITH IN ALL TRANSACTIONS INVOLVED IN THEIR DUTIES, AND THEY SHALL NOT USE THEIR POSITIONS WITH ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR KNOWLEDGE GAINED THERE FROM FOR THEIR PERSONAL BENEFIT. THE INTERESTS OF THE ORGANIZATION MUST BE THE FIRST PRIORITY IN ALL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THE CHAMBER REQUIRES ALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO COMPLETE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE. THESE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE REVIEWED BY THE FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AND ANY NOTED CONFLICT IS DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE BOARD DIRECTOR INVOLVED AND RESOLVED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHAMBER. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A | THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT IS PERFORMED BY THE BOARD CHAIR AND CHAIR-ELECT. THE FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR COMPILES SALARY AND BENEFIT INFORMATION FROM CHAMBERS OF SIMILAR SIZE IN MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE (DUES & NON-DUES). RECENT MARKET INFORMATION IS ALSO ACCUMULATED. PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT ARE PREPARED BY BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND MEMBERS-AT-LARGE WHO WERE SELECTED AT RANDOM. THIS EVALUATION INFORMATION IS COMPILED AND DELIVERED TO THE CHAIR AND CHAIR-ELECT. THESE BOARD OFFICERS REVIEW THE EVALUATIONS AND THE SALARY ANALYSIS DATA AGAINST A LISTING OF THE PRESIDENT'S CURRENT SALARY AND BENEFITS. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE ARE SENT FROM THE BOARD CHAIR DIRECTLY TO THE FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. NOTE THAT DURING THE 2013-14 FISCAL YEAR, THE PRESIDENT RESIGNED AND MOST OF THE YEAR THE ORGANIZATION HAD AN INTERIM PRESIDENT. A NEW PRESIDENT WAS HIRED AND STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2014. ACCORDINGLY, THERE WAS NO ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT PERFORMED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 | THE CHAMBER MAKES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION ITS ANNUAL RETURN AND APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION AS REQUESTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN THE CASE OF IN-PERSON REQUESTS THIS IS DONE IMMEDIATELY, AND UPON WRITTEN REQUEST WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RECEIVING THE REQUEST. COPYING CHARGES AND POSTAGE ARE CHARGED AS APPLICABLE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE CHAMBER DOES NOT MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ITS AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BY-LAWS AND POLICIES. |
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