Whiterock Conservancy

“Elizabeth garst jennifer & sarah garst b director b director sister, business partner sarah garst elizabeth & jennifer garst b director b director sister, business partner jennifer garst elizabeth & sarah garst b director b director sister, business partner”

“As noted in the 2014 form 990 return, on february 15, 2015, the bylaws of the organization were amended in relation to a quorum and manner of acting. Significant changes are that the board of directors can approve of actions by email as long as every board member casts a vote and the approval is unanimous. If an action receives any dissenting votes or abstentions, the action does not pass. In addition, notice of special meetings of the board of directors can be emailed to their usual email address and any director can waive notice of such meeting by email. The number of voting members of the organization increased from 9 to 10 in 2015 as reported on form 990, part i, line 3 and part vi, section a, line 1a; however, the bylaws were not officially revised until march 21, 2016 when the board voted to increase the maximum number of board members from 9 to 13 consisting of 10 class a directors and 3 class b directors.”

“Each class a director serves for a term of three years. The terms of the class a directors are staggered so that the terms of two class a directors expire each year. When there is a vacancy for a class a director, the existing class a directors designate a successor class a director, subject to the right of the "supported organizations" to veto any designee. In addition, the "supported organizations" have the right to remove any class a director. Each class b director serves for a term of three years. The terms of the class b directors are staggered so that the term of one class b director expires each year. When there is a vacancy for a class b director, the existing class b directors designate a successor class b director, subject to the right of the "garst family advising committee" (as defined in the bylaws of wrc) to veto any designee. In addition, the "garst family advising committee" has the right to remove any class b director.”

“As noted in the response to part vi, line 7a, the "supported organizations" of wrc have the right to veto any successor class a designee. In addition, the "supported organizations" have the right to remove any class a director from the board. The "garst family advising committee" has the right to veto any successor class b designee. In addition, the "garst family advising committee" has the right to remove any class b director from the board.”

“Ken herring 28330 j avenue adel, ia 50003 joseph a mcgovern 505 fifth ave., suite 444 des moines, ia 50309 fred kirschenmann 309 curtiss hall ames, ia 50011 robert riley, jr. 2910 cayuga point des moines, ia 50321 todd coffelt 502 e 9th street des moines, ia 50319 ryan hanser 4401 westown parkway, suite 212 west des moines, ia 50266-1037 teresa opheim 3129 36th ave s minneapolis, mn 55406 brett frevert 10832 old mill rd, ste 2 omaha, ne 68154 duane sand 8998 golden valley drive norwalk, ia 50211 elizabeth garst 1313 fig avenue coon rapids, ia 50058 jennifer garst 708 brookridge avenue ames, ia 50010 sarah garst 1063 21st st west des moines, ia 50265”

“All aspects of the return were carefully reviewed by the finance committee consisting of treasurer elizabeth garst and board member brett frevert; executive director conrad kramer; and accountant sara grove. All proposed changes were incorporated in the return and the revisions were reviewed and approved by the treasurer and executive director prior to submission to the internal revenue service. All board members were provided a draft copy of the 2015 form 990 return for their consideration. The members were given the opportunity to examine the entire return with various sections highlighted for in-depth review, including conflict of interest related questions.”

“The board performs a review of the policy and policy adherence at their annual meeting each march. The executive director also reviews each board member's signed "annual statement regarding conflict of interest policy and disclosure". In addition, board members are supplied with detail transaction histories of account activity at each board meeting to facilitate ongoing review.”

“The executive director's compensation is set by the board of directors by consideration of compensation levels at other state-wide conservation non- profit organizations and state agencies. The organization maintained contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision through their record of the board of directors minutes. The organization has no other key employees or paid officer positions besides the executive director.”

“The organization's governing documents, financial statements and conflict of interest policy are available during normal business hours for any individual who requests them.”

“Wrc is a 5,500 acre iowa non-profit land trust that balances sustainable agriculture, natural resource protection and public recreation on the landscape. Wrc works for a resilient future by helping land flourish and transforming people's relationship to agriculture and nature. Wrc assists and supports the iowa department of natural resources, the leopold center for sustainable agriculture and the iowa natural heritage foundation (the supported organizations) in carrying out their purposes relating to land preservation, land restoration, conservation, sustainable agriculture, education and recreation.”

“Other outside services 0 95 10,980 professional services 0 17,172 10,348 farm/cons professional srvs 630 0 0 farm/cons contract services 150 0 0 farm/cons custom farming 37,957 0 0 recr contract services 16,067 0 0 recr professional services 594 0 0 recr outside services 15,725 0 0 farm/cons outside services 5,000 0 0”