Special Olympics Minnesota Inc.

“Between meetings of the board, the executive committee shall have general supervision of the administration and property of special olympics minnesota, except that, unless specifically empowered by the board to do so, it may not take any action, inconsistent with a prior act of the board, amend bylaws, remove or appoint the president, or take any other action which has been reserved for the board or which may be delayed for action by the full board.”

“Management reviews and finalizes the form 990 before it is presented to the finance committee of the board of directors for review and comment. The finance committee reviews the draft form 990 at a regularly scheduled meeting. Upon their approval, it is forwarded to the full board of directors with a recommendation for approval at the next scheduled meeting. After review of the draft, the board of directors approve the form.”

“All directors, officers, and employees review a disclosure questionnaire which identifies and discloses whether they have potential conflicts of interest each year. Directors and the special olympics minnesota president's responses are reviewed by the board of directors and all officers and employee's responses are reviewed by the special olympics minnesota president. The executive committee of the board reviews any conflict of interest issues and then based on their review evaluates whether a conflict exists and votes on the appropriate action. The policy bars a director with a conflict of interest from discussing and voting on the issue.”

“For the management team, the president/ceo sets changes of salary during the budgeting process for the subsequent year, using projected financial performance of the organization, performance by the individuals, information from salary surveys and/or advice from directors at his discretion. The board chair and executive committee of the board of directors set changes of salary for the president/ceo. The presdient's last review was may 2013.”

“Articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available upon request.”

“Sports and training: in 2013, special olympics minnesota athletes had the opportunity to compete in 17 olympic-type sports at six state, six regional and more than 11,600 area and local competition experiences. Athletes train up to eight weeks for competitions and compete in skills-based competitions and full sports. Additionally, special olympics minnesota offers unified competitions which pair special olympics athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. More than 707 unified partners competed alongside teammates athletes with intellectual disabilities in 2013. Athletes are highly competitive and train using extensively codified rules and regulations. Due to a wide range of abilities, athletes are divisioned into categories of similar skill level and are provided with additional opportunities to participate. Athletes who may not be ready or able to compete in full sports competitions participate in skills-based competitions which break sports down into basic components. Competitions are a great chance for athletes to grow socially in addition to taking part in events/activities that focus on a wide variety of social-, health- and fitness-based skills, including the healthy athletes program, which offers health and nutrition screenings and education to persons with intellectual disabilities free of charge. The special olympics minnesota healthy athletes program completed 5,695 screenings in 2013, providing 151 pairs of glasses, 89 pairs of sports goggles and 271 mouth guards, and 22 hearing aids. Two-hundred and forty-one athletes were referred for follow-up care. Seventy-two percent of registered athletes participated in healthy athletes events in 2013. 2013 competition statistics: -state poly hockey tournament (543 athletes, 188 coaches) sports: alpine skiing; figure skating; poly hockey; roller skating; snowboarding; table tennis -winter sports festival (99 athletes, 6 unified partners, 71 coaches) sports: alpine skiing; figure skating; poly hockey; roller skating; snowboarding; table tennis -spring games (1,950 athletes, 109 unified partners, 749 coaches) sports: aquatics; basketball; powerlifting -summer games (1,356 athletes, 62 unified partners, 572 coaches) sports: athletics (track & field); gymnastics; volleyball; tennis -fall games (1,724 athletes, 195 unified partners, 591 coaches) sports: equestrian; bocce; golf; softball -unified flag football (400 athletes, 131 unified partners, 97 coaches): sports: unified flag football (will be a state game in 2013) -state bowling tournament (2,406 athletes, 204 unified partners, 747 coaches): bowling; (traditional and unified)”

“Health and leadership: special olympics minnesota originated the coaches certification program (ccp) in 2000 to improve the consistency and quality of the sports training athletes receive from volunteer coaches. Since its inception, the ccp has provided sport-specific training to thousands of volunteer coaches and was a precursor to an international program implemented for all special olympics programs. The more than 7,400 coaches who have committed to training and guiding athletes must be certified to coach special olympics. After completing the minimum certification (four hours of coursework and 10 hours of practicum), coaches can begin holding practices and teaching athletes about health and nutrition. Special olympics minnesota requires a one coach to every four athletes ratio and maintains an ongoing recruitment and training schedule including more than 80 coaches training schools per year. Training schools offer opportunities for coaches to refresh their skills, qualify for coaching new sports, and gain higher levels of certification ultimately becoming certified as coach trainers. Athletes are encouraged to consider coaching and are offered a variety of other training through the athlete leadership program (alps). Core elements of alps include: introduction to alps - taught by athlete instructors, offers an overview of the philosophy of athlete empowerment and inclusion in all aspects of the special olympics movement as well as a review of current alps initiatives and goals. Athletes as volunteers - provides athletes with a basic understanding of what types of jobs volunteers do, why people volunteer, why they as athletes might want to volunteer and what to expect as they register and complete training as a volunteer. Athlete leadership workshop (governance) - prepares athletes to participate in special olympics programming and policy dialogue via instruction and practice in forming and articulating opinions, group discussion and techniques for gathering input. Governance workshops enhance awareness and listening skills of volunteers, staff and family members as they interact with athletes during this training. Challenges through choice - is a personal growth experience of self empowerment and challenges through mental and physical activities. Participants will learn the fundamentals of teamwork and the importance of communication to creatively solve problems, learn from successes and failures, and take safe risks by challenging themselves to a level that is just beyond their personal comfort zone. Both athletes and mentors will establish a positive working relationship with group members by building trust through honesty, fairness and dependability. Global messenger/graduate global messenger training - provide the training and skill necessary to speak about special olympics and the athlete's opinions pertaining to special olympics in a public setting (specifically through radio, television and newspaper interviews). Participants will also receive advanced training in speech writing, engaging your audience, and how to package your presentation. Athletes as coaches - provides background and practical experience for the role of the head coach and assistant coach. Athletes as coaches workshops are either a lead-up to participation in volunteer focused coach education workshops, or an inclusive workshop which, after a practicum, can qualify attendees for special olympics coaches' certification. Further, athletes as coaches serves as an innovative recruitment vehicle - when communities and other athletes see their peers becoming coaches they are encouraged to grow and take on new roles. Athletes on board of directors, committees and management teams - provides guidance for athletes/support persons/boards and committees that seek inclusive decision-making through athlete participation on the board. Athletes on the board of directors and committees bring a clear sense of priority and unique perspective as the consumer of speci”

“Youth and schools: volunteerism is key to special olympics minnesota's mission, operations and commitment to overcoming social stigma in the lives of athletes. Volunteers directly serve the mission of special olympics minnesota by enabling programs that increase the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Indirectly, the lessons volunteers learn build awareness within communities about athletes abilities and the limited opportunities available to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This awareness translates into a higher quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the work force, schools and society. As a grassroots organization, special olympics minnesota could not exist without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers. During 2013 volunteers helped athletes train for up to eight weeks each sport season. Special olympics minnesota's diverse volunteers enhance organizational capacity at all levels and include: special olympics athletes, civic and fraternal groups, health care professionals, law enforcement, students, professional athletes, sports officials, coaches, teachers, retirees, parents, and corporate employees. These volunteers serve in a variety of roles - from general roles to highly specialized positions involving extensive time commitments. Some roles are: area and local management minnesota's 12 regionally based area coordinators make special olympics minnesota possible. Area coordinators oversee competition registration and coordination for more than 80 competitions per year. As a part of this process area and local management is responsible for collecting survey information and medical paperwork and coordinating local finances, fundraising and recruitment efforts. Area and local competitions are qualifying events for state level games and, among other duties, require providing meals for athletes, securing local financial and volunteer support, coordinating travel and lodging, recruitment of community day-of volunteers, and securing facilities. Coach the approximately 7,422 coaches who have committed to training and guiding athletes are all certified through the coaches certification program. Adopted as a national model, special olympics minnesota's coaches certification program requires the minimum completion of four hours in class coursework and 10 hours of practicum before coaches can begin holding practices and teaching athletes about health and nutrition. Special olympics minnesota requires a one coach to every four athletes ratio and maintains an ongoing recruitment and training schedule including more than 80 coaches training schools per year. Training schools offer opportunities for coaches to refresh their skills, qualify for coaching new sports and gain higher levels of certification ultimately becoming certified as coach trainers. Day-of volunteer the role of the day-of volunteer is as varied as the backgrounds of the volunteers themselves. Day-of volunteers are the backbone of many competitions, playing supporting roles in areas such as registration, site coordination and meal preparation. Most day-of volunteers return to volunteer again and provide the recruitment base from which many choose/or are selected to advance to higher levels of certification and become coaches and area and local coordinators. Clinical directors - clinical directors are responsible for managing discipline-specific screenings and securing volunteers and in-kind donations for special olympics' healthy athletes initiative. Healthy athletes is a core component in special olympics' ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities by providing an array of free preventative and educational health screenings. According to the united states department of health, "the majority of health professionals who are otherwise qualified to treat people with intellectual disabilities fail to do so. This is largely the resu”

“Special olympics was founded in 1968 by eunice kennedy shriver with the belief individuals with intellectual disabilities could participate fully in their communities and in life. It was her vision that through year-round sports training and athletic competition, individuals with intellectual disabilities would be better equipped to be contributing members of society. By focusing on a person's abilities and not his/her disabilities, special olympics athletes earn respect, acceptance and understanding from their communities, while growing physically, socially and developmentally. Special olympics athletes build self-esteem and gain social skills by increasing fitness and skill levels, which in turn provide lifelong benefits. Mrs. Shriver envisioned a grassroots organization with branches reaching millions of individuals in need. Today, special olympics is the largest, fastest-growing sports program in the world, representing more than 3.7 million athletes in 220 countries. Special olympics is also the only organization in minnesota, the united states and the world utilizing the unique benefits of sports to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In 1973, special olympics minnesota was incorporated. Currently, more than 7,800 minnesotans with intellectual disabilities participate and compete in 17 olympic-type sports. All official special olympics sports follow internationally accepted rules, which are endorsed and approved by national governing bodies, international sports federations and olympic organizations. Special olympics minnesota is an accredited program of special olympics incorporated. Special olympics minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Through special olympics' athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world.”

“The organization has not changed its process for oversignt of the audit of its financial statements nor its process for selection of an independent accountant.”