National Rural Economic Developers Association

“Section b, question 15a - national rural economic developers association does not compensate any individual. However, the board of directors entered into a management agreement with association management ltd. To manage the daily operations and employ an individual to serve as the executive director of the organization. The agreement is approved by the board of directors before it is offered to association management ltd.”

“Association management, ltd. Manages the day-to-day operations. Associated management, ltd. Employs lynn harkin, who serves as the executive director of national rural economic developers association.”

“Definition of membership: regular membership: any person employed by an organization defined as a local or regional non-for-profit economic development organization, cooperative rural utility, association, or government agency, educational institutions, and economic development related vendors such as consultants, development companies, real estate services, financial institutions, law firms, accounting firms and site consultants, construction companies, real estate development, and retired employees of said organizations. Rural utilities shall be defined as organizations that borrow monies or are eligible to borrow monies from (1) rural utility service, (2) national rural utilities cooperative finance corporation, or (3) cobank. The membership shall be in the name of the person as identified on the membership application. Affiliate limited member: any regional organization that consists of separate development organizations such as regional economic development groups, regional marketing groups, regional corridors, regional utility groups, and councils of government. Categories of membership: individual member: those individuals who qualify for membership as defined in section 1. May qualify to be individual members and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership, including, but not limited to, voting, the right to vote and the right to hold office. Honorary member: a past president or founder of the association. Dues and annual conference registrations are complimentary for honorary members. Honorary members shall be selected and approved by the board of directors as needed. Student member: an individual enrolled at a college, university, community college or other educational institution full-time (12+ credit hours) at the undergraduate (or graduate level) in an economic development or related degree program. Affiliate limited member: regional organizations that qualify for membership as defined in section 1b may qualify to be an affiliate limited member in one of the two sub-categories: 1. An organization made up of primarily local, community-based economic developers and/or government officials. 2. An organization made up of primarily staff and/or directors of rural utilities. Voting members: individual members are eligible to vote on actions of the association. Nonvoting members: honorary, student, and affiliate limited members are not eligible to vote on the actions of the association and are not eligible for election to any elected position to the board of directors.”

“Directors will be elected at-large by the membership.”

“A draft of the form 990 will be presented to the board of directors and reviewed before the form is filed.”

“Enforcement of conflicts policy annually, the board members and members of management sign a declaration disclosing any known conflicts of interest.”

“The public is able to view the association's governing docments, financial statements and conflict of interest policy upon request. These documents are available for the same period of time as described in internal revenue code section 6104(d) for other public disclosure documents.”

“The national rural economic developers association is a member organization dedicated to the advancement of rural economic development through providing education and networking opportunities. The purpose of the national rurual economic developers association shall be: - to promote the exchange of ideas and information betweeen association members. - to provide members educational opportunities to encourage professional advancement. - to further the movement of growing and revitalizing rural america through economic enhancement.”