Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc

“Classes of membership. The corporation shall have five classes of membership. The classes of membership shall be entitled "professional", "academic", "retired", "associate and "student" respectively. The professional class shall be limited to persons substantially engaged in reporting and/or editing. The academic class shall be limited to persons engaged full-time in research or teaching in the field of journalism. The retired class shall be limited to persons who formerly belonged to the professional and or academic class but have retired from their occupation. "associate" membership will be available to former professional or academic members who are not retired, individuals engaged part-time in reporting or editing, plus individuals recognized by the board of directors for their contributions to this corporation to the field of investigative reporting and editing. The corporation shall recognize as "student" members those college students pursuing a degree, who subscribe to the corporation, in order to be entitled to receive the benefits of its educational activities. Neither associate or student members shall be eligible for the voting rights which are reserved to the other classes of members. (amendment adopted 6/7/08.) each professional, academic or retired member of the corporation who is present in person shall be entitled to one (1) vote upon each question voted upon at all meetings of the members without regard to his or her class of membership.”

“The board of directors is elected by the membership. Vacancies on the board of directors shall occur upon the death, resignation, incapacitation or removal for stated cause by two-thirds vote of the board of any member of the board of directors, and the board may fill such vacancies with the next qualified highest vote recipients among nominees at the last previous election, to serve until the next meeting of the membership, which shall then elect a person to fill the balance of that unexpired term.”

“The board of directors is elected by the membership. Any changes proposed to the articles of incorporation require approval by a two-thirds vote of the membership. Those eligible to vote in such cases include all members except associate or student members.”

“First the form 990 is reviewed by the executive director and financial officer. Then a copy of the form 990 is e-mailed to all members of the executive committee of the board of directors for review. It is reviewed individually and any questions or comments are directed to the executive director.”

“Ire board members receive annual training on the policy and members of the board's executive committee, along with the organization's legal counsel, review any potential issues. All staff, board members, and volunteers are subject to the conflict of interest policy. All conflicts of interest are to be reported to the full board. The party with the conflict of interest is prohibited from participation in any final discussion or any vote on the transaction or issue of conflict.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public on the organization's website and upon request.”

“The current executive director's compensation was determined by a committee created by the organization's board of directors. The committee gathered comparable salary data to use in making their decision.”

“Compensation information in part vii is based on the portion of compensation paid by ire pursuant to an agreemeent with the university of missouri as described in the explanation relating to form 990, part v, line 2a.”

“The process for oversight of the audit and selection of the independent auditor has not changed from prior years.”

“All of the direct expenses for a particular event, such as a training seminar, are reported in the fiscal year in which the event is held. However, because contributions -- such as grants that pay for such training -- are recognized when received, some might be recognized in the fiscal year prior to when the event is held. In ire's audited financial statements, such contributions are presented as temporarily restricted in one column when received and then matched with the expenses in a different column in the next fiscal year when those expenses are recognized. Without the benefit of the display of the separate columns, line 19 in part i of the 990, "revenue less expenses" will include the expenses for the event in the current year whereas the contributed revenue will be reported in the respective line for the prior year. Therefore, a reader of ire's form 990 cannot draw an accurate conclusion about the success of ire in covering the expenses of its various programs and events for a particular fiscal year from the amount displayed as "revenue less expenses" on line 19 of part i.”

“Pursuant to an agreement with the university of missouri, the university employs individuals from time to time as investigative reporters & editors, inc. (ire) requests. These employees shall perform the functions duties and obligations of ire. Such individuals will be deemed to be university employees, subject to all rules and regulations of the university and all personnel policies and benefits pertaining to university employees.”