Intellectual Property Owners Association

“Ipo executive committee is an 8 member committee composed of ipo officers, immediate past president, the foundation president and other members elected from the ipo board. The committee primarily is delegated authority to approve amicus briefs, take some legislative positions, and approve agendas for board meetings, and other miscellaneous association business that takes place between board meetings. The committee may not fill vacancies in the board of offices, nor may it amend the bylaws or fix the amount of dues. The executive committee shall be required to report in full at the next meeting of the board of directors all actions taken by the committee.”

“The membership classes of ipo shall consist of the following: sustaining membership, regular membership, law firm membership, small business, university membership, individual membership. Corporations and partnerships shall be represented by individuals designated in writing by such corporations or partnerships. The board of directors shall fix the amount of dues that may be required from each class of members.”

“All member classes have the right to vote in favor or against individuals proposed to be elected members of the governing body.”

“Ipo practice is to document all board meetings; executive committee meetings are not documented in writing, but any business delegated to the executive committee by the board is typically followed by an oral report to the board.”

“The finance manager reviews the return with the director of operations and finance, the deputy executive director, and the executive director prior to signing of document in full detail. A copy of the tax return is provided to the governing body before filing with irs.”

“An interested person shall be obligated to disclose the existence of any actual or possible financial interest involving a transaction (and all material facts relating thereto) to a member of the executive committee or the board of directors in the event that (i) such interested person is aware of any actual or possible financial interest involving a transaction, and (ii) such interested person causes or influences (or intends to cause or influence) the expenditure or utilization of ipo resources with respect to such transaction. After disclosure of the existence of the financial interest and all material facts related thereto, and after any discussion with the interested person, the executive committee or the board directors, as the case may be, shall discuss such transaction or arrangement and such financial interest outside the presence of the interested person. The interested person shall be required to abstain from any required vote taken with respect to such proposed transaction. An interested person may make a presentation at any meeting of the executive committee or the board of directors, as applicable, but after such presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction involving the possible financial conflict of interest.”

“Compensation committee benchmarks using the 990s of other organizations and reviews actual performance against goals; executive committee approves or denies compensation committee's recommendations. The most recent year in which this process occurred was 2013.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”