Intellectual Property Owners Association

“Ipo executive committee is a nine 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 officers, 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 consists of the following: sustaining membership, regular corporate membership, law firm membership, small business/university membership, service providers membership, and individual membership. Corporations and partnerships are represented by individuals designated in writing by such corporations or partnerships. The board of directors fixes the amount of dues that may be required from each class of member.”

“Intellectual property owners association membership elects the governing body. Of the board of directors, 2/3 of the board must be from sustaining members. In addition, five positions shall be reserved for election from regular membership.”

“Ipo practice is to document all board meetings; executive committee meetings are not always 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 form 990 with the director of operations and finance. The director of operations and finance then reviews it in full detail with the deputy executive director and executive director prior to signing of document. A copy of the form 990 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 of 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.”

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

“The following are the new significant program activities during 2020: 1. Gender diversity in innovation toolkit roadshow - as a follow-up to the gender diversity innovation toolkit, released in fall 2019, $8,000 was included in the 2020 budget for a member of the women in ip committee to promote the toolkit via a domestic trip. Unfortunately, the pandemic waylaid those plans but the 2021 budget includes funding for virtual gender diversity meetings as well as one domestic trip to promote the toolkit. 2. Ipowners quarterly newsletter - beginning in march 2020, quarterly publication provides members with analysis and updates on ip issues and association activities at the end of each quarter.”