The Vision Council

“The vision council has three categories of membership: full members, associate members, and trade media members. All categories of membership shall pay dues, fees and assessments in accordance with procedures established by the board of directors. Full membership: any person, firm or corporation conducting business in north america, whose primary business is the manufacturing, processing and/or distribution of optical equipment, frames, lenses, contact lenses, and other eyewear and eyecare related products, and/or services, and who exhibits at one vision council co-owned show per calendar year, is eligible for full membership in the council. Full members shall be entitled to receive all of the services of the council, and shall be entitled to vote and hold office. Associate membership: any person or company who provides services to the optical industry, or any person, firm or corporation, who meets the description of a full member, but who is not a current exhibitor at a vision council co-owned trade show, shall be eligible for associate membership in the vision council. Associate members shall be permitted to participate in the vision council programs, receive services and statistical data, and attend the vision council meetings as determined by the vision council board of directors. Associate members shall be entitled to vote for the election of the vision council directors and officers, and may hold office only to the extent permitted by these bylaws. Trade media membership: any person, firm or corporation providing trade media services to regular, full or associate members of the vision council shall be eligible for trade media membership. Trade media members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office, and shall be entitled to attend the vision council meetings and participate in the vision council programs as determined by the vision council board of directors. Board of director officers of the organization are nominated by the nominating committee and presented to dues-paying members at an all-member meeting during the organization's executive summit (annual meeting).”

“The organization has a nominating committee that prepares a slate of candidates to be submitted to the membership of the organization to stand for election as directors and officers. A full member may make nominations by submitting a nomination in writing to the ceo, which has been seconded in writing by fifteen full members. The elected directors, except for the ceo, the vision council foundation's directors, division chairs, the immediate past division chairs of the largest operating divisions, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the organization by majority vote of those members eligible to vote, present, and voting.”

“The 990 is reviewed by the organization's finance committee, chaired by the board of directors' secretary-treasurer, who act on behalf of the board of directors.”

“Board of director members are required to review and sign a conflict of interest policy statement annually at the board of directors meeting at our annual executive summit in january. This statement is presented and discussed by our legal counsel. Copies are filed in tvc's finance office for review by the auditors during their annual audit. In addition, the legal counsel reviews the conflict of interest policy with bod members prior to each bod meeting.”

“The ceo's salary is benchmarked by our hr consultant against trade associations of like size, both budget wise and number of employees. The executive committee reviews and approves all salary changes for the ceo. The hr consultant benchmarks all salary adjustments of key employees and these changes are reviewed and approved by the appropriate department head, cfo and ceo.”

“The vision council provides copies upon request and/or available at staff headquarters for inspection.”

“The vision council carries $21,811 post 2017 nol from advertising that will be utilized to offset taxable income in the future.”

“Other professional fees 695,724. Research and data 564,290. Marketing 198,766. Event planning 137,089.”

“The audit oversight procedures have not changed from the prior year.”