Tennessee Community Organizations

“TNCO is a membership organization comprised of a regular membership which is composed of community provider organizations whose primary purpose is providing direct care services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

“Only regular members are permitted to vote. The bylaws state the following Voting Each member organization shall designate one person to be its voting representation. The name and address of the voting representative and of any designated alternate will be forwarded to the Association office at teh beginning of each fiscal year during the month of July. Only such designated representatives or designated alternate may serve as officers or members on the board of directors. Regular members elect their regional board delegates and association officers.”

“The 990 is provided ot the finance committee for review. Any needed changes would be done prior to the finance committee recommending that the board of directors approve it. The board then reviews and if changes are needed, those would be completed prior to the boards approval.”

“The organization monitors and enforces compliance with the conflict of interest policy by annually asking the board to review the policy, sign an acknowledgement of the policy, and provide disclosure of any potential confict of iterest.”

“CEO, Top Management executive compensation policy I. Purpose A. To ensure that decisions regarding executive compensation are made through a process free of potential conflicts of interest. II. Persons whose compensation is subject to this policy. A. The Executive Directors compensation shall be reviewed under this policy. B. If at some point in the future TNCO employs a person performing the services of chief financial officers, that persons compensation shall be reviewed in accordance with this policy as well. III. Finance Committee A. The Finance committee of the board of directors is authorized to make recommendations to the board regarding executive compensation. The finance committee should, to the extent reasonably available, review appropriate data as to comparability prior to making its recommendaiton, and shall contemporaneously place such data and reasons for its recommnedation in the minutes. B. Only those members of the finance committee who are free of conflicts of interest may be involved in evaluation of executive compensation.”

“Documents are made available upon request.”

“The programs offered are lobbyiing Executive and Legislative, E-Publications, Website, Education programs, LISTSERVS for members and committees. TNCO through its employment, governmental affairs, regulatory, technology and health committees, provides lobbying efforts on behalf of members and utilizes E-publications or LISTSERVS to communicate with members. The employment committee provides an avenue for members to discuss and share ideas about employing the people their agency suppors in the community. The Governmental Affairs Committee sponsors a legislative day for members to meet with their state legislators on critical TNCO litigation and other legislation impacting their agencies. About 64 people participated. This committee also produces an E-publication during TNs legislative session, legislative weekly, keeping members apprised of TNCO legisation and other legislation important to their daily operations. TNCOs regulartory committee constantly reviews proposed state governmental regulations and policies and then informs members through publications and the associations membership LISTSERV about these regulations and how they will be impacted. This committee also compiles feedback from members and provides suggestions and recommendations to the appropriate state governmental agency. The health committee has meetings with key health care officials of the State of TN and are constantly reviewing and tackling proposed regulatory issues. TNCOs memberhisp and PR committees are responsible for membership promotions, website, education programs, conference, press releases, and annual awards luncheon. TNCOs Technology committee informs members about technology issues that impact them. It also meets wtih state officials regarding billing and payment issues and works with the state to keep it apprised of varoius levels of technology available at agencies across the state.”