USA Rice Council

“The organization is organized as an association with members.”

“Section 1 - Producer directors. The number of producer directors on the board shall be determined each year based upon the average of each contributing state's net contribution to the USA Rice Council for the two fiscal year periods ending immediately prior to the year for which the determination is made and the budgeted amount for the fiscal year for which the determination is made. The determination shall be in accordance with the following schedule: A. Each state with a contribution of less than $50,000 shall not be entitled to a producer director. B. Each state with a contribution of at least $50,000 but not more than $100,000 shall be entitled to one producer director. C. Each state with a contribution of more than $100,000 but not more than $150,000 shall be entitled to two producer directors. D. Each state with a contribution of more than $150,000 shall be entitled to two producer directors, plus an additional producer director for each additional contribution of $150,000 or part thereof. E. A state with a contribution of at least $50,000 shall be entitled to one alternate producer director. Each state organization shall annually certify to the Council the names of the persons elected to serve as members of the board and as an alternate. Directors and alternates shall be elected to terms of one year or to such terms as the state organizations may determine and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Section 2 - Miller directors. The number of miller directors on the board shall be determined each year by the average of the net contribution to the USA Rice Council by Miller Members for the two fiscal year periods ending immediately prior to the year for which the determination is made and the budgeted amount for the fiscal year for which the determination is made. The determination shall be in accordance with the following schedule: A. A contribution of $50,000 shall entitle millers to one director. B. A contribution of more than $50,000 but less than $100,000 shall entitle millers to two directors. C. A contribution of $100,000 shall entitle millers to three directors. D. A contribution of more than $100,000 shall entitle millers to three directors, plus an additional director for each additional contribution of $100,000 or part thereof. E. A contribution of at least $50,000 shall entitle millers to one alternate miller director. Miller directors shall be determined by the USA Rice Millers' Association, which shall annually certify the names of those persons elected to serve as members of the board and as an alternate. Appointees must be miller members of the Council, as described in Section IV. Miller directors shall be elected to terms of one year or to such terms as the USA Rice Millers' Association shall determine and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.”

“A draft of the Form 990 was reviewed by the external auditing firm, the Chief Financial Officer, and the President and CEO.”

“The conflict of interest policy is disseminated three times a year in briefing materials prior to meetings to all boards, committees, subcommittees and task forces meeting. All board and committee meetings begin with an acknowledgement that the meeting is being conducted under the terms and conditions of the conflict of interest policy. All board, committee, subcommittee and task force members (including alternates) are required to sign acknowledgement of the policies and declare any conflicts of interest with the understanding that at any time during their volunteer service they are to disclose to the board any conflicts that may arise.”

“The Council does not have any compensated employees, directors, or officers. The CEO and CFO are compensated by The USA Rice Federation, a related organization. An independent executive search firm was responsible for recommending viable candidates and compensation for the CEO position using salary surveys and other information on comparable positions in similar Washington, D.C. area trade associations. The Federation's Board of Directors approved appointment of the current CEO and her initial contract, which contains language about the first year's compensation and subsequent changes. The Federation's Executive Committee conducts annual performance evaluations and approves any changes in compensation, which are confirmed in a letter from the Federation Chairman and filed in the CEO's personnel folder.”

“All documents are made available to the public upon request.”

“No change from prior year.”