Special Operations Association Inc.

“FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6: MEMBER CLASSES -- MEMBERSHIP IN THIS ASSOCIATION SHALL CONSIST OF TWO CLASSES: GENERAL MEMBER AND ASSOCIATE MEMBER. THESE TWO CLASSES SHALL BE THE VOTING AND OPERATIONAL MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. NO OTHER DESIGNATION OF ANY AFFILIATE, ASSOCIATE, AGENT, GUEST, INVITEE, OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP TO THE ASSOCIATION, SHALL CONSTITUTE A MEMBER, AND NO PERSONS, OTHER THAN GENERAL MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, OF ANY DESIGNATION OR RELATIONSHIP WHATSOEVER TO THE ASSOCIATION, SHALL ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES AND ENTITLEMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP, OR SHALL BE CONSIDERED MEMBERS. GENERAL MEMBER -- GENERAL MEMBERSHIP IS GRANTED UPON APPLICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, TO THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE REQUESTED GENERAL MEMBER STATUS AND WHO CAN DOCUMENT THAT THEY ARE VETERANS OR MEMBERS OF A U.S. ARMED FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT AS DEFINED BY THIS ASSOCIATION, WHO HAS CONDUCTED SPECIAL OPERATIONS AS AN OPERATIONAL COMBAT ELEMENT OR PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE OPERATIONAL COMBAT ELEMENT IN AN OPERATIONAL ROLE WITHIN AN ASSIGNED AREA OF OPERATIONS. THE ROUTINE OR NORMAL DUTY OF THE APPLICANT WHILE AT THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST HAVE PLACED THE APPLICANT IN DIRECT THREAT/EXPOSURE TO HOSTILE FIRE. THE APPLICANT MUST SUPPLY ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE ASSIGNMENT TO A SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THIS ASSOCIATION DURING THAT UNIT'S PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS PLACED IN DIRECT THREAT/EXPOSURE TO HOSTILE FIRE. IF ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION IS NOT AVAILABLE, ONE GENERAL MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING MUST VERIFY THE CREDENTIALS OF THE APPLICANT FROM PERSONAL FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE APPLICANT WHILE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT. IN THOSE CASES WHERE A GENERAL MEMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE TO VOUCH FOR THE LHA For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ. Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) (2018) 832211 10-10-18 APPLICANT, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, BASED UPON THE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE; AND ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, MAY GRANT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE APPLICANT. FURTHER, GENERAL MEMBERS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP AS SPECIFIED IN IRS CODE 501(C) (19) ALL GENERAL MEMBERS ENJOY FULL PRIVILEGE AND ENTITLEMENTS OF A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ATTENDANCE AT ALL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, VOTING, THE RIGHT TO MAKE MOTIONS AND BE HEARD IN DEBATE AT ALL SUCH MEETING. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP IS GRANTED TO ANY PERSON APPLYING FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP AND APPROVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE. APPLICANT MUST BE A VETERAN OR MEMBER OF A U.S. ARMED FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT AS DEFINED BY THIS ASSOCIATION, WHO SUPPORTED THE CONDUCT OF HIS UNIT'S SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN A NON-OPERATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT ROLE. THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER'S ROUTINE OR NORMAL DUTY DID NOT INVOLVE DIRECT THREAT OR EXPOSURE TO HOSTILE FIRE. THE APPLICANT MUST ALSO SUPPLY ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE ASSIGNMENT TO A SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE ASSOCIATION DURING THAT UNIT'S PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY, OR ONE GENERAL MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING MUST VERIFY THE CREDENTIALS OF THE APPLICANT FROM PERSONAL FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE APPLICANT WHILE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT. IN THOSE CASES WHERE A GENERAL MEMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE TO VOUCH FOR THE APPLICANT, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, BASED UPON THE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE, AND ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, MAY GRANT ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP TO THE APPLICANT. FURTHER, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP SPECIFIED IN IRS CODE 501(C) (19). EXCEPTIONS TO: ALL ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ENJOY FULL PRIVILEGE AND ENTITLEMENTS OF A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CHAIRING AND/OR SERVING ON COMMITTEES AND VOTING THEREIN, ATTENDANCE AT ALL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND ENTER INTO DISCUSSION AT ALL SUCH MEETINGS. HOWEVER, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HOLD OFFICE, TO OBJECT TO ANY ACTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR TO PARTICIPATE”

“Approximately 1100 voting general members elect all officers and directors”

“A copy of the form 990 is provided to each memeber of the board of directors for review and approval prior to being filed.”

“Any director, officer, or member of a committee with board-delegated powers who has a direct or indirect financial interest is an interested person. In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of his or her financial interest and must be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with board-delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he or she shall leave the board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists. An interested person may make a presentation at the board or committee meeting, but after such presentation, he or she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest. The chair of the board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to obtain appropriate data as to comparable transactions and investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement. Appropriate data as to compensation shall include compensation data from three comparable organizations in the geographic area for similar services. Appropriate data as to a property transaction may include independent appraisals and/or offers received as part of an open and competitive bidding process. The board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the corporation's best interests, for its own benefit, and whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to the corporation and shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in conformity with such determination. If the board or committee has reasonable cause to believe that a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose. If, after hearing the response of the member and making such further investigation as may be warranted in the circumstances, the board or committee determines that the member has in fact failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action. The minutes of the board and all committees with board-delegated powers shall contain: the names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the board's or committee's decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection therewith. A description of the comparability or other data obtained and relied upon by the board or committee and how that data was obtained. A description of the terms of the transaction that was approved and the date it was approved. A record of the actions of members of the board or committee having a conflict of interest with respect to the transaction.”

“All financial statemenets, governing policies and board of director meeting minutes are posted monthly on the organization's website and made available to the public upon request.”

“Prior period adjustment $1,500”