Greater Columbus Economic Development

“Per the by-laws of the corporation: membership is open to individuals, firms or organizations that can assist in the fulfillment of the corporation's mission and strategy, including but not limited to, financial and infrastructure support, assistance in connecting to regional assets, and expertise in implementing the corporation's programs. There shall be four classes of members: director, advisor, supporter, and special. All new prospective director or advisor members shall complete an application which shall be presented to the board of directors for consideration and acceptance. Subject to other requirements described herein, director membership shall primarily be open to those with physical assets or presence within bartholomew county. Those with local business or civic interests and/or expertise but without a physical presence within the county may be granted advisory, supporter, or special membership. Associations of individuals, firms or organizations will not be permitted membership at the director or advisory membership levels because of confidentiality and dilution of membership concerns. Associations may, however, join at the supporter membership level and/or if invited to join as a special member. Membership levels will be based on contribution amounts as described below or as later adopted by the board of directors. 2. Director membership will be conferred upon individuals, firms or organizations who contribute annually to the corporation via membership dues or other recognized contributions at the currently adopted "gold", "diamond", or "platinum" levels and whose application is approved by the board. Director members shall be entitled to appoint one representative to the board of directors to serve as a director. Director members will be limited to one board of directors representative, and one vote, regardless of its total annual donations, although proxy representation will be acceptable if the primary representative is unavailable to participate in any meeting. 3. Advisory membership will be conferred upon individuals, firms or organizations who contribute at the "silver" level and whose application is approved by the board of directors. Advisory members will be recognized as silver-level or "silver advisory team" members. These members will also be entitled to appoint one representative who will be invited to attend special combined board and advisory team meetings (typically held quarterly), annual meetings, and may also be asked to join sub-committees. Advisory members will not have voting powers. 4. Supporter membership will be conferred upon any individual, firm, organization or association making annual donations in any amount above $250 and below the current advisory member level contribution. These donors will be recognized as bronze-level members and will receive an invitation to attend the annual meeting and other special meetings as may be authorized. Bronze members will not have voting powers. 5. Special membership may be conferred upon individuals, offices, agencies, or other entities whose position, skills, experience or activities represent an important resource or contribution to the accomplishment of the corporation. At the board's discretion, special members may be elected to serve on the board with either full voting powers, or, more typically, will be elected to serve without voting power. Most ex-officio (by order of office) community partners who are granted special membership will be non-voting. If a special member is granted voting powers, then they may also be elected as officers of the corporation. All special members, whether voting or non-voting, may serve on committees. Special membership may also be conferred upon individuals, offices, agencies, or other entities per the terms of legally-entered "fee-for-service" agreements, such as may be routinely executed between the corporation and local units of government. These contractually granted memberships may specify voting rights an”

“Special membership may be conferred upon individuals, offices, agencies, or other entities whose position, skills, experience or activities represent an important resource or contribution to the accomplishment of the corporation. At the board's discretion, special members may be elected to serve on the board with either full voting powers, or, more typically, will be elected to serve without voting power. Most ex-officio (by order of office) community partners who are granted special membership will be non-voting. If a special member is granted voting powers, then they may also be elected as officers of the corporation. All special members, whether voting or non-voting, may serve on committees. Special membership may also be conferred upon individuals, offices, agencies, or other entities per the terms of legally-entered "fee-for-service" agreements, such as may be routinely executed between the corporation and local units of government. These contractually granted memberships may specify voting rights and, with board approval, may be allowed more than one representative seat on the board, but never more than two members per unit of government. Typically this will allow for up to two representatives of city government and two from county government, where fee-for-service agreements are in place and specify as such. Except for any contractually granted memberships, all other special memberships may be conferred for a period not to exceed one year upon any individual or organization by majority vote of the board, although terms are renewable. The board will review and elect special members each year by majority vote of the board to be held during an executive session immediately before or after the official annual meeting. Special members who are up for election will be excused from attending this executive session in order to allow for discussion and vote.”

“The document is formally reviewed by the executive committee and presented to the full board for review.”

“During the first meeting of each calendar year, a conflict of interest disclosure statement and form is distributed to all members for their signature. For any member not in attendance, the form is mailed to them for their action.”

“The executive committee determines the compensation of the president of the organization after conducting an annual performance evaluation, review of comparability data, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision.”

“Documents are available for the public upon request.”

“Corporation utilizes a professional employer organization (peo), tilson hr, inc., ein 35-1954179, to perform all employment tax withholding, reporting and payment activities on its behalf.”

“There have been no changes in the processes used to choose an independent accountant relating to the oversight of the financial statements.”