Aspen Center for Physics

“General members-- the general members shall determine the general policies of the center, including its scientific program and admissions policy. They shall nominate and elect the trustees. General members must approve financial commitments greater than 250,000, the sale of buildings or property, changes in the mode of operations of the corporation that affect its program, and changes in its overall policies or purpose. Financial commitments include: (a) sale or purchase of property or buildings; (b) encumbrances on property or buildings; (c) construction contracts, loans for new construction; (d) long-term leases; (e) commitments which would materially change the program or operations. Financial transactions which are excluded from this provision include short-term leases for participants' housing made by the administrative staff with the approval of the president and treasurer and routine, revocable transfers of funds between accounts. Trustees and officers-- the affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its board of trustees who need not be residents of the state of colorado. The management of the affairs of the corporation shall be within the general guidelines set by the general members and shall be consistent with the bylaws and articles of incorporation. Conveyances of encumbrances of the property of the corporation shall be authorized by the board of trustees and executed by those persons designated by the board subject to the approval of the general members when so required by the bylaws.”

“Approximately a week prior to filing the form 990, a draft in pdf format is emailed to officers and trustees. Comments and corrections are strongly encouraged. In addition, the administrative vice president and finance manager discuss the entire draft form with the preparer in detail in advance of filing.”

“The board of trustees reviews and approves the administrative vice president's annual salary and benefits, with no participation by the administrative vice president or other interested persons. The salary and benefits are established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits, consideration of roles and responsibilities of the administrative vice president, and cost of living data. Comparable market data are obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not -for-profit organizations. The center has a travel policy that caps reimbursement levels and requires low-budget travel.”

“A line item budget is approved by the general members annually. They approve the overall salaries and benefits expenses. Discussions and decisions regarding the budget are documented in board meeting minutes. The board of trustees review and approve the salaries and benefits of the administrative vice president and the financial manager, with no participation by the interested persons, in accordance with the annual budget. Salaries and benefits are established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits, consideration of roles and responsibilities of the officer or key employee, and cost of living data. Comparable market data are obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for-profit organizations.”

“We consider requests on a case-by-case basis.”

“Aspen center for physics is a scientific organization which promotes organized research in physics, astrophysics, and related fields through programs of individual and collaborative research, workshops, and conferences, as well as promotes the education of the general public through public lectures and other activities.”

“(mission statement, cont'd) workshops, and conferences, as well as promotes the education of the general public through public lectures and other activities.”

“76 board members perform all of the scientific management and administration of the center. They also make decisions on the non- scientific management of the center. 21 lecturers, dialogue speakers, and summer and winter kids speakers deliver free-of-charge public lectures to local and visiting aspen audiences. 15 colloquium speakers deliver talks about their fields for all physicists in residence, particularly for those who work in fields other than the speaker's. 32 high school mentors meet with acp's high school interns to answer the students' questions about college and careers. 75 summer and winter organizers propose workshop or conference topics, then manage that event. 3 community volunteers assist with the maintenance of the acp campus. 30 radio show volunteers.”

“Designed to maximize informal interactions within each area and cross- fertilization between different areas. While continuing to provide leadership in the central areas of physics (particle physics, astrophysics, and condensed matter physics), aspen center for physics has been open to new directions in physics as well as to science at the interface between physics and other disciplines (biology, chemistry, engineering, material science, and mathematics). In addition, 7 to 8 one-week winter conferences bring together 60 to 100 researchers per week in areas of current interest in physics and inter-disciplinary physics research. The center provides office space, office supplies, meeting space, library facilities, and network access to its participants. Support is provided to all individuals during the summer session for whom lodging is arranged by acp. Physicists' summer bills are reduced by the amount of support; overpayments are refunded by check. Winter support is usually awarded to junior scientists and those with a demonstrated need in order to attend. This support is used to reduce the physicist's winter bill or is refunded by check. During the fiscal year ended march 31, 2015, there were 543 summer participants (summer 2014) and 620 winter participants (in january, february, and march 2015).”

“Topics of interest to non-scientists. Summer 2014 attendance was 657 at 7 dialogues. (3) summer children's picnics. In conjunction with the aspen science center, the aspen center for physics hosts children's weekly summer picnics that include a presentation by a participating physicist. This affords children the chance to meet working physicists, to learn about the profession, and to learn some science in fun and entertaining ways. Summer 2014 attendance at 7 picnics was 681. (4) high school mentor program. Acp hires rising senior physics students from 5 valley high schools to work for a summer week at the center to see what theoretical physicists do and to chat with 2 or 3 physicists about college, careers, and/or science. About 42 physicists and students participated in 2014. (5) high school monthly radio show--radio physics. Valley high school physics students from 5 schools interview physicists on a monthly radio show. This introduces the students to science, public speaking, and informs the listening public about current physics topics. There were 35 student and physicist participants for this fiscal year. (6) physics cafes. Co-hosted with aspen science center, before each public lecture 2 or 3 physicists meet with students and the public to discuss physics or careers in science, or whatever topics the public might bring up. From january to march 2015, 697 people attended 8 cafes. (7) television broadcasts. Before most lectures and some dialogues, acp conducts interviews with its speakers. These and the taped lectures are aired several times during the winter or summer seasons. In addition, all videos are available on grassroots tv's website with links from the acp website. There are over 300 acp scientific lectures and interviews available at no charge online. (8) aspen center for physics website. In an on-going project to share the science done at the center, acp has a section of its website titled, "the science." this lists publications generated at the center and includes slides from scientific colloquia attended by summer participants, as well as other scientific information. Total number of public participants physically attending acp outreach for fiscal year 2015: 4,685. Total number of public listening to radio broadcasts or viewing videos on television or online: unknown.”