Form 990, Part III, Section 1, Line 4A |
Statement of Program Service Accomplishments Educational Conferences, Working Group Meetings Publications TSC published 5 new or updated commentaries in its areas of expertise produced 6 conferences reaching approximately 580 attorneys, judges and others interested in the legal system held 4 Working Group meetings reaching approximately 485 attorneys, judges and others which meetings provide a forum for the bench and bar to explore and identify issues related to the TSCs areas of expertise and creating educational content in those areas held 7 webinars reaching over 720 people providing educational content in TSCs areas of expertise worked with approximately 670 attorneys, judges and others who participate in TSCs working groups to create forward looking guidelines, best practices and principles in TSCs areas of expertise had approximately 75,120 downloads of TSCs educational content from TSCs website provided for free for personal use to interested attorneys, judges and others fulfilled more than 90 requests from more than 60 courts, federal and state agencies, bar associations, law schools and others to reprint TSCs educational materials published the annual Sedona Conference Journal distributed to over 200 public courthouses and law libraries on a complimentary basis in addition to private subscribers. |
Form 990, Part III, Section 1, Line 4A |
Program Accomplishments continued The Deputy Executive Director of TSC coordinates special outreach to state, federal, and foreign judges. Registration fees for TSCs educational programs and events are waived for members of the Judiciary and their staff. During FYE 2014, 43 judges attended eight webinars 22 judges attended four Sedona Conference Institute education programs 88 judges and court staff attended four education programs sponsored by other organizations using TSC materials and speakers 41 judges participated in four TSC Working Group meetings and nine judges attended two topical conferences sponsored by TSC. In addition, The Sedona Conference Cooperation Proclamation Resources for the Judiciary reached 5,895 downloads by the end of FYE 2014. |
Form 990, Part III, Section 1, Line 4A |
Program Accomplishments continued During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, commentaries published by TSC were cited in 30 reported federal, state, and administrative court decisions. They were also cited in 83 scholarly articles, 50 sets of Continuing Legal Education CLE program materials, and six state legal practice guides. Authors cited The Sedona Conference more than 200 times in published legal treatises. Parties cited The Sedona Conference in 11 published appellate court briefs, 29 published trial court briefs, and 5 sets of published arbitration submissions. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11B |
Process to Review and Approve Form 990. Our outside tax accountant prepares the Form 990 based on the independent audit work papers and, once reviewed by executive director, it is transmitted by email to the Board of Directors for their review and approval in writing |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12C |
Conflict of Interest Policy. The Board of Directors annually reviews the purpose and intent of the Conflict of Interest Policy to ensure that any Board members or officers with interests or connections to any organizations providing services to or otherwise connected with TSC do not unduly influence the Board of Directors, and recuse themselves from consideration of any matter with respect to which they may, do, or may appear to have a conflict of interest. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 A B |
Compensation Policy. The Board of Directors completes a formal process of retaining an outside compensation consultant to collect data on comparable compensation for similar organizations employing individuals with similar skills, job duties and requirements. Based on this data, the Board approves compensation for management level employees and the Executive Director that it concludes is reasonable and documents the compensation decisions in Board minutes and/or written actions of the Board. Interested employees and the Executive Director do not participate in proceedings or discussions involving the setting of their compensation. Compensation is approved by the Board in advance of any change in compensation for the Executive Director or Management Level employees. |
Form 990, Part I, Section C, Line 19 |
The organization will provide in a timely manner, copies of all governing documents, including its conflict of interest policies and financial statements when requested in writing or in person. |
Form 990, Part VII, Section A, Line 1 |
The Board of Directors of The Sedona Conference approved a one-time payment to its Founder, and Executive Director Emeritus, Richard Braman, of 995,000, which was paid in June 2013. The Board recognized that Mr. Braman has provided invaluable services to the organization but his compensation and benefits have been substantially below the market for his role and the size of the organization, and the skills, talents and credentials he brings to the position. The payment was approved by the Board in advance of its payment, by Directors who were free from conflicts of interest, in reliance upon a reasoned written opinion from Longnecker Associates LA, nationally recognized independent compensation consultants, and in reliance upon comparable data provided by LA. After a careful analysis of this historical under-compensation, particularly the absence of any form of retirement benefit, and considering the financial and organizational interests of The Sedona Conference, and under the professional guidance of its compensation consultants, the Board determined that a one-time cash payment was reasonable and in the organizations best interests, and the best approach to appropriately and fairly compensate Mr. Braman for his services and to help him plan for his eventual retirement. This one-time payment, approved by the Board, is included in the compensation reported to Mr. Braman in Form 990, Part VII, and Schedule J, Part II. |
Form 990, Part IX, Section 1, Line 18 |
Expense reimbursements to public officials are limited to travel and lodging for attending and participating in TSC meetings and conferences. |
Form 990, Part XII, Section 2, Line C |
The board of directors have assigned members to an audit committee to oversee the financial statement audit and selection the independent auditor. |