2016-11-10T10:05:48-06:00 2015-12-31 341897853 CRUM & COMPANY 525 N CLEVELAND MASSILLON RD STE 10 AKRON OH 443333332 990 2015-01-01 341859064 WEST CREEK PRESERVATION COMMITTEE WEST 2167493720 PO BOX 347113 CLEVELAND OH 44134 DEREK SCHAFER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2167493720 2016-11-01 true KEVIN K CRUM P00255436 3308671222 2016-11-09 2015 2017-02-10 21:41:12Z WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY DEREK SCHAFER PO BOX 347113 CLEVELAND OH 44134 1864445 false X WWW.WESTCREEK.ORG X 2000 OH SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL AREAS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, OPEN SPACE, AND STREAM/WETLANDS/WATERSHEDS IN GREATER CLEVELAND. 13 13 4 420 0 1163837 1658175 141527 171671 38 -651 8198 2120 1313600 1831315 0 0 105524 157168 0 59764 1422148 1564108 1527672 1721276 -214072 110039 161210 701290 86535 158254 74675 543036 X OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN GREATER CLEVELAND BY CONSERVING NATURAL HABITATS, RESTORING THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN LANDS, AND EXPANDING NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE NATURE. false false 1587553 171810 WITHIN 2015, WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY COMPLETED A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF KEY CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN VARIOUS WATERSHEDS ACROSS THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA. IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THE INITIATIVE ALONG COVENTRY DRIVE IN PARMA, WHICH IS ON THE SOUTH END OF THE WEST CREEK RESERVATION. IN AN EXTENUATING EFFORT TO EXPAND THE PARK AND RECLAIM UN-SUSTAINABLY DEVELOPED LAND ALONG A STREAM CORRIDOR, WCC COMPLETED 4 KEY ACQUISITIONS DIRECTLY ADJACENT AND UPON A MAIN WEST CREEK TRIBUTARY; 4 PROPERTIES (WITH FLOODPRONE HOMES) WERE ACQUIRED AND SLATED FOR DEMOLITION. NOT ONLY DID THIS ELIMINATE A DIRECT STORMWATER DISCHARGE INTO THE STREAM, IT ALSO ENABLED A VITAL PARK EXTENSION AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION AND IT IS ALSO RECLAIMING LAND THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE FIRST PLACE; A LAND ACQUISITION APPROACH TO WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (THE HOUSES SLATED FOR DISMANTLING AND DEMOLITION IN 2016). IN AN EFFORT TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RESERVATION, WCC COMPLETED AN 8-YEAR ACQUISITION AT THE END OF PARKHAVEN DR., WHICH FINALLY PROVIDED AN EAST-SIDE ACCESS POINT TO THE PARK (A TRAIL HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED GIVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ACCESS TO THE 16TH CLEVELAND METROPARKS' GEM IN THEIR EMERALD NECKLACE). THIS PROPERTY IS BEING INTEGRATED INTO THE PARK IN 2016, VIA A LEASE AMENDMENT. THROUGH WCC'S EFFORTS TO ASSIST OTHER WATERSHED GROUPS, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL AND THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO PROTECT A 20-ACRE PROPERTY, WITH NEARLY A MILE OF UN-IMPACTED STREAM CHANNEL, ALONG BALDWIN CREEK, ONE OF THE MOST DISTRESSED WATERSHEDS OF THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED. THESE COMBINED ACQUISITIONS TOTALED OVER 750,000 (A COMBINATION OF LOCAL, PRIVATE, AND STATE FUNDING). WITHIN THE TINKER'S CREEK WATERSHED, WCC COORDINATED THE ACQUISITION AND RECLAMATION OF A 4-ACRE PROPERTY ALONG BEAR CREEK, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY TO TINKER'S CREEK, IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, A PRIVATE DONOR, AND THE COUNTY LAND BANK, WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY ALSO SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED 4 STRUCTURES (3 HOMES AND 1 LARGE GARAGE) FROM THE FLOODPLAIN AND RIPARIAN AREA; AGAIN AN INITIATIVE TO NOT ONLY PROTECT STREAM CORRIDORS, BUT TO ALSO RECLAIM LAND THAT WAS UN-SUSTAINABLY DEVELOPED. WCC NOW OWNS AND STEWARDS THE LAND AS A NATURAL GREENSPACE. DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABOVE, WCC WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE THE PRESERVATION OF OVER 270 ACRES OF URBAN GREENSPACE, AND PROCURE SUCH FUNDING THROUGH STATE AND PRIVATE FUNDS (WITH IMPLEMENTATION/CLOSING SET FOR 2016). SUCH INITIATIVES WILL PUT WEST CREEK RESERVATION OVER THE 400-ACRE MARK, EXPAND VILLAGE OF VALLEY VIEW PARK BY OVER 100 ACRES, AND ADD 26 ACRES (AND NEARLY A MILE OF STREAM) TO ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST VISITED PARKS, THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK; AN ACQUISITION INITIATIVE TOTALING OVER 5M IN LOCAL, PRIVATE, AND STATE SUPPORT, LEVERAGED BY WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY. 2015 WAS ALSO A YEAR THAT INCLUDED FACILITATION OF THE MILL CREEK WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP, AN ASSOCIATION OF STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE WATERSHED THAT HAVE THE COMMON PURPOSE OF RESTORING AND ENHANCING MILL CREEK FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT. WCC WAS ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE FUNDING TO SUPPORT A WATERSHED COORDINATOR, A LARGE SCALE STREAM RESTORATION AND REFORESTRY PROJECT IN THE HEADWATERS, AS WELL AS PLANNING/ENGINEERING FUNDS FOR A SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION PROJECTS. NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE HELD IN THE WATERSHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MILL CREEK MEMBER COMMUNITIES, INCLUSIVE OF PLANTINGS, CLEAN-UPS, HIKES, TOURS, AND ACTION-ORIENTED WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS, THAT INTEGRATED LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY ALSO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN MANAGING AND STEWARDING ITS LANDS. THROUGHOUT 2015, THE WEST CREEK CONFLUENCE (A PREVIOUSLY COMPLETE LARGE SCALE RESTORATION PROJECT), WAS THE SITE OF ANOTHER LARGE PHASE OF PLANTING, ADDING OVER 1,400 TREES AND SHRUBS. WITHIN THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED, WCC ADDED ANOTHER PHASE OF PLANTING TO ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED 2014 PROJECT, ENSURING VEGETATION WAS BEING ESTABLISHED. STRATEGIC INVASIVE SPECIE CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED AT ALL WCC-PROTECTED PROPERTIES AS WELL, ENSURING THAT BIODIVERSITY WAS MAINTAINED. ALSO, TO ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION, WCC CREATED A SMALL NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AT ONE OF ITS CONSERVATION SITES, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PLANT MATERIAL TO BE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT WCC'S PROJECTS AND LANDS. VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REMAINED HIGH FOR THE YEAR AS WELL, WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS PITCHING IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS TOWARDS PLANTINGS, INVASIVE CONTROL, CLEAN-UPS, HENNINGER HOUSE LANDSCAPING, PROPERTY SURVEYS AND SO MUCH MORE. 1587553 true true false false false false true false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false true 19 0 4 true false false false false false true true false false false false X 13 13 true false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false OH X X WEST CREEK PRESERVATION COMMITTEE WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY 2167493720 1440 ROCKSIDE ROAD SUITE 329 PARMA OH 44134 DOROTHY HAZEL DIRECTOR 10.00 X 0 0 0 IRVIN HAZEL DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BARBARA HERMES SECRETARY 10.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL G CRAIG DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JEFFREY W LENNARTZ CHAIRPERSON 10.00 X X 0 0 0 GEORGE CANTOR DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 IRENE TOTH DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 TERRY GREATHOUSE DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JEREMY A DEPINET TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL R BAUMGARTNER VICE CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 RICHARD K WEISER DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARIA CURCIO DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ERIC SLUSS DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 DEREK SCHAFER EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 71874 0 10635 71874 10635 false false false 25531 17574 958826 656244 450169 1658175 PROGRAM AND FEE INCOME 531390 171671 171671 171671 2349 3000 -651 -651 -651 31460 17574 30130 1330 1330 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 531390 790 790 790 1831315 171810 1330 82509 42080 20627 19802 53557 27117 13922 12518 10259 7181 1026 2052 10843 6290 2545 2008 3015 3015 7379 7379 24802 9899 5128 9775 21402 7605 5855 7942 11862 11862 5419 4450 89 880 1015 1015 LAND ACQUISITON DIRECT 1108610 1108610 RESTORATION WORK EXPENSE 147582 147582 LAND SETTLEMENT COSTS 145404 145404 TRAIL PLANNING 21037 21037 66581 60298 1496 4787 1721276 1587553 73959 59764 142237 59685 15856 231602 24011 385992 3117 385992 161210 701290 50364 133573 36171 24681 86535 158254 X -31211 407666 105769 135233 117 137 74675 543036 161210 701290 110039 358322 X false true X true false X 534526 183697 1066445 1163837 1658175 4606680 534526 183697 1066445 1163837 1658175 4606680 57602 4549078 967 630 265 38 1900 3796 7198 330 11324 4619904 172461 0.98470 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X X X 41 440.92 1 1 false 170.00 3725 372087 372087 13905 13905 385992 X 1861445 30130 30130 1831315 1831315 1751406 30130 30130 1721276 1721276 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 1, PART II, LINE 9 LAND THAT IS PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED FOR CONSERVATION, EASEMENTS, AND COVENANTS, WHICH WERE ACQUIRED THROUGH PURCHASES AND CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S INCEPTION, ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AT A VALUE OF 1 PER PERMANENT PARCEL NUMBER (PPN) ON THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION. MANAGEMENT CLASSIFIES THESE ACQUISITIONS AS A "COLLECTION," AS DEFINED IN ASC TOPIC 958, DUE TO ITS INTENT TO HOLD THESE ASSETS IN PERPETUITY FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES. BECAUSE MANAGEMENT BELIEVES THE VALUE OF THESE PARCELS HAS BEEN IMPAIRED, AS DEFINED IN ASC TOPIC 360, AT ACQUISITION DUE TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PLACED ON THESE PARCELS, DIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND, EASEMENTS, OR COVENANTS ARE EXPENSED IN THE YEAR INCURRED. SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN CONFORMITY WITH ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REQUIRE THE ORGANIZATION TO REPORT INFORMATION REGARDING ITS EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS TAX POSITIONS TAKEN BY THE ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION HAS DETERMINED WHETHER ANY TAX POSITIONS HAVE MET THE RECOGNITION THRESHOLD AND HAS MEASURED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPOSURE TO THOSE TAX POSITIONS. MANAGEMENT BELIEVES THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED ALL RELEVANT TAX POSITIONS AND THAT THERE ARE NO UNRECORDED TAX LIABILITIES. FEDERAL AND STATE TAX AUTHORITIES GENERALLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXAMINE AND AUDIT THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS OF TAX RETURNS FILED. SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSE 30,130 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSE 30,130 BLUES FOR GREEN 42254 14824 27430 9042 11400 1006 1300 1916 TAILS FOR TRAIL 5960 2750 3210 1350 225 281 200 2968 48214 17574 30640 10392 11625 1287 1500 4884 29688 952 X 20 439630 X ITEMS TO RAFFLE 86 9894 X COMPUTER SOFTWA 1 360 X PARTY ITEMS 3 285 false true false FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN GREATER CLEVELAND BY CONSERVING NATURAL HABITATS, RESTORING THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN LANDS, AND EXPANDING NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE NATURE. FORM 990, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 6 VOLUNTEERISM NUMBERED APPROXIMATELY 420 PARTICIPANTS FOR 2015. SUCH PARTICIPANTS PUT IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF WORK, WHETHER AT CLEAN-UPS, PLANTINGS, TOURS, HIKES, FIELD DAYS, OR AT HENNINGER HOUSE WORKDAYS SPENT PAINTING, LANDSCAPING, OR BUILDING TRAILS. NOT ONLY DO THESE GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS HELP WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY FORWARD ITS MISSION THROUGHOUT GREATER CLEVELAND, BUT WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY GAIN WHILE WORKING WITH US CAN BE REPLICATED AT THEIR HOME OR WORKPLACE. VOLUNTEERS AND MEMBERS ARE OUR BEST SPOKESPEOPLE, AND WITH THEM TAKING HOME WHAT THEY LEARNED OR SAW WITH US, AND BROADCASTING IT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY, WE CAN INITIATE SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN A GREATER POPULACE. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A APPROACH TO WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (THE HOUSES SLATED FOR DISMANTLING AND DEMOLITION IN 2016). IN AN EFFORT TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RESERVATION, WCC COMPLETED AN 8-YEAR ACQUISITION AT THE END OF PARKHAVEN DR., WHICH FINALLY PROVIDED AN EAST-SIDE ACCESS POINT TO THE PARK (A TRAIL HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED GIVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ACCESS TO THE 16TH CLEVELAND METROPARKS' GEM IN THEIR EMERALD NECKLACE). THIS PROPERTY IS BEING INTEGRATED INTO THE PARK IN 2016, VIA A LEASE AMENDMENT. THROUGH WCC'S EFFORTS TO ASSIST OTHER WATERSHED GROUPS, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL AND THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO PROTECT A 20-ACRE PROPERTY, WITH NEARLY A MILE OF UN-IMPACTED STREAM CHANNEL, ALONG BALDWIN CREEK, ONE OF THE MOST DISTRESSED WATERSHEDS OF THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED. THESE COMBINED ACQUISITIONS TOTALED OVER 750,000 (A COMBINATION OF LOCAL, PRIVATE, AND STATE FUNDING). WITHIN THE TINKER'S CREEK WATERSHED, WCC COORDINATED THE ACQUISITION AND RECLAMATION OF A 4-ACRE PROPERTY ALONG BEAR CREEK, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY TO TINKER'S CREEK, IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, A PRIVATE DONOR, AND THE COUNTY LAND BANK, WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY ALSO SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED 4 STRUCTURES (3 HOMES AND 1 LARGE GARAGE) FROM THE FLOODPLAIN AND RIPARIAN AREA; AGAIN AN INITIATIVE TO NOT ONLY PROTECT STREAM CORRIDORS, BUT TO ALSO RECLAIM LAND THAT WAS UN-SUSTAINABLY DEVELOPED. WCC NOW OWNS AND STEWARDS THE LAND AS A NATURAL GREENSPACE. DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABOVE, WCC WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE THE PRESERVATION OF OVER 270 ACRES OF URBAN GREENSPACE, AND PROCURE SUCH FUNDING THROUGH STATE AND PRIVATE FUNDS (WITH IMPLEMENTATION/CLOSING SET FOR 2016). SUCH INITIATIVES WILL PUT WEST CREEK RESERVATION OVER THE 400-ACRE MARK, EXPAND VILLAGE OF VALLEY VIEW PARK BY OVER 100 ACRES, AND ADD 26 ACRES (AND NEARLY A MILE OF STREAM) TO ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST VISITED PARKS, THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK; AN ACQUISITION INITIATIVE TOTALING OVER 5M IN LOCAL, PRIVATE, AND STATE SUPPORT, LEVERAGED BY WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY. 2015 WAS ALSO A YEAR THAT INCLUDED FACILITATION OF THE MILL CREEK WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP, AN ASSOCIATION OF STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE WATERSHED THAT HAVE THE COMMON PURPOSE OF RESTORING AND ENHANCING MILL CREEK FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT. WCC WAS ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE FUNDING TO SUPPORT A WATERSHED COORDINATOR, A LARGE SCALE STREAM RESTORATION AND REFORESTRY PROJECT IN THE HEADWATERS, AS WELL AS PLANNING/ENGINEERING FUNDS FOR A SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION PROJECTS. NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE HELD IN THE WATERSHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MILL CREEK MEMBER COMMUNITIES, INCLUSIVE OF PLANTINGS, CLEAN-UPS, HIKES, TOURS, AND ACTION-ORIENTED WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS, THAT INTEGRATED LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. WEST CREEK CONSERVANCY ALSO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN MANAGING AND STEWARDING ITS LANDS. THROUGHOUT 2015, THE WEST CREEK CONFLUENCE (A PREVIOUSLY COMPLETE LARGE SCALE RESTORATION PROJECT), WAS THE SITE OF ANOTHER LARGE PHASE OF PLANTING, ADDING OVER 1,400 TREES AND SHRUBS. WITHIN THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED, WCC ADDED ANOTHER PHASE OF PLANTING TO ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED 2014 PROJECT, ENSURING VEGETATION WAS BEING ESTABLISHED. STRATEGIC INVASIVE SPECIE CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED AT ALL WCC-PROTECTED PROPERTIES AS WELL, ENSURING THAT BIODIVERSITY WAS MAINTAINED. ALSO, TO ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION, WCC CREATED A SMALL NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AT ONE OF ITS CONSERVATION SITES, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PLANT MATERIAL TO BE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT WCC'S PROJECTS AND LANDS. VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REMAINED HIGH FOR THE YEAR AS WELL, WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS PITCHING IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS TOWARDS PLANTINGS, INVASIVE CONTROL, CLEAN-UPS, HENNINGER HOUSE LANDSCAPING, PROPERTY SURVEYS AND SO MUCH MORE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 2 DOROTHY HAZEL IRVIN HAZEL FAMILY MEMBER FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B PRIOR TO FILING, THE FORM 990 IS PRESENTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, FINANCE STAFF, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AFTER WHICH IT IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE IRS. A BOARD OFFICER SIGNS THE 990. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C EACH YEAR, THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO REVIEW THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE POLICY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ALL DECISIONS OF THE BOARD OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE MADE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A DESIRE TO PROMOTE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PUBLIC GOOD. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT REQUESTS BOARD MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AFFILIATIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY BE POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE FINANCIAL OR OTHER SUBSTANTIVE OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE ALSO ASKED TO IDENTIFY CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING EITHER THEMSELVES, OR A MEMBER OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY, THAT MAY BE CONSTRUED AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT THE STAFF LEVEL, THE ORGANIZATION'S PERSONNEL ALSO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WHEN CONSIDERING THE ENGAGEMENT OF A NEW VENDOR. IF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT IS IDENTIFIED, APPROPRIATE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO BOTH ASSESS THE NATURE OF THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, TO ENSURE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACTUAL CONFLICT IS MITIGATED. SUCH MITIGATION IS MANAGED AND THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE CONFLICTS POLICY ARE UPHELD. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ANNUALLY EVALUATES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. COMPENSATION IS BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND COMPARED TO OTHER AREA MISSION-COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS OF SIMILAR SIZE. THIS COMPENSATION IS A COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS A WHOLE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, FORM 990, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. THE FORM 990 CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON SEVERAL PUBLICALLY-ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSE 30,130 SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSE -30,130