2021-11-12T15:55:26-06:00 2020-12-31 742900215 MAXWELL LOCKE & RITTER LLP 401 CONGRESS AVENUE SUITE 1100 AUSTIN TX 787019682 990 2020-01-01 742148447 AUSTIN AREA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION AUST 5124774000 114 W SEVENTH STREET NO 800 AUSTIN TX 787013040 PATRICIA YOUNG BROWN PRESIDENT & CEO 5124774000 2021-11-12 1 PATRICIA YOUNG BROWN 999009999 SEAN HOLCOMB P01249221 5123703200 2 AAL1 IAL1 2020 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z AARO PATRICIA YOUNG BROWN 114 W SEVENTH STREET NO 800 AUSTIN TX 787013040 791702 0 X WWW.AAROREGION.COM X 1980 TX AARO ENGAGES ITS 115 MEMBERS IN DELIBERATIVE, STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES TO ADVANCE THE LONG-TERMECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF CENTRAL TEXAS. IN 2020, AARO ENGAGED ITS MEMBERS IN EFFORTS IN FIVE PRIORITY AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION AND WATER. 20 20 5 132 0 0 591302 748470 53996 32735 9177 10497 0 0 654475 791702 2750 6500 0 0 424525 369900 0 0 15970 227056 184134 654331 560534 144 231168 570466 816966 146794 138344 423672 678622 X AARO, A NON-PARTISAN THOUGHT LEADER FOR CENTRAL TEXAS, HAS WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES ON CRITICAL REGIONAL ISSUES SINCE 1980. THE MEMBERSHIP IS AN INTENTIONALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF CENTRAL TEXAS LEADERS DRAWN FROM BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, REAL ESTATE, THE ARTS AND FOUNDATIONS. IN 2020, AARO HOSTED OVER 50 PROGRAMS ALLOWING MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN SUBSTANTIVE AND FRANK CONVERSATIONS AROUND CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION. BEGINNING IN MARCH 2020, ALL MEETINGS MOVED TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. AARO ALSO LAUNCHED THREE WORKGROUPS TO CONSIDER REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE PERSONAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY, MEASURE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN LIGHT OF LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND STUDY REGIONAL DATA TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGH THE YEAR 2050. IN ADDITION, AARO PROVIDED TEN EXCEPTIONAL CENTRAL TEXAS LEADERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AARO'S ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE MCBEE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 0 0 143289 3000 19641 PROVIDED INFORMATION ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN 5 PRIORITY AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION AND WATER BY HOSTING PROGRAMS FEATURING CONTENT EXPERTS AND PROVIDING WRITTEN MATERIALS TO MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDED SIX MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND MORE THAN 50 ISSUE-RELATED MEETINGS IN WHICH MEMBERS WERE FORTIFIED WITH FACTS TO ALLOW THEM TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX ISSUES AND EDUCATE OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES FACING THE REGION. THE VISION COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO GROW THE AARO HANDBOOK, INCUBATE NEW TOPICS SUCH AS REGIONAL RESILIENCY AND ENVISIONING CENTRAL TEXAS IN 2050 WHILE SUPPORTING AARO'S INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MESSAGING. 38572 3500 4910 THE AARO HEALTH COMMITTEE IS WORKING WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS THROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS ADDRESSING CANCER TOGETHER (CTX-ACT) TO DESIGN A BETTER MODEL FOR CANCER CARE FOR THE UNINSURED IN CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES SURROUNDING TRAVIS THAT DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TAX BASE FOR PATIENT CARE. DATA SHOWS THAT UNINSURED WOMEN ARE 6-8 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH LATE STAGE BREAST CANCER THAN INSURED WOMEN. THROUGH THE LENS OF RACE, A BLACK WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAS TWICE THE MORTALITY RATE OF A WHITE WOMAN WITH A SIMILAR DIAGNOSIS. THE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVE WAS TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO SURROUNDING COUNTIES LAUNCH THIS IMPROVED CARE MODEL FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT IN Q1 2021, REVISED FROM SUMMER 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. AT END OF YEAR, BASTROP WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUNNING A PILOT PROGRAM, HAVING ALREADY SCREENED 40 PREVIOUSLY UNSCREENED PATIENTS FOR BREAST CANCER AND QUALIFIED 31 FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT. WILLIAMSON COUNTY APPROVED A $940,000 ALLOCATION FOR CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT AS WELL AS PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL CARE IMPACTED BY COVID-19. HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECEIVED UPDATES ON THE PROJECT AND WERE CONSIDERING INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT. 35072 0 4910 IN 2020, AARO CREATED AND SUNSET THE PROJECT CONNECT REVIEW TASK FORCE COMPRISED OF SIXTEEN AARO MEMBERS WITHOUT FINANCIAL CONNECTION TO OR PREDETERMINED POSITIONS ON THE 2020 TRANSIT PLAN AND DID A DEEP DIVE ON THE PLAN. THEY MET WITH PROPONENTS, OPPONENTS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL EXPERTS COVERING AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, BEST PRACTICES, COVID IMPACTS, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. THE TASK FORCE MET 13 TIMES BEFORE RECOMMENDING, AND THE MEMBERSHIP AGREED, THAT THE 2020 PROJECT CONNECT TRANSIT PLAN IS INTEGRAL TO THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF THE REGION AND AN INITIAL INVESTMENT, THROUGH A CITY OF AUSTIN TAX RATE ELECTION, WAS A WORTHY INVESTMENT. 23381 0 3274 THE FRANK MCBEE JR. FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A RIGOROUS, 13-MONTH PROGRAM FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. FRANK MCBEE JR. FELLOWSHIPS OFFER EXCEPTIONAL CENTRAL TEXAS LEADERS FIRST-HAND, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH REGIONAL CIVIC ENTREPRENEURS ON A VARIETY OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CENTRAL TEXANS.THE FELLOWSHIP IS DESIGNED TO SEED CENTRAL TEXAS WITH LEADERS WHO THINK REGIONALLY AND ACT AS STEWARDS FOR THE GREATER COMMON GOOD. LIKE AARO MEMBERS, MCBEE FELLOWS:LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELYESTABLISH AND NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUSTTHINK AND ACT SYSTEMICALLY, CONSIDERING THE INTERDEPENDENCY OF ISSUESDURING THE PROGRAM YEAR, FELLOWS ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH MANY OF THE REGION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH AARO COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS. IN ADDITION, EACH FELLOW MEETS REGULARLY WITH TWO AARO MENTORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FELLOWS ARE EXPECTED TO REPAY THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE REGION AS FUTURE LEADERS. AARO HOPES MCBEE ALUMNI WILL INSPIRE OTHERS IN THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE TO THINK AND ACT IN THE LONG-TERM BEST INTEREST OF THE REGION. 23381 0 3274 240314 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 20 20 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 X SANDRA GUZMAN 5124774000 114 W SEVENTH STREET SUITE 800 AUSTIN TX 78701 KAREN FRIESE PAST PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 RAY WILKERSON PRESIDENT 4.00 X X 0 0 0 AMBER CARDEN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL WHELLAN DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 SCOTT FLACK DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 NIKKI GRAHAM DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 CLARKE HEIDRICK DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KEITH JACKSON DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ALI KHATAW DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ASHTON CUBERBATCH DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHELLE EARLEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PETE WINSTEAD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ELLEN WOOD TREASUER & SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 PATRICIA YOUNG BROWN PRESIDENT ELECT 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF HAHN DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 C BRIAN CASSIDY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NIKELLE MEADE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARC RODRIGUEZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 STACY ARMIJO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SANDRA GUZMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 140308 0 10602 VICKI ZAMORSKY INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 45835 0 0 BARBARA JOHNSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 42128 0 0 228271 0 10602 1 0 1 0 0 641082 60000 47388 748470 MEAL FEES 900100 32735 32735 32735 8177 8177 2320 0 2320 2320 2320 791702 32735 0 10497 6500 6500 238873 145634 87799 5440 86640 25555 60128 957 3653 956 2647 50 19746 9297 10003 446 20988 10211 10326 451 2250 2250 2616 2616 11657 9908 1749 15422 4434 10554 434 11002 11002 108218 12970 89998 5250 351 351 15807 10622 5110 75 5014 501 4262 251 1536 1536 BAD DEBTS 4175 0 4175 0 SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT 3726 3726 0 0 CARDS & GIFTS 1465 1465 BOOKS & SUBSCRIPTIONS 941 0 941 0 -46 -46 560534 240314 304250 15970 271204 484701 104255 98058 11211 6197 288051 326068 570466 816966 35513 1391 111281 136953 146794 138344 X 94224 280395 329448 398227 423672 678622 570466 816966 231168 23782 0 X X 0 0 0 X 609382 504983 585723 591302 748470 3039860 609382 504983 585723 591302 748470 3039860 3039860 4468 6640 8450 8644 8177 36379 3076239 229268 0.98820 0.98910 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 288051 8100 32533 2616 326068 231484 12750 46594 2777 288051 239893 10600 -16271 2738 231484 170355 42966 28990 2418 239893 96540 62116 13392 1693 170355 0.00000 0.48399 0.51599 1 0 63602 60175 3427 40653 37883 2770 6197 BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN ASSETS HELD BY OTHERS 326068 326068 PART V, LINE 4: AARO TRANSFERRED $25,000 TO AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WITH THE INTENT TO GROW THAT FUND SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD SPIN OFF INCOME TO HELP FUND AARO RESEARCH. FROM 2010 THROUGH 2013 DUES PAYMENTS FROM ASSOCIATE MEMBERS WERE DEPOSITED IN THE QUASI-ENDOWMENT FUND. STARTING IN 2014, ONLY CONTRIBUTIONS SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FOR THE FUND WERE DEPOSITED IN THE ACCOUNT. SINCE ESTABLISHING THE FUND, AARO HAS WITHDRAWN ZERO DOLLARS TO COVER THE COST OF RESEARCH OR AARO OPERATIONS. X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SANDRA GUZMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 124308 0 16000 0 0 0 3729 0 6873 0 150910 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1 THE AARO BY-LAWS STIPULATE THAT THE "BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL CONSIST OF FOUR (4) PERSONS: PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT, PAST PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY-TREASURER." THE BY-LAWS ALSO STATE THAT THE "EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CORPORATION SHALL BE COMPRISED OF THE FOUR (4) DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION AND THE CHAIR OF EACH OF THE MAJOR COMMITTEES. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE DELEGATED TO IT THE FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DAY-TO-DAY AFFAIRS AND OPERATIONS OF THE CORPORATION." THE BY-LAWS DO NOT PRECLUDE THE APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DETERMINED THERE TO BE VALUE IN THE INCLUSION OF CHAIRS OF KEY TEAMS AND TASK FORCES, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TO SERVE IN AN AT-LARGE CAPACITY IN ORDER TO BRING VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES NOT OTHERWISE REPRESENTED TO THE DISCUSSIONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 SUMMARY OF REVISIONS TO AARO BYLAWS APPROVED BY THE MEMBERS IN NOVEMBER 2020 TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2021: 1. SEC. 2.01 - TRANSITION TO A TRADITIONAL BOARD AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - CHANGED BOARD SIZE TO BE AT LEAST 14 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE CHAIRS OF STANDING COMMITTEES, AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REDUCED TO 4 PEOPLE (THE CHAIR, CHAIR-ELECT, PAST-CHAIR, AND TREASURER). 2. SEC. 2.01 & 2.02 - DIVIDED THE BOARD INTO THREE GROUPS CONSISTING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (ELECTED BY MEMBERS), THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS (SELECTED BY CHAIR-ELECT), AND AT LARGE DIRECTORS (ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS). 3. WRITTEN CONSENT WILL NOW REQUIRE APPROVAL ONLY FROM THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS NECESSARY TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AT A MEETING. SEC. 2.12 PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 4. SEC. 3.01 - ALL OFFICERS ARE ELECTED TO SERVE A TERM OF 1 YEAR, BUT THEY MAY BE REELECTED FOR CONSECUTIVE TERMS AND THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO HOW MANY TIMES AN OFFICER MAY BE REELECTED. 5. SEC. 3.02 - THE CHAIR WILL PRESIDE AT ALL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND NO LONGER HOLDS THE TITLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESIDENT. 6. SEC. 3.04 - EACH YEAR, THE CHAIR-ELECT WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A SLATE OF RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES FOR THE AT-LARGE DIRECTORS ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 7. SECRETARY AND TREASURER WILL BE TWO SEPARATE POSITIONS UNDER SEC. 3.05 AND 3.06. 8. THE PRESIDENT POSITION HAS BEEN RENAMED TO PRESIDENT/CEO AND THE DUTIES HAVE BEEN CHANGED UNDER SEC. 3.07 TO INCLUDE RESPONSIBILITY OF DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AND OTHER DUTIES INCIDENT TO THE OFFICE OF CEO. 9. SEC. 5.01 - STANDING COMMITTEES ARE NOW LISTED: MEMBER RELATIONS, EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION, VISION AND WATER. COMMITTEE CHAIRS WILL HAVE TWO-YEAR TERM LIMITS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE THEN-CURRENT CHAIR-ELECT. 10. DESCRIPTION OF POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNDER SEC. 5.02 HAS BEEN REFINED TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S POWER IS LIMITED TO HANDLING THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF AARO, AS DELEGATED BY THE BOARD. 11. SEC. 5.03 - EACH YEAR, THE MEMBER RELATIONS TEAM WILL FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND CANDIDATES AS MCBEE FELLOWS. THE CHAIR-ELECT WILL APPOINT ONE OF THE AT-LARGE DIRECTORS TO SERVE AS LIAISON TO THE MCBEE FELLOWS. 12. INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE MCBEE FELLOWS HAVE BEEN ADDED UNDER SEC. 5.04. 13. SEC. 6.01 - AARO ACTIVE MEMBERS MUST LIVE IN BASTROP, BURNET, CALDWELL, HAYS, TRAVIS, OR WILLIAMSON COUNTY (IT WAS PREVIOUSLY THE AUSTIN, ROUND ROCK, MARBLE FALLS COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA). 14. SEC. 6.04 - SUSTAINING MEMBERS MAY SERVE AS AN OFFICER OR A CHAIR OF ANY COMMITTEE. 15. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXISTING AND FORMER DIRECTORS & OFFICERS HAS BEEN ADDED UNDER SEC. 9.01. 16. AARO MAY PURCHASE INSURANCE FOR ANY COVERED PERSON UNDER SEC. 9.05. 17. ARTICLE ELEVEN HAS BEEN ADDED TO ADDRESS STATEMENTS AND OTHER ACTIONS FROM AARO REGARDING PUBLIC POLICIES AND ENDORSEMENTS AND REFLECTS THE CURRENT POLICY REQUIRING 2/3RDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP TO APPROVE A POSITION STATEMENT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 AARO'S ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IS CAPPED AT 130: NO LESS THAN 30 MEMBERS WITH AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: (A) LIVE IN A COUNTY OTHER THAN TRAVIS COUNTY; (B) HAVE SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS INTERESTS IN A COUNTY OTHER THAN TRAVIS COUNTY; (C) BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN A COUNTY OTHER THAN TRAVIS COUNTY. IN ADDITION, SUSTAINING MEMBERS ARE INDIVIDUALS FORMERLY IN THE ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY WHO ARE RETIRED OR SEMI-RETIRED FROM BUSINESS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A THE AFOREMENTIONED MEMBERS (ABOVE) ELECT A SLATE OF OFFICERS EACH YEAR. THE MEMBER RELATIONS TEAM PREPARES THE OFFICERS SLATE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B IF A DECISION IS TIME-SENSITIVE, THE GOVERNING BODY IS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE ACTION. OTHERWISE, SUCH DECISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY MEMBERS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE COMPLETE FORM 990 AND HIGHLIGHTS ARE PRESENTED AT AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS ARE HIGHLIGHTED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH MEETING, THE COMMITTEE CHAIR REMINDS THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND REFRAIN FROM VOTING ON MATTERS RELATED TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT. ALSO, THIS REMINDER IS IN WRITING ON A CARD AT EACH PERSON'S SEAT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 ANNUALLY, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GOES INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS SIMILAR TO AARO. THE DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS INCORPORATED INTO THE ANNUAL BUDGET WHICH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FORWARDS TO THE FULL MEMBERSHIP FOR REVIEW AND VOTE TO GRANT FINAL APPROVAL. IN ADDITION, DETAILS ABOUT BENEFITS INCLUDING INSURANCE, VACATION AND HOLIDAYS ARE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 1: MODIFIED ACCRUAL