2025-07-01T08:06:21-05:00 2024-12-31 990 2024-01-01 453860236 SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA INC SLOV 8157271926 431 N CHICAGO STREET JOLIET IL 60432 ROBERT J KUHEL TREASURER 8157271926 2025-06-30 0 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z JOSEPH VALENCIC 19315 MUSKOKA AVENUE CLEVELAND OH 44119 159216 0 X WWW.SLOVENIANUNION.ORG X 2011 IL PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF SLOVENIAN-AMERICANS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. 7 5 4 205 0 0 57495 70164 73677 36013 12654 17903 848 7660 144674 131740 5250 6048 0 0 19096 23176 0 0 0 131864 82372 156210 111596 -11536 20144 541240 599753 18726 50551 522514 549202 X PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF SLOVENIAN-AMERICANS, THROUGH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM, SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, COOKBOOK PUBLICATION, WEBSITE COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITES TO PROMOTE SLOVENIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY. 0 0 36234 36013 ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY MAGAZINES KNOW AS "ZARJA" (THE DAWN)" IN 2024, PUBLISHED 6,753 MAGAZINES WITH AVERAGE OF 40 PAGES. MAGAZINES ARE PRINTED IN COLOR ON GLOSSY PAPER. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES OF $35 INCLUDES THE MAGAZINE. ANNUAL MAILING EXPENSE FOR 6,753 MAGAZINES IS $5,596. NON MEMBERS PAY $8.99 EACH AND INTERNATIONAL $15,99 EA. MAGAZINES CONTAIN: PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, LIST OF NEW MEMBERS, LIST OF DONORS WITH NAMES AND AMOUNTS, DONATIONS OF ARTIFACTS, VARIOUS ARTICLES SUBMITTED BY DONORS IN TRIBUTE TO LONG TERM MEMBERS, FAMILY SLOVENIAN GENEALOGY, AND TRADITIONAL FOOD RECIPES. THERE ARE TWO PART TIME EMPLOYEES, EDITOR AND DESIGNR.$10.400 AND TWO PART TIME CONTRACTOR PROOFREADERS, ONE ENGLISH GRAMMAR CHECKER $600 AND ONE SLOVENIAN GRAMMER CHECKER $400. 14522 HERITAGE EDUATIONAL MUSEUM CONTAINS A COLLECTION OF IMMIGRANT'S ARTIFACTS SUCH AS PHOTOS, BOOKS, DIARIES,CLOTHING, UNIFORMS , TRUNKS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, WORK TOOLS, AND FURNITURE, ETC. LIBRARY HOLDINGS HAVE OVER 900 BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTION FROM A RECOGNIZED SLOVENIAN AMERICAN ARTIST BROGAN GROM (1918 TO 2013). THERE IS A SMALL GIFT SHOP AND MUSEUM IS OPENED BY APPOINTMENT. HARTFORD INSURANCE PROVIDES MUSEUM COVERAGE OF $136,400, PLUS VALUABLE PAPERS $50,000, 1940 PORTRAIT PAINTING OF FOUNDER $4,000 AND ROADSIDE CHAPEL AT A CEMETARY $25,000.HISTORICALLY, ORGANIZATION MOVED FROM CHICAGO IL TO JOLIET IL IN NOVEMBER 1976 TO A 2 1/2 STORY BRICK BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1910. TOTAL FIRST FLOOR IS 1,324 SQ FT, MUSEUM IS 729 SQ FT WITH LIBRARYHOLDINGS/OFFICE 363 SQ FT AND REAR 232 SQ FT CONTAINS REST ROOMS AND STORAGE. REAR SIDE OF BUILDING IS LOCATED ON FAMOUS STREET ROUTE 66. BOARD OF DIRECTORS HELD ITS ANNUAL MEETING AT THE MUSEUM IN SEPTEMBER FOR 3 DAYS. REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE HELD BY VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS - ZOOM. 6049 THERE ARE 20 BRANCHES IN 9 STATES AND D.C. WITH 1,799 MEMBERS. BRANCHES CONTRIBUTED $3,049 TO VARIOUS LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES/FOOD PANTRIES, CHURCHES, LIBRARIES, ETCTHERE WERE 3 EDUCATION GRANTS OF $1,000 EACH FOR A TOTAL OF $3,000. PRGORAM IS MANAGED BY THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE OF 4 MEMBERS. CHAIR PERSON IS FROM BOARD AND 3 OTHERS ARE FROM 3 DIFFERENT BRANCHES. PROGRAM IS ADVERTISED IN THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATIONI "ZARJA AND ON THE WEBSITE. APPLICATION FORM OF TWO PAGES CAN BE DOWLOADED FROM WEBSITE. DUE DATE IS JULY 1 AND 20 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR 2024. COMMITTEE FOLLOWS ITS POLICY/PROCEDURE AND USES AN EVALUATION TOOL KNOWN AS THE RUBRIC SCORING SHEET. IN ADDITION TO OTHER APPLICATION QUESTIONS. COMPLETED APPLICATION CAN BE EMAILED TO COMMITTEE OR U.S. MAIL TO HOME OFFICE IN JOLIET, IL . THE BUDGET OF $3,000 IS AN AVERAGE OF EDUCATION GRANT DONATIONS RECEIVED IN PRIOR TWO YEARS. 6808 4223 1. SLOVENIAN TRIP TOUR EXPENSES AS SUPERVISED BY VOLUNTEERS $9792. EXPENSES ADVANCED FOR THE JULY 30 TO AUGUST 2, 2026 CONVENTION AT FORTUNE BAY, MN $3,0913. BRANCHES HOLD HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS REQUIRING SPACERENT $2,738TOTAL $6,808 6808 4223 63613 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 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 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 IL X X ROBERT J KUHEL 8474334567 431 N CHICAGO STREET JOLIET IL 60432 X JOSEPH A VALENCIC NATIONAL PRESIDENT 8.00 X 0 0 0 ANNETTE CHARRON NATIONAL VP OF OUTREACH 6.50 X 600 0 0 ANNELISE BENITEZ NATIONAL VP OF CULTURE AND HERITAGE 5.00 X 0 0 0 GEORGENE AGNICH NATIONAL VP OF HOME OFFICE 20.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINA ECHEVARRIA NATIONAL VP OF MARKETING/F 20.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT J KUHEL NATIONAL TREASURER 23.50 X 0 6000 0 MARY GLAIZE NATIONAL CORRESPONDING & R 10.00 X 0 0 0 600 6000 0 0 0 0 0 0 26961 43203 70164 HERITAGE PUBLICATION-Z 513120 36013 36013 36013 17903 0 17903 17903 17903 27076 26048 1028 1028 2495 1428 1067 1067 GIFT SHOP SALES 459420 395 395 ADVERTISING REVENUE 623990 290 290 4880 4880 5565 131740 42645 0 18931 3048 3048 3000 3000 21360 12592 8768 1816 1071 745 4010 1000 3010 1648 1648 5082 5082 41277 27734 13543 836 836 19242 12700 6542 979 979 4501 4501 112 112 2972 1268 1704 1688 221 1467 ANNUAL COPORATE REPORT 15 15 ANNUAL AG990-IL TO STAT 10 10 111596 63613 47983 0 85304 116211 1812 2865 4405 14861 113842 88824 27990 25018 421729 440798 541240 599753 15041 15271 3685 35280 18726 50551 X 522514 549202 522514 549202 541240 599753 20144 6544 0 X 0 0 0 X 90816 119689 97624 131172 106178 545479 10116 13632 23396 30497 29571 107212 100932 133321 121020 161669 135749 652691 0 0 0 652691 10914 18847 2887 -28373 17904 22179 10914 18847 2887 -28373 17904 22179 1935 1611 3704 1458 5565 14273 113781 153779 127611 134754 159218 689143 0.94710 0.95740 0.03220 0.02560 X X 0 4700 4700 51865 51865 0 47924 32166 15758 9353 4793 4560 25018 SEE SUPPLEMENTAL INFO PART IV 27076 27076 26048 27076 27076 26048 26048 1028 PART II, LINES 1 AND 9 ORGANIZATION HAS 20 BRANCHES IN 9 STATES AND D.C. WITH 1,799 MEMBERS. BRANCHES WERE STARTED IN 1926 AND AT ONE TIME HAD 69 BRANCHES IN 13 STATES AND D.C. HOWEVER, MANY BRANCHES CLOSED DUE TO AGING MEMBERS. BRANCHES ESTABLISHED WHERE GROUPS OF SLOVENIAN WOMEN SETTLED. IN 2011 THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED ITS NAME FROM SLOVENIAN WOMENS UNION OF AMERICA TO SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA. EACH BRANCH HAS A STANDARD OPERATING MANUAL AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER AND OTHERS. THERE IS A QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION, QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, FACEBOOK, WEBSITE, EMAIL, MUSEUM, BOOK CLUB AS FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. EACH BRANCH HAS EVENTS TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, FEAST DAYS OF SAINTS, RECOGNITION OF EXEMPLARY MEMBERS, GUESTS, SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, TEACHING THE ART OF SLOVENIAN COOKING/BAKING, ANNUAL CALENDAR WITH PHOTOS OF PLACES IN SLOVENIA, MEMBERS FUNERALS, ETC. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1A THERE ARE 21 VOTING MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES THAT ELECT THE 7 MEMBER BOARD AT A QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES ELECT THE GOVERNING BODY AT THE QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION. THE NEXT CONVENTION IS JULY 30 TO AUGUST 2, 2026. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A THE MEMBERS SHALL HAVE ALL RIGHTS WHICH ARE VESTED IN MEMBERS OF A CORPORATION UNDER THE ILLINOIS GENERAL NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION , AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIVE POWERS: (A) TO ELECT THE CORPORATION'S NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN ARTICLE III. (B) TO ADOPT AND AMEND STATEMENTS OF MISSION, PHILOSOPHY, OR PURPOSE. (C) TO AUTHORIZE THE LEASE, SALE, EXCHANGE, OR OTHER DISPOSITION OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE CORPORATION'S ASSETS. (D) TO APPROVE THE DISSOLUTION OR MERGER OF THE CORPORATION BY MAJORITY VOTE. (E) TO PROVIDE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPERATION OF THE CORPORATION TO THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (F) TO ADOPT, AMEND, SUPPLEMENT, OR MODIFY THE CORPORATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THESE BYLAWS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B THE MEMBERS SHALL HAVE ALL RIGHTS WHICH ARE VESTED IN MEMBERS OF A CORPORATION UNDER THE ILLINOIS GENERAL NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION , AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIVE POWERS: (A) TO ELECT THE CORPORATION'S NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN ARTICLE III. (B) TO ADOPT AND AMEND STATEMENTS OF MISSION, PHILOSOPHY, OR PURPOSE. (C) TO AUTHORIZE THE LEASE, SALE, EXCHANGE, OR OTHER DISPOSITION OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE CORPORATION'S ASSETS. (D) TO APPROVE THE DISSOLUTION OR MERGER OF THE CORPORATION BY MAJORITY VOTE. (E) TO PROVIDE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPERATION OF THE CORPORATION TO THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (F) TO ADOPT, AMEND, SUPPLEMENT, OR MODIFY THE CORPORATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THESE BYLAWS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B IF DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE INVOLVED, IT WILL GO TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B GOVERNING BOARD RECEIVED ANNUAL A BLANK FORM 990 BEFORE FILLING OUT THE FORM IN ADVANCE OF THE BOARD APRIL 2025 MEETING. FORM 990 AND SCHEDULES ARE COMPLETED AND REVIEWED BY CPA FIRM PRIOR TO ELECTRONICALLY FILING TO IRS FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C SEVEN (7) GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS AND THREE (3) PART TIME EMPLOYEES COMPLETE AN ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT. IT IS AN AGENDA ITEM AT THE GOVERNING BOARD'S ANNUAL MEETING AND THERE WERE NO EXCEPTIONS TO BE RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE GOVERNING BOARD PRESIDENT DOES NOT DRAW ANY COMPENSATION. THE THREE (3) PART TIME EMPLOYEES SALARIES WERE REVIEWED BY THE BOARD TO BE FOUND REASONABLE AND COMPETITIVE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 FORM 990 WITHOUT SCHEDULES IS ON WEBSITE AND UPON REQUEST A COMPLETE 990 WITH SCHEDULES IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE HOME OFFICE IN A PUBLIC INSPECTION BINDER. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE WEBSITE CONTAINS THE CORPORATION'S BYLAWS AND SUMMARY OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT. UPON REQUEST AT THE HOME OFFICE THERE IS A PUBLIC INSPECTION BINDER CONTAINING BYLAWS, 990 WITH SCHEDULES, AG990-IL, ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTS FROM EACH OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE. PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 13 THE WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD. THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK CONTAINS CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WHISTLE BLOWER, NON-HARASSMENT, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ETC. PART VII, SECTION A, LINE 4, COLUMN E NATIONAL VP OF OUTREACH RECEIVED $600 COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES AS PROOF READER FOR THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION ZARJA PART VII, SECTION A, LINE2, COLUMN E NATIONAL TREASURER RECEIVED $6,000 PAID TO GEROTEC, INC FOR MONTHLY BOOKKEEPING, FINANCIAL REPORTS,PREPARES ALL DISBURSEMENTS AND RECEIVES DEPOSIT LISTS FROM MEMBERSHIP MANAGER. NATIONAL TREASURER SUMMARIZES/AUDITS ANNUAL REPORTS FROM 20 BRANCHES, MANAGES EMPLOYEE MONTHLY PAYROLL, ANNUAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE AUDIT REPORT, MANAGES ALL CORPORATE INSURANCE POLICIES, PREPARES ANNAUL REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAINTAIN CORPORATE STATUS IN GOOD STANDING, PREPARES ANNUAL FORM 990 AN DSTATE OF ILLLINOS AG 990IL. ALL DUTIES ARE PERFORMED AT OFFSITE LOCATION WHICH INCLUDES OFFICE OVERHEAD, COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, SOFTWARE, INTERNET, TELEPHONE AND OTHER SUPPORTING ASSETS, RESOURCES.