Bylaws
ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION
PARAGRAPH 1 – Technical Forum Name
The Technical Forum shall be known as the APTA Rolling Stock Equipment Technical Forum, hereinafter “the Technical Forum.”
PARGRAPH 2 – Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Technical Forum to advance the state of the art in the design, application, procurement, operation and maintenance of railcar rolling stock equipment with emphasis on technical issues, passenger safety, energy efficiency and standardization.
PARAGRAPH 3 – Objectives
The specific objectives of the Technical Forum shall be defined in a Project Work Plan to be adopted each year that guides the Technical Forum’s activities. This Project Work Plan shall include the following five points: 1) a statement of the problem, issue or work task to be undertaken, 2) project champion and identified sponsors, 3) description of approach for accomplishing the task, 4) identification of key milestones and resource needs, and 5) a discussion of the relevance of the work and implications of foregoing the effort. Work Plans are guided by the following overall objectives of the Forum.
- Identify and document a number of rail vehicle related issues of interest to the vast majority of rail operating properties throughout the U.S. and Canada.
- Rank rail vehicle issues identified above in terms of importance and urgency.
- Facilitate resolution of the above issues by establishing APTA workshops and forums with the aim of heightening awareness and resolving identified issues.
- Identify and make available funding resources for rail vehicle related research and development.
- Serve as a technical and informational resource on rail equipment, addressing issues related to safety, ADA compliance, rail car equipment design standards and advanced technologies.
- Foster cooperation with related committees, agencies and organizations in an effort to realize the mission and goals expressed herein.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Technical Forum shall be open to APTA members who have an interest in rolling stock equipment, related products and services, scientific advancements and application relevant to rolling stock and equipment, and interest in advancing the design and application of railcar equipment and safety practices.
Persons desiring membership shall submit a notice in writing or email, with the person’s name, title, organization address, telephone and fax numbers and email address to the APTA Advisor for the Technical Forum.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Officers
The Technical Forum shall have the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. In any year, at least one transit representative is strongly encouraged to serve as an Officer.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Duties of Officers
The duties of the Officers of the Technical Forum shall be as follows:
- Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Technical Forum and shall be responsible for calling all meetings of the Technical Forum. He/she shall be an ex-officio member of all regular and special Technical Forums. He/she shall act as liaison between the Technical Forum and other APTA Technical Forums, as appropriate, and represent the Technical Forum to the parent Rail Transit Committee, providing updates on the Technical Forum at meetings of the APTA Rail Transit Committee and APTA Annual Conference. He/she shall be responsible for taking action necessary to ensure the Technical Forum achieves its objectives and shall perform all such other duties as usually pertaining to such office.
- Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair. He/she shall assist the Chair in the development and conduct of Technical Forum activities.
- Secretary. The Secretary shall assist the Chair and Vice-chair in maintaining communications with members and assisting APTA staff with updates and maintenance of the Technical Forum website. The secretary shall also assist the APTA Advisor in taking meeting minutes.
PARAGRAPH 3 – Terms of Office
Each Officer shall serve a term of three years. Officers are eligible to serve two consecutive terms balloted by Technical Forum members. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms, but is eligible again after two years.
PARAGRAPH 4 – Vacancies
In the event the Office of Chair becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Vice Chair shall ascend to that office for the remainder of the term. In such case, the ascending Chair will appoint a new Vice-Chair for the remainder of the term.
In the event the Office of Vice-Chair becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Chair shall appoint a new Vice Chair for the remainder of the term.
In the event the Office of Secretary becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Chair shall appoint a new Secretary for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE IV – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Election of Officers
Election of Officers shall be completed by the time of APTA Annual Conference meeting of the Technical Forum. Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of Technical Forum members present and/or voting by electronic ballot. Newly elected Officers shall assume office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected. In the event no new officer for chair is eligible or available, the outgoing Chair may appoint a new Chair with concurrence of the APTA Advisor.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Nominations
Nominations may be taken from members at large and from a Nominating Committee designated by the Chair.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS AND VOTING
Paragraph 1 – Meetings
The Technical Forum shall meet at the APTA Rail Conference and the APTA Annual. The Technical Forum may also meet as deemed necessary by the Chair to conduct the business of the Technical Forum. Notice of meetings shall be prepared by the Chair and distributed by email to the Technical Forum members by the APTA Advisor to the Technical Forum no less than 14 days prior to the meeting. As needed, all meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Voting
Only members of the Technical Forum shall be eligible to vote on issues or matters before the Technical Forum. A vote is valid only when at least a simple majority of Technical Forum members has balloted. Members may elect proxies to vote in their stead, but proxies must be made in writing to the APTA Advisor.
Except as otherwise specified herein, all votes shall be by simple majority of voting members.
ARTICLE VI – ORGANIZATION & TECHNICAL FORUM WORK GROUPS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Organization
The Technical Forum reports to the Rail Transit Committee. The Rail Transit Committee provides direction, oversight and integration with its Subcommittees and Technical Forums. Technical Forums provide reports to the Rail Transit Committee at the APTA Rail Conference and the APTA Annual Conference.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Standing Work Groups
The Technical Forum shall have the following standing Work Groups: 1) Rail Conference Planning Work Group, and 2) Research Work Group. The purpose of the Rail Conference Planning Work Group is to recommend rolling stock related conference sessions for the APTA Rail Conference. The purpose of the Research Work Group is to provide the Technical Forum with current information on new technologies affecting rolling stock equipment design, operation and maintenance. Such information is to be considered in development of Technical Forum Project Plans. Policies for these groups can be established by the chair with concurrence of its members, but any standards related activities must conform to the appropriate bylaws and procedures of the Rail Standards Policy and Planning Committee or other Policy and Planning Committee under purview of the APTA Standards Development and Oversight Council (SDOC).
PARAGRAPH 3 – Special Work Groups
The Technical Forum may have Task Forces, Work Groups or other Committees from time to time as directed by the Chair. Policies for these groups can be established by the chair with concurrence of its members, but any standards related activities must conform to the appropriate bylaws and procedures of the Rail Standards Policy and Planning Committee or other Policy and Planning Committee under purview of the APTA Standards Development and Oversight Council (SDOC).
ARTICLE VII – RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Maintenance of Technical Forum Records
The APTA Advisor along with other APTA staff as appropriate shall maintain the Technical Forum membership roster and all Technical Forum records, including meeting minutes and bylaws. The Technical Forum Secretary shall maintain copies of all meeting minutes and bylaws for the period of their office.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Communications
All Technical Forum notices, announcements and other communications shall be processed and distributed by the APTA Advisor or as delegated to the Technical Forum Secretary in accordance with APTA policy.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Submission and Consideration of Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any Technical Forum member and must be submitted in writing to the Chair for consideration. Voting on amendments can occur after at least a 30-day Technical Forum review of the proposed amendment. The Chair shall request that the APTA Advisor distribute and make available copies of any proposed amendments.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Adoption of Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws shall be adopted by sixty percent affirmative vote of the Technical Forum member quorum. A quorum is defined as sixty percent of Subcommittee members casting ballots. Ballots in abstention are considered in establishing a quorum.
ARTICLE IX – CONFLICTS WITH APTA BYLAWS OR FEDERAL OR D.C. LAW
In the case of a conflict between these Bylaws and the APTA Bylaws or Federal or District of Columbia law, the APTA Bylaws and/or the Federal or District of Columbia law shall prevail. |
