Become An 'At-Large' Council Representative
Are you passionate about giving Americans better transportation choices? Are you ready to play a greater role in our movement? If so, and you have been a NARP member for at least a year, please consider applying to become a member of the Council of Representatives, NARP's governing body.
The Council of Representatives elects the Association's Officers and Board of Directors; can amend NARP’s Bylaws and establishes overall goals and directives for the Association. The Council of Representatives meets twice yearly: in the spring at or near Washington, DC and in fall at various locations across the country.
Serving on the Council of Representatives is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with others who share a common interest in improving passenger train service and public transportation systems across the country. Representatives serve two-year terms and are responsible for their own travel expenses and meeting fees to attend these gatherings.
How to Apply To Become An 'At-Large' Representative
Are you interested in being elected to the Council of Representatives as an 'At-Large Represenative? Please take the following steps:
- Read the position descriptions for Representatives At-Large and the requirements listed below.
- Complete an 'At-Large' Representaive Candidate Information Statement form.
- Click “Submit” to submit the completed form to us or print it and mail it to NARP, 505 Capitol Ct. NE, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20002.
- The deadline for submission is 11:59pm (local time), March 31, 2016. If you are mailing a completed form, it must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2016.
Upcoming Elections
The current term for the State Representative members of the Council of Representatives started on March 1, 2014 and will end on February 28, 2016.
The next biennial election for State Representatives to the Council of Representatives will take place in January 2016.
All 'At-Large' Representaive seats are currently filled. The next opportunity for members to be elected to the Council of Represenatives as an 'At-Large' representative will occur at the the Spring 2016 Meeting of the Council.
Complete information on the election process and applicable deadlines can be found in the NARP By-Laws.
Requirements
State Representative Council members are elected by the general NARP membership on a state-by-state basis in January of every even-numbered year, with state representation based on a formula that gives even weight to a state's NARP membership and general population. There are a total of 112 State Representative seats.
There are also up to 10 'At-Large' Council seats, which are elected by the Council of Represenatives at its Spring meeting on even-numbered years. NARP Officers and members of the Board of Directors (who are also elected by the Council of Represenatives) in even-numbered years) are also Council members.
Membership in the NARP Council of Representatives is open to any individual US resident who has been a dues-paying member of NARP for at least one year. Council members who miss more than two meetings in two years without notifying NARP staff of their absence will be relieved of their duties. Council members must attend at least two of the four meetings occurring during their two-year term in office, in person or by designating an alternate, in order to be qualified to seek re-election.
Any legal resident of the 50 states and the District of Columbia who is at least 18 years old and has been a NARP member in good standing for at least one year is eligible to run.
Elected Representatives at Large
The Council of Representatives may have up to 25 Representatives at Large, including up to10 of whom shall be elected by the State Representatives at the Council of Representatives Annual Meeting in each even-numbered year beginning in 2010 (the “Elected Representatives at Large”), and the Officers and Directors of the Association. The purpose of having up to 10 Elected Representatives at Large is to add to the Council individuals whose position, knowledge, experience, credentials, prominence or financial support bring special expertise, credibility and/or resources to the Association.
Qualifications of Elected Representatives at Large.
Each candidate for Elected Representative at Large shall:
(a) Be a Member of the Association in good standing prior to his or her election.
(b) Submit to the Nominating Committee a candidate information statement on a form approved by the Board of Directors.
(c) Be a legal resident and at least 18 years of age.
Election of Elected Representatives at Large. Elected Representatives at Large are nominated and elected by the State Representatives at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives in even-numbered years. Election of Elected Representatives at Large may be done through a voice vote unless there are more candidates than positions, in which case printed ballots shall be used; ballot counters shall be non-candidates.
Requirement for Re-Election. To seek re-election, State Representatives and Elected Representatives at Large shall:
(a) Have remained a Member in good standing of the Association during their term of office;
(b) Submitted a candidate information statement on a form adopted by the Board of Directors;
(c) Have attended at least half of all Council meetings during the representative’s current term of office.
For purposes of this paragraph, any person who was elected a State Representative or Elected Representative at Large in the immediately preceding election is considered to be “seeking re-election” even if he or she resigned subsequent to such election.
How to Apply To Become A State Representative
Are you interested in being elected to the Council of Representatives as a State Represenative? Please take the following steps:
- Read the position descriptions for State Representatives.
- Fill out our State Represenative Candidate Information Statement form.
- Click “Submit” to submit the completed form to us or print it and mail it to NARP, 505 Capitol Ct. NE, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20002.
- The deadline for submission is 11:59pm, December 1, 2015. If you are mailing a completed form, it must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2015.
Qualifications of State Representatives
Each candidate for election as a State Representative shall:
(a) Have been a Member in good standing of the Association for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the closing date for nominations. The Board of Directors may waive this requirement by majority vote in instances where an exceptional candidate cannot comply, provided that the candidate is a Member in good standing at the time nominations are accepted.
(b) Submit to the Nominating Committee a candidate information statement on a form approved by the Board of Directors.
(c) Be a legal resident in the state they seek to represent and at least 18 years of age.
Election of State Representatives
The Board of Directors shall adopt policies and procedures: to ensure that each Member in good standing receives a ballot containing the names and qualifications of candidates; and to establish a method for tallying, reporting and certifying the results of the election. Such procedures shall include specifying a record date for determining the Memberships entitled to vote in each state, such date to be no more than 60 days before the distribution of ballots to members.
Automatic Election. When the number of candidates for State Representative in a given state after the closing date for nominations, or at any subsequent time before the date of the election, is the same as or fewer than the num¬ber of State Representative positions to be elected, those candidates shall be deemed elected as of March 1. The distribution of ballots and the conduct of an election in that state shall not be required.
Unfilled Positions. Any unfilled State Representative position shall be considered vacant.
Balloting. Each Membership shall be limited to one vote, even if an individual is a member of more than one membership class or if the Membership includes two or more individuals. Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, State Representative candidates receiving the highest number of votes in each state shall be the State Representatives from that state. Any ballot cast by a person known not to be a Member in good standing of the Association, or on which the vote cast is not clear will be disallowed. Each Membership may vote only on those State Representatives nominated to represent the state in which the Member resides.
Term of Office. Except as otherwise provided in Article XV of these Bylaws, State Representatives and Elected Representatives at Large shall serve two year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified, as follows:
(a) Each State Representative shall hold office for a term of two years beginning March 1 in even numbered years.
(b) Elected Representatives at Large shall hold office for a term of two years beginning immediately upon their election at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives in even numbered years.
(c) Any Representative may resign at any time by written resignation lodged with the President.
Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Council of Representatives shall be filled by the Board of Directors after consultation with the appropriate Officers, Directors and Representatives. A person elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of the person whose vacancy s/he is filling.
Membership requirement. All Representatives must be and remain dues paying Members of the Association in good standing during their term in office. Failure to meet this requirement will result in automatic removal from office.
Number of State Representative seats allotted to each state for the upcoming March 1, 2016 - February 28, 2018 term.
Number of State Representative seats allotted to each state for the current March 1, 2014 - February 28, 2016 term:
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State
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Number of State Representative Seats
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