[MA-RPC] Proposed by-laws for operation of the MARPC

[Walt Daniels]

Very good. 

I have a slight problem with section II where it restricts representatives
and alternates to being club officers, directors or other club leadership
position. NYNJTC has no directors and the club is too big for picking an
officer who are more concerned with the other 90% of the trails we maintain
than the AT. What we have is Trail Committee Chairs and Supervisors for
various regions of trails. Even Supervisors are responsible for more AT
miles than a number of official AT maintaining clubs. I think this
requirement needs to be a bit less specific and rely on the clubs to pick
appropriate people.

> _____________________________________________ 
> From: 	ma-rpc-bounces at commerce-02.cilia.org [HYPERLINK
> mailto:ma-rpc-bounces at commerce-02.cilia.org
> mailto:ma-rpc-bounces at commerce-02.cilia.org]  On Behalf Of Frank Bohn
> Sent:	Sunday, January 02, 2005 11:45 PM
> To:	MA-RPC mailing list
> Subject:	[MA-RPC] Proposed by-laws for operation of the MARPC
> 
> To the members of the Mid-Atlantic regional Partnership Committee:
> 
> Per promise here (below the dashed line) is a draft of an initial set of
> operating rules for the MARPC.  These are basic nuts-and-bolts for the
> operation of the committee.  I didn't try to draft a committee "charter"
> because it already exists in the action of the ATC Board.  Added verbiage
> could be redundant, prematurely limiting, or at worst inconsistent with
> the ATC decisions.  But for context I included almost verbatim the
> "Function" description from the meeting documents.
> 
> The draft is also relatively short because this is a new body with
> authority to advise rather than decide.  I don't think it needs to be
> elaborate.  Experience will show what changes are needed in the future. 
> 
> This is a draft.  I invite your comments for additions or changes that you
> think desirable.  In particular you might want to consider:
> 
> 	(1)  Whether specific skill sets or qualifications should be added
> for the MARPC designated roles (Chair, Stewardship Council reps, etc.).
> 
> 	(2)  Whether the by-laws should require a nominating committee, and
> if so, whether it may present a single slate.
> 
> 	(3)  Whether you want to change any of the terminology.
> 
> If you give me responses before the meeting, I can incorporate some
> changes.  In any case, this is presented for your disposition, acceptance,
> rejection, or amendment at the meeting.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Frank Bohn
> 
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> 
> PROPOSED BY-LAWS OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL
> PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE
> 
> I.  Purpose of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership Committee (MARPC):
> 
> 	The Regional Partnership Committees (RPC) are established by action
> of the Board of Managers of the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC).   The
> purpose of each RPC is to advise the ATC Regional Director, the region's
> Trail maintaining clubs, and the region's agencies, and to provide direct,
> two-way communication between the ATC regional office and the constituent
> clubs and agencies.  The RPC provides a formal structure for regularly
> scheduled meetings to facilitate collaborative planning, share
> experiences, and discuss common concerns among clubs, agencies and ATC
> staff.  In addition, the RPCs will provide discussion forums for issues of
> Trailwide significance and provide input to the Trail Stewardship Council,
> ATC committees, and the Board of Directors on those issues.  As advisory
> bodies, the RPCs will have no authority to set Conference policies or to
> control Trail maintaining club activities, but will be fully
> self-governing within the general guidelines for structure and function
> established by the Board.  Each RPC must nominate at least two persons to
> serve on the Trail Stewardship Council.  (Adapted from a policy position
> endorsed by the ATC Board of Managers on 8 May 2004.)
> 
> II.  Membership of the MARPC:
> 
> 	As mandated by the ATC Board, the membership of the MARPC consists
> of representatives of each of the Trail Maintaining Clubs in the
> Mid-Atlantic Region.  Each club shall select one Representative and one
> Alternate to participate in the RPC.  Each club Representative or
> Alternate must be a member of the ATC and of the represented club, and
> must have experience as a club officer, director, or holder of another
> club leadership position.  Each club will determine its own procedure for
> selection of its Representative and Alternate.  Representatives and
> Alternates will normally be appointed for a term of two years.  They may
> serve multiple consecutive terms at the option of their clubs.
> 
> III.  Designated roles within the MARPC:
> 
> 	The MARPC shall select members to fill the following roles for terms
> of two years.  Except at the initial organization of the MARPC, the Chair
> shall appoint a nominating committee to develop a ballot for these
> positions:
> 
> 	Chair:  The Chair will plan meetings in consultation with the ATC
> Regional Director and will preside at MARPC meetings.  A person may serve
> as chair for no more than three consecutive terms.
> 
> 	Vice-Chair:  The Vice-Chair will assist the Chair in communicating
> with the MARPC members and Clubs.  The Vice-Chair will preside at meetings
> in the absence of the Chair.  
> 
> 	Secretary:  The Secretary shall provide written Minutes of each
> meeting.  The draft of the minutes should normally be circulated to the
> MARPC members within four weeks of each meeting.
> 
> 	Representatives to the Stewardship Council:  As mandated by the ATC,
> the MARPC will nominate representatives to the Stewardship Council.  These
> representatives must be chosen from the Club Representatives to the MARPC.
> They must be members of the Appalachian Trail Conference.
> 
> IV.  Meetings of the MARPC:
> 
> 	Two regular meetings of the MARPC will be scheduled each year.  At
> each regular meeting the MARPC must set the date for the next regular
> meeting.
> 
> 	The presence (in person or by teleconference) of representatives of
> at least 2/3 of the member clubs of the MARPC will constitute a quorum.
> 
> 	If urgent matters require MARPC attention between regular meetings,
> the Chair may call a special meeting or use electronic mail or
> teleconference to facilitate discussion.  When a matter is decided by
> electronic mail in lieu of a meeting, the Chair must set a deadline for
> responses.  Responses from 2/3 of the member clubs by the deadline will
> satisfy the requirement for a quorum.
> 
> 	The MARPC will normally seek consensus.  Where consensus cannot be
> reached, the MARPC will formalize its recommendations or (within its
> scope) decisions by a majority vote of the member Clubs participating in
> the meeting.  Each member club shall have one vote, cast by the Club
> Representative, if present, or Alternate.  A tie vote will count as
> rejection.
> 
> 	Meetings of the MARPC will be open to all interested parties,
> including agencies and other stakeholders, but only the Clubs through
> their Representatives or Alternates will have a vote.  
> 
> 	The member Clubs, agencies or others are strongly advised to submit
> matters for discussion to the Chair at least four weeks in advance of the
> regular meetings.
> 
> VI.  Amendment of these MARPC By-Laws:
> 
> 	The by-laws of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership Committee may
> be amended by a vote of the member clubs at a regularly-scheduled meeting
> of the RPC.  Amendments must be consistent with the RPC charter
> established by the ATC Board.  Proposed amendments must be circulated in
> writing to the club Representatives at least four weeks prior to the
> meeting.   At least two-thirds of all the member clubs must, through their
> Representatives or Alternates, approve any proposed change. 
>  << File: ATT00006.txt >> 
> 
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