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

[Teresa Fleming]

I'm in agreement with several of folks' comments.  I think there should be 
term limits for officers, two consecutive terms, but see you're leaving it 
open for discussion.  I also agree Clubs should select representatives they 
deem appropriate, whether they are officers or active  members interested in 
Trail policy.

Tede (Fleming) - Mountain Club of Maryland

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Hooper" <james.hooper at worldnet.att.net>
To: "Frank Bohn" <fbohn at paonline.com>
Cc: "MA-RPC mailing list" <ma-rpc at commerce-02.cilia.org>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: [MA-RPC] Proposed by-laws for operation of the MARPC


>I do not know how to put into this charter, but I think the RPC has to be a 
>strong advocate for the maintaining volunteers.   The chain saw training is 
>a good example of why we need a better voice for the volunteers. There has 
>to be good flow of information in both ways.
>
> I think the chairmanship should rotate amongst the various clubs to avoid 
> any one club dominating the RPC.  Therefore the we need the language that 
> the chairman can not be succeeded by another member of the same club.
>
> How long is a term of office?  If it is two or more years, I would limit 
> the number of consecutive terms for the chairman  to two.  I think the ATC 
> follows this policy.
>
> Frank Bohn wrote:
>
>>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
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
>>  -
>>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>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.
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>MA-RPC mailing list
>>MA-RPC at commerce-02.cilia.org
>>http://www.nynjtc.org/mailman/listinfo/ma-rpc
>>
>
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