About
Join The Rail Passengers Association Council of Representatives
Join the Council of Representatives
Updated: 10.15.2021
The Council consists of 112 elected state representatives. The allocated number of representatives per state is determined by an equally weighted ratio of the Rail Passengers Association members in each state and the state’s number of U.S. Representatives. Every state has at least one Council Representative (with the District of Columbia being treated as a state). The number of Council seats to be elected, per state, in the January 2022 election has been certified per the Association’s bylaws.
The Council of Representatives represents the overall Rail Passengers membership in setting and approving the strategic policy and direction for the Association. More detailed information on the duties, responsibilities and expectations of Representatives can be found here.
The Council elects the Officers and Board of Directors of the Association, in addition to up to 10 ‘At-Large’ members of the Council. Serving on the Council is a great opportunity to collaborate with others who have a common interest in actively improving passenger rail service across the country. Council members are expected to encourage activities at the grassroots level to advance the Association’s goals and represent local needs, issues and activities at the national level.
The Council meets in person twice per year; in the spring in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and in the fall at varied locations across the country. Council members are responsible for their own travel and meeting expenses to attend these gatherings and they may be able to deduct these expenses as charitable contributions on their federal tax returns. Incumbent Council Representatives who seek re-election must have attended at least two of the four meetings held during the previous Council term, but may request a waiver of this requirement (the Board of Directors has temporarily waived this requirement for the current election cycle as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancelation of in-person meetings scheduled for 2020 and 2021) .
Association members interested in running for a seat on the Council may complete and submit a Candidate Information Statement (CIS) to the Candidate Certification Committee for review and qualification. The deadline for submission to be a candidate in the January 2022 election is December 1, 2021. You may also request a printed copy of the Candidate Information Statement from by contacting Rail Passengers Association Staff.
Information concerning the elections for seats on the Board of Directors is here.
NOTE: In order to qualify as a candidate for State Representative, and to vote in any election for State Representative, you must be a dues-paying member in good standing of the Association, with your dues current as of Nov 30, 2021. Please allow plenty of time for your dues payment to reach our office before this deadline.
The Rail Passengers Association is only as strong as the volunteer leaders who step up and share their time and talents in working towards our collective goals. Please consider becoming one of these leaders and help make a difference in the future.
o Certified Number of Council Representatives To Be Elected From Each State
o Candidate Information Statement
o Council of Representative Election Procedures (From The NARP/Rail Passengers By-Laws)
"I wish to extend my appreciation to members of the Rail Passengers Association for their steadfast advocacy to protect not only the Southwest Chief, but all rail transportation which plays such an important role in our economy and local communities. I look forward to continuing this close partnership, both with America’s rail passengers and our bipartisan group of senators, to ensure a bright future for the Southwest Chief route."
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)
April 2, 2019, on receiving the Association's Golden Spike Award for his work to protect the Southwest Chief