TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA (TASC)

 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

Name and Location

The name of this Association shall be the “Transportation Association of South Carolina, Inc.” and is hereby referred to as “The Association.” The official address shall be that of the President or Executive Official or any place as designated by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The general nature and purpose for which the Association has been organized is to:

1. Act as a force in the State of South Carolina to foster common policies, requirements, and educational efforts concerned with public transportation;

2. Provide a forum for the exchange of experiences, discussions, and study of public transportation opportunities;

3. Enhance improvements and coordination of the public transportation industry;

4. Provide technical assistance and training to members; and

5. Receive and maintain funds and apply the same to promote the general nature and purpose for which this Association is organized.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Any individual or organization supporting the purpose of the Association may become a member upon payment of' appropriate annual dues based upon membership classification or upon special appointment by the Board of Directors.

Classification of Membership

The Board of Directors shall determine the membership category of all members. Membership shall be classified as follows:                                         

 

1.  Operating Members:  This class shall consist of public and private agencies/companies with the authority to operate any form of organized public transportation service within the boundaries of the State of South Carolina. Members of this class shall the privileges and services of the Association, and will name a representative, with alternate, who will vote representing the member. Each operating member of Class A, B, and C will have one floor vote.

There will be three Classes of Operating Members as follows:

CLASS A – Specialized Service Operators: Includes all non-profit operators who primarily provide service to specialized c1ientele and whose service may include the general public. Five (5) voting Board members.

CLASS B – General Public Operators: Includes all non-profit operators who primarily provide service to the general public. Five (5) voting Board members.

CLASS C – Commercial Operators: Includes all for-profit operators who may provide service to either the general public or to specialized clientele or both. One (1) voting Board member.

2. Professional Members  (1 voting Board member): This class shall consist of organizations or individuals that are engaged in professional work relevant to public transportation. Examples are management, legal, architectural, engineering, planning, and consultant firms. Such members shall have all privileges of' the Association except the right to floor vote.         

3.  Affiliate Members (1 voting Board member): This class shall consist of organizations or individuals engaged in manufacturing, supplying, or selling goods or services for the public transportation industry. Examples are vendors, manufactures, fabricators, printers, sales representatives, and publishing firms. This class of membership shall have all privileges of the Association except the right to floor vote.

4. Government Entities (2 voting Board members): This class shall consist of state agencies and non-operating governmental entities or other public bodies not acting as a public transportation operator within the boundaries of the State of South Carolina. Members of this class shall have all the privileges of the Association except the right to floor vote.

5. Educational Institution (1 voting Board member): This class shall consist of any institution that has as its primary purpose the education of students. Members of this class shall have all privileges of the Association except the right to floor vote.

6. Associate Members:  This class shall consist of any individual, organization, or corporation desiring to support the Association. Members of this class shall have all privileges of the Association except the right to floor vote and membership on the Board of Directors.

7. Reciprocal Members: This class shall consist of any transportation related association that on a reciprocal basis provides this Association with gratis membership in that Association. Members of this class shall have all privileges of the Association except  right to floor vote and membership on the Board of Directors.

8. Ex-Officio Members: This class shall consist of individuals who are members of the Association by virtue of their official position in the Office of the Governor, the South Carolina Senate, and the South Carolina House of Representatives. This class shall have all the privileges and services of the Association except the right to floor vote.

 

ARTICLE IV

Board of Directors

The governing body of' the Association shall be a Board of Directors, which shall have the power to establish policy and direct the management and business, property and affairs of the Association within the limits of the by-laws. The number of voting directors shall be sixteen (16) and they will be elected in accordance with Article V. Ex­-officio members shall be non-voting Board members. Any Board member missing two (2) unexcused board meetings may be removed from the Board upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The President shall rule on the validity of excused absences.  At any time should a member of the Board of Directors be unable to complete his term, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement from the respective membership class at the next board meeting for the balance of the term in accordance with Article V.

The Board of Directors shall not meet less than once a quarter and all meetings shall be called in accordance with Article X. A simple majority of the non-vacant seats of operating members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at all meetings. No official action may be taken without a quorum being present. Each voting member of the Board of Directors is entitled to one vote.

 

ARTICLE V

Election of Board of Directors

Election of members of the Board of Directors shall be at the annual meeting of the Association.

At least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee and its chairman. The Nominating Committee shall solicit a list of nominations  from the three operating member classes to represent their class on the Board of Directors. This committee shall present a slate of operating board member nominees for the forthcoming election. This nomination shall be announced to the voting members not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the opening day of the annual meeting, except as noted in Article XIII.  Individual nominations to the board may be made by any voting member at the time of the election.

The Professional, Affiliate, and Educational institution members classes of membership shall each elect, by caucus, one voting representative and the Governmental Entities members shall elect, by caucus, two voting representatives to the Board of Directors with rights and privileges thereof.

The Board of Directors shall serve for a term beginning July 1^st and ending June 30^th of the following year, except as stated in Article XIII.

Voting Certification:  Each member shall appoint and certify in writing to the Secretary of the Association its official classification as a member and the name of its voting representative and alternate. Such written certification shall occur at least annually, no later than the day prior to the Annual Meeting election. Certification shall be validated by an official of the member organization. An individual shall be a voting representative or alternate for only one member organization.

 

ARTICLE VI

Elections and Duties of Officers

The officers of the Association shall be elected from the members of the newly elected Board of Directors. A meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors will convene immediately following their election at which time they will elect the officers for the coming fiscal year. Election of officers shall be by oral or written ballot. A majority of the votes cast for an office shall be necessary for an election. In the event a single candidate fails to receive a majority on the first ballot, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall participate in a run-off election.

Newly elected officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be introduced to the membership prior to the conclusion of the annual meeting.

Officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treaturer. All officers shall begin their new term on July 1 and serve for one (1) year. Officers, however, shall continue in office until successors have taken office. All officers are elgible for re-elections to no more than two (2) successive terms. Election to fill an unexpired term of office shall not constitute a term. Officers may be removed in like manner as appointed. The President and Vice-President shall be elected only from Operating Members.

President: The President shall preside at the meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

The President  sha11 be responsible for the general supervision and shall direct the management of the affairs of the Association with guidance and the cooperation of the Board of Directors, except for variances of expenditures not budgeted or over budget in which case Board’s approval is required.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act in the absence of the President, and on behalf of the President on all Association matters. In the absence of the President at a Board of Directors meeting, the Vice-President shall preside. The Vice-President shall serve as chair of the TASC Annual Conference Committee. If the President and Vice-President are absent, the Board of Directors shall select a presiding officer.

Secretary:   The Secretary shall be responsible for minutes of all meetings and shall make them available to interested parties. The Secretary will ensure a record of all affairs of the Association is kept. The Secretary will retain the original version of the By-laws and reissue them at such times as they are officially amened. The Secretary is also responsible for voting certification and tabulation of all election ballots.

Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for all Association funds. The Treasurer shall monitor revenues and expenses and shall present a financial report to the board at each meeting and top the membership at the annual meeting. With the approval of the Board, the Treasurer shall ensure a certified Public Accounting firm performs a financial review submission to the Board within ninety (90) days of the end of the fiscal year.

ARTICLE VII

Administrative Staff

Staff may be selected by the Board of Directors with duties as prescribed by the Board. The staff shall continue to hold such positions as the discretion of the Board.

ARTICLE VIII

Standing Committees

The Board of Directors shall have full power to create, reorganize or dissolve such standing committees as it deems necessary and in accordance with such conditions as it may prescribe.

The appointment of and membership on standing committees and other committees deemed necessary shall be made by the President, subject to such action as may be taken by the Board of Directors. At a minimum, the President shall establish the following standing committees:

Conference Committee

Executive Committee

Nominating Committee

Fund Raising Committee

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Officers of the Board.

ARTICLE XIX

Meeting

An annual meeting of the Association shall be held at such time and at such place as the Board of Directors may decide. Each member shall be given reasonable notice thereof.

Notices of all Board meetings shall be given before the time of the meeting. All such

Notices shall, as far as practical, specify the business to be brought before the attention of the meeting.

Roberts’ Rules of' Order shall govern all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors except that the President is permitted to make motions, to second motions, and to vote on motions.

The Board of Directors may direct the President to submit a question to the voting members of the Association by mail ballot. A reasonable time shall be given for the return of the ballots and a simple majority of the votes cast shall be decisive upon the question. An amendment to the by-laws shall be amended in accordance with Article XIII. The President shall notify the Board of Directors at its next meeting and the voting members of the Association the results of any such mail ballot as to the decision.