By-Laws

Article I

Name

  • This Organization shall be known as the Association of Car Accounting and Car Service Officers (the “ACACSO”).

Article II

Objectives

  • Section 1.
    The objectives of the ACACSO are to promulgate rules and methods for improving the handling of railroad freight cars, trailers and containers, and maintenance of records and accounts relating thereto.
  • Section 2.
    At no time will the ACACSO foster or permit any discussion which directly or indirectly, by disclosing information or in any other manner, violates any anti-trust law of Canada, Mexico, or the United States or the laws of any state or province thereof.

Article III

Membership

  • Section 1.
    The membership of the ACACSO shall consist of two classes: Active and Honorary.
  • Section 2.
    Any officer or accredited representative of a railroad or private equipment owner and any officer or accredited representative of any organization that supplies products or services utilized to further the stated objectives of the ACACSO shall be eligible for Active membership.
  • Section 3.
    Any person whose name is presented to the Executive Committee may be elected to Honorary membership. Retired members may be eligible if they have actively served in the ACACSO for at least five years.
  • Section 4.
    Application for Active or Honorary membership may be made through the Secretary or through any Active member and membership will be voted upon by the Executive Committee.
  • Section 5.
    The names of members shall be dropped from the roles upon their request, or when their dues are one (1) year in arrears.

Article IV

Voting

  • Section 1.
    Each Active member present shall be entitled to only one vote. Honorary members are not entitled to vote.
  • Section 2.
    Voting shall not be done by proxy.

Article V

Officers

  • Section 1.
    The officers of the ACACSO shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

    • A.
      The President, First Vice President and Second Vice President shall be elected from the body of the Active members at the annual meeting of the ACACSO and shall take office upon the close of the annual meeting. They shall hold office for one (1) year or until their successors shall have been elected.
    • B.
      The Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. They shall hold office for three (3) years or until their successors shall have been appointed.
  • Section 2.
    President, the First Vice President, Second Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Chairperson of each of the ACACSO’s standing Committees as described in Article VIII of these Constitution and Bylaws.

Article VI

Duties of Officers

  • Section 1.
    It shall be the duty of the President to call and preside at all meetings of the ACACSO, take votes on all questions of debate, and appoint all committees, except the Executive Committee. The President shall call special meetings of the ACACSO on the written request of nine (9) Active members, which call shall state the object of the meeting; and shall perform such other duties as may pertain to this office, and may be an ex-officio member of all committees.
  • Section 2.
    In the absence or disability of the President, the First Vice President, or the Second Vice President if the First Vice President is also absent, shall perform the duties of the President. In case of a vacancy among the officers of the ACACSO, the Executive Committee may appoint an Active member to serve until the next annual meeting of the ACACSO at which time the vacancy shall be filled by election.
  • Section 3.
    In the absence of the President, First Vice President, and the Second Vice President, the Treasurer shall call the meeting to order, and the members shall elect by voice a presiding officer, who shall serve until the President or a Vice President arrives.
  • Section 4.
    It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep an accurate account of the attendance and proceedings of the ACACSO, notify members of the meetings, officers of their election, conduct intermediate correspondence and make reports at each annual meeting. The Secretary shall co-sign all contracts upon approval of the Executive Committee.
  • Section 5.
    It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a faithful and accurate record of all moneys received and disbursed by the ACACSO; collect all moneys due; pay all bills contracted when approved by the Executive Committee; and at each annual meeting render a detailed statement of all moneys received, and disbursed, and report on all other financial matters of the ACACSO.
  • Section 6.
    Spending Authority: With the exception of the President, no person shall be authorized to spend or commit any of the funds of the Organization without the approval of the Executive Committee. The spending authority of the President shall be limited to two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any given item, subject to the overview of the Executive Committee and requiring submission of receipts to the Treasurer for all expenditures.
  • Section 7.
    Execution of Contracts: With the approval of the Executive Board, contracts executed in the name of and on behalf of the Organization shall be signed by the Secretary and countersigned by the President. The approval of contracts for meeting hotels shall include the specific approval of the President and the 2nd Vice President.

Article VII

Meetings

  • Section 1.
    The ACACSO shall meet twice a year, in the Spring and Fall. The Fall meeting shall be the annual meeting. The Executive Committee may change the date or place of a regular session, when in their judgement the best interest of the ACACSO will thereby by served.
  • Section 2.
    The meeting shall be held at such places as may be decided by the members.

Article VIII

Committees and their Duties

  • Section 1.
    With the exception of the Executive Committee, the committees designated below are organized by specific function and are appointed by the President at each third annual meeting.
  • Section 2.
    The term of the Agenda, Constitution and Bylaws, Finance, Site Selection, and Website committees shall be three (3) years. The term of special committees will be determined by the purpose of the individual committee and set at the time of appointment.
  • Section 3.
    The Executive Committee shall decide all questions relating to the operation and organization of the ACACSO, and its decision shall be final, unless reversed by a majority vote of the Active members present at the succeeding regular meeting. It shall hear the results of the audit of the accounts of the ACACSO from the Finance Committee. The authority of the Executive Committee shall be necessary before any expense in excess of $ 200.00 is incurred, and all bills shall be submitted to the Executive Committee for its approval before payment can be made.
  • Section 4.
    The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consider and report on all amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws offered.
  • Section 5.
    The Agenda Committee shall plan each meeting agenda in conjunction with the Executive Committee.
  • Section 6.
    The Site Selection Committee shall recommend sites for future meetings, present them to the membership for final vote, and assist the Executive Committee with planning and organizing the meetings.
  • Section 7.
    The Finance Committee shall recommend to the Executive Committee how the funds of the ACACSO should be invested and shall make the Executive Committee aware of any accounting or other compliance issues about which the ACACSO should be aware. The Finance Committee shall audit the accounts of the ACACSO and shall report their results to the Executive Committee prior to each regular meeting.
  • Section 8.
    The Website Committee shall review annually the manner in which the ACACSO maintains a presence on the World Wide Web portion of the Internet and shall report the results and any recommended changes to the Executive Committee. The Website Committee shall, within the guidelines of the Executive Committee, publish content on the website that furthers the objectives of the Association.
  • Section 9.
    their committees may be appointed by the President at any time as the interest of the ACACSO may require.

Article IX

Dues

  • Section 1.
    The annual dues for membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee and shall be payable in advance. The membership period covered by payment of annual dues shall be a calendar year.
  • Section 2.
    Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues.

Article X

Order of Business

The following items shall be covered during the meeting but the order of presentation is at the discretion of the President:

  1. Roll Call
  2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
  3. Report of Officers
  4. Unfinished Business
  5. Report of Committees
  6. Election of Officers (annual meeting) for ensuing year
  7. New Business
  8. Appointment of Committees as necessary
  9. Adjournment

Article XI

Amendments

These Bylaws and Constitution may be amended or revised at any regular meeting of the ACACSO by a two-thirds vote by the Active members present, but no such amendment shall be considered unless the same have been submitted to the ACACSO one meeting previous to that upon which the vote shall be taken.