2014 Annual Meeting

2014 Annual Meeting

The 2014 RAIL Solution Annual Meeting was held on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA. Participants attended both in person at the hotel and by toll-free conference telephone.

Acceptance of minutes from the August 25 meeting and a treasurer’s report began the meeting, followed by business items required at the Annual Meeting. The Secretary and Treasurer were re-elected for two-year terms, and the resignation of board member Rucker Keister was accepted. Next, the meeting heard reports from the standing committees. The balance of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of our year just past and plans for 2015.

There was general agreement that our managerial effectiveness could be improved with a full-time executive director, but some doubt remains whether we can afford this change and whether a qualified individual who could do a good job and raise funds for a good portion of his salary could be found. We would like to be able to achieve the same kind of beneficial operation that Virginians for High Speed Rail has experienced with their director. Recent college graduates and military and railroad retirees were suggested as possible sources of candidates.

A motion was made and passed that RAIL Solution begin a search for a qualified individual interested in a full-time position as Executive Director. A job description and candidate qualifications, developed during past discussions of this matter, will be revised, updated, and provided to all Board members for comment before promulgating this job opportunity more widely. Meanwhile everyone should be alert for qualified individuals we may want to contact. The motion approved on November 14 does not commit RAIL Solution to hire a full-time executive director.

The next regular meeting will take place Monday, February 9, 2015 at 9 am EST by teleconference.