[ABJ30] Committee Update

First let me apologize for being so slow in getting information out relative to the Annual Meeting. As many know, I was busy dealing with TRB process issues--specifically membership rotations. As it turns out, we evolved into a committee of old timers--at least by TRB rules. According to TRB, members can serve for up to 3 consecutive terms with a term consisting of 3 years. Membership terms are aggregates of three 3-year clusters and tracked accordingly. For example, if you joined the committee in 2002, 2003 or 2004 your first term expires in April 2005. If added in 1999, 2000 or 2001 you are ending your second term and the rest are ending their third. However, there is one anomaly. It concerns Bob Sicko and Jerry Everett. Both were added in 1998 and ever since I have assumed chairmanship I have always counted them along with the 1999 cluster and TRB has never challenged this. I have reported it this way at our annual meeting each year and in our last triennial review. What I think has happened is that I have been using 1995 as the membership beginning date since those of us who are charter members began our terms in 1995, but somewhere along the line, TRB started counting from 1996. Regardless, I think the issue will work itself out in due time. Attached is the "rotational" paperwork I turned into TRB. As can be seen we have 11 members, 44% not counting our Emeritus, due to rotate off with one exception. I have been appointed chair for another term and get to extend for 3 more years. The attachment also shows six new members I am recommending to TRB for membership as well as my verbiage addressing the TRB committee evaluative criteria. Technically, none of the actions happen until April 14, 2005 which means January is a good overlapping and planning time. For all those members rotating off or being recommended for membership this should not come as a surprised. Part of the reason it took me so long to get this far, besides the fact that TRB balked at my first proposal where I tried to reduce the number of rotations, was that I have been communicating over the phone and in person with affected members. While talking with you all was enjoyable the overall process has not been fun. That’s about it on this subject for now and expect your mailboxes to begin to full as we move to more real committee business over the next few weeks. If there are any questions feel free to send them along. I think you have to do a "reply all" to make sure you copy the whole committee. ---------- Ed Christopher 708-283-3534 (V) 708-574-8131 (cell) FHWA RC-TST-PLN 19900 Governors Dr Olympia Fields, IL 60461