ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Classes of Membership
There shall be three classes of membership in the Association: Regular Members, Associate Members, and Honorary Members.
Section 2. Geographic Requirements for Membership
Candidates for membership must be located between Mile 0 AHP and Mile 244 AHP on the Mississippi River, the GIWW WHL to Mile 50 and EHL to Mile 32 (the Rigolets), the Industrial Canal to Lake Pontchartrain , the MRGO, and the Algiers Canal.
Section 3. Regular Membership
A candidate for Regular Membership must be a company directly and actively engaged in the business of barge fleeting, owning or operating a fleet with a capacity of not less than eight barges, or operating towboats which work in, with and for Regular Members and is directly affected by the rules and regulations governing fleet operations. Any employee of a Regular Member may hold office.
Section 4. Associate Membership
A candidate for Associate Membership must be a company not otherwise eligible for Regular Membership which is directly and actively engaged in the business of owning or operating no less than eight barges, or owning, operating or brokering towboats, or which owns or operates a fleet with a capacity of less than eight barges. Associate Members may attend all meetings and activities allowed for Regular Members, but may not vote, its employees may not hold office in the Association, and its employees are not eligible to participate in the scholarship program.
Section 5. Honorary Membership
Each year, the Board of Governors may designate Honorary Members of the Association, which shall be limited to offices of the United States Coast Guard, Port and Waterway Commissions and Councils, other governmental authorities having regulatory control over fleeting facilities and the operations of the Association’s members, and other companies which are related to the maritime industry and not otherwise eligible for membership.
Section 6. Election to Membership:
Power of election to the membership shall be vested in the Board of Governors. Procedure as to application for membership, admission, or initiation fees and dues shall be as provided in the By-Laws of this Association.
Section 7. Voting Rights
Each Regular Member shall be allowed one vote in any matter requiring a vote of the membership. Each Regular Member is permitted one delegate to cast its vote, which delegate must be a payroll employee of the Regular Member. The delegate may vote in person at any meeting of the Association or by written proxy issued to an alternate delegate for a specific vote on a specific matter. In the absence of the delegate, an alternate delegate who is also a payroll employee of the Regular Member may vote in place of the delegate.
Applications should be directed to – Membership Chairman – Tommy Grantham (225) 338-5903.