Instead, we asked our supporters to support strong independent local rail passenger organizations in these and other states, keeping what little money that could be raised by them at the local level for use at the local level. No local organization has ever sent money, or asked their members to send money to URPA in Jacksonville. Instead, URPA acts as a clearing house of information about Amtrak from various sources. URPA is supported entirely through voluntary contributions of time, effort, and a small amount of cash. Again, no cash from any rail passenger association , or for that matter from any membership organization, flows to URPA , for the precise reason that, if we were to have such support, we would be legally accountable to those supporters.
Membership organizations have boards that are accountable by law to the membership.
URPA is not and never will be a membership organization. It operates by invitation only. URPA depends on contribution of staff time and some financial resources from those that participate directly. Since URPA is not a direct membership organization, I urge you to try to reform NARP, to make it a truly national organization, but at the same time to strengthen your local organizations. The years leading up to 2003, when Amtrak must become self-sufficient, will be a critical time for the American long distance passenger trains.