Since October 2018 Back-on-Track.eu is a network of physical members.
You may become active on the European level or on the local level (or both). An member on the local level is not automatically a member on the European level.
Formal status:
Local groups can be night train working groups within an NGO working on transport or passenger rights issues or a proper national or regional Back-on-Track group. The Back-on-Track groups can be legal entities (like in BE or DE) or loose networks (like in FR). The European level has so far no legal status. Account and official address are with one of the supporting organizations (the Danish one). Poul and Trevor are our accountants.
Our guiding rules are these:
Membership:
You may join a local group by filling in the appropriate form here on our website. The constitution of membership on the local level depends on the local groups statutes.
You are a member on the European level, when you are on our members (internal) Google group list. If you would like to become a member on the European level, join the member list of Back on Track by asking for admission to our internal google group here. By doing so, you enter only the internal group out of two possible groups.
Fees:
As a member of a legal entity on the local level you may have to pay a membership fee according to the groups statutes.
As a member only active on the European level you may donate voluntary.
Opinion Building:
Members discuss issues and express their opinions in meetings or using the members (internal) Google group list. Make sure you are also in the large google group. Only members of the list can send e-mails to the other members, can watch who else are members and look at all contributions.
Governing:
We typically have a yearly physical meeting with reporting and next year working program. One person one vote.
Coordination:
Decisions are taken in the monthly coordination meeting (via Zoom). One person one vote. The meeting is open to all active members. You are an active member when you are willing and capable to do voluntary work and ready to come to our yearly meetings. The meeting takes place in the evening, is limited to 1.5 hrs and works with a prioritised standard agenda, starting with stat status quo of tasks. Emergency decisions are coordinated via e-mail. Coordination meetings are announced on the members mailing list. The announcement contains a Zoom meeting link.
In order to organise the practical work in between two Coordination Meetings two working groups we set up (In September 2023). The working groups may act within the scope set and the existing policies decided by the coordination meeting. They elect a coordinator and a deputy coordinator to host the meetings and to report to the main meeting. They coordinate their work with a tool that allows members to see the state of their work.
A Lobby Working Group to prepare position papers, statements, studies, petitions and coordinates contacts with decision-makers, stakeholders and partners on the EU-level. Any member with skills or interest (ideally both) in this work may join. We discuss and write in English, so a B2 level of English language skills is advised. Interim Coordinator is Poul.
The Comms Working Group takes care of press contacts/requests, website, social media channels, actions, media productions and publications. Any member with skills or interest (ideally both) in this work may join. We discuss and write in English, so a B2 level of English language skills is advised. Interim Coordinator is Juri