Norman N. Gould 2001-2003 President Norman Gould’s major goal was to see that CalRTA became a more nimble organization, ready to respond quickly to member needs and to the many legislative challenges presented by a fiscally challenged State. For this reason, a decision was made to rewrite the CalRTA Bylaws and this process began with the assistance of Attorney Mark Alcorn in 2002. Other actions to assist in this effort included expanding the CalRTA membership database to include members’ congressional assembly and state senate districts and creating a new Administrative Handbook for Board, Division Presidents and Secretaries and a comprehensive new Handbook for Division Financial Officers. During President Gould’s term a new 501 (C) (3) corporation for the Laura E. Settle Scholarship Fund was proposed by the Board of Directors and approved by the Convention of 2003. This corporation, a subsidiary of the parent CalRTA corporation will allow donations to the Fund to be tax-deductible to the donor. This is a corporation which has long been sought by members. During this administration the bill providing 80 percent purchasing power was signed, a major victory for CalRTA. President Gould initiated the quest for Pension Equity, an issue that will take many years to resolve and the push for repeal of the Social Security penalties (WEP/GPO) heated up as never before. At the close of Mr. Gould’s term, the State of California declined to make a required $500 million payment to the Supplemental Benefit Maintenance Account; CalSTRS brought suit and the CalRTA Board of Directors voted to participate in that suit as intervenors. Members were asked to contribute to fund this lawsuit and responded with an astounding $300,000. Membership increased to an all –time high of more that 51,000.