The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is headquartered in the Chicago area. General membership territory comes from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Its objective is to provide an open forum for resolving transportation and car supply issues, coupled with programs designed to educate and inform the membership in areas of railroad operating practices, freight car supply, new innovations in transportation and legislative matters. Meetings are held twice a year, in January and July.