CLEVELAND, December 22 — The BLE’s Education and Training Department will conduct four Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops next year prior to the March 31 deadline for filing Department of Labor reports.
During the three-day sessions, members will learn proper record keeping techniques, computer applications, and minute-taking. They will also learn methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports, as well as Federal tax returns. A representative from the Department of Labor will also be on hand to answer Secretary Treasurer questions and have tips regarding the preparation of LM reports.
Other presenters include Bill Walpert, General Secretary-Treasurer; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Compliance; Ken Kroeger, BLE Special Rep & Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; and Bob Broka, Director of Records.
The BLE International pays the costs of books, equipment and tuition, while BLE Secretary Treasurers who attend are responsible for their transportation costs as well as their room and board.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for an $85 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation. The stipends will be paid directly to the Secretary-Treasurer of the respective divisions.
For the first time, Secretary-Treasurers will register for the 2004 workshops online through the BLE website at: http://www.ble.org/st.
The workshops will take place from February 8-11 at the Four Points Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.; February 22-25 at the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md.; March 7-10 at the American Airlines Training & Conference Center in Dallas, Texas; and March 14-17 at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Chicago, Ill.
Members are responsible for making their reservations at the meetings in Kansas City, Dallas and Chicago. They will be automatically signed up for a room at the Silver Spring class when they register. Members must ask for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers group rate when calling in order to secure a discounted room rate.
Members are urged to plan ahead and make hotel reservations for the upcoming compliance classes:
— Kansas City, MO., Feb. 8-11 — At the Four Points by Sheraton Kansas City Country Club Plaza, (816) 753-7400.
–Silver Spring, MD., Feb. 22-25 — At George Meany Center in Silver Spring Maryland. Room registration is automatic when you sign up for the class.
— Dallas, TX., March 7-10 — At American Airlines Training and Conference Center, (800) 777-6464.
— Chicago, IL, March 14-17 — At Chicago City Center Holiday Inn Hotel, (312) 787-6100.
Registration for the 2004 workshops is on a first come, first served basis with class size limited to the first 20 who register through the BLE website. For more information, please contact Ken Kroeger of the BLE Education & Training Dept. at (216) 272-0986 or kroeger@ble.org.