CLEVELAND, October 25 — The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct a Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshop in Cleveland from December 3-6.
The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Centre Hotel, 777 St. Clair Ave., which is within walking distance of the BLET’s National Division headquarters.
Many changes have been implemented regarding the filing of reports this year and these changes will be explained in class.
As most S-Ts know, the BLET National Division implemented an internet-based system for dues reporting and collection on January 1, 2005. There will be a demonstration of this system.
During the three-day session, 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 be on hand to answer Secretary-Treasurer questions and have tips regarding the preparation of LM reports.
Presenters will include Bill Walpert, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer; Ken Kroeger, BLET Special Rep & Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Compliance; Bob Broka, Director of Records; and Walt Schmidt, BLET Webmaster.
The BLET National Division will pay the costs of books and equipment, while 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 a $99 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). The stipends will be paid directly to the Division.
NARF is a non-profit operating foundation formed by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail history, education, safety and technology in the United States and Canada. With initial funding and continued Board of Directors stewardship coming from the BR&CF, NARF has supported many non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada over the past 10 years. The primary focus of these efforts has been in support of organized rail labor — giving back to all of the men and women of the railroad community across North America.
Secretary-Treasurers must register for the workshop online through the BLET website at: https://www.ble-t.org/st.
The room rate at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Centre Hotel is $98 per night. To make your reservations, please call Patti Smith, Administrative Assistant to the NST, at (216) 241-2630, extension 227, or e-mail her your information (name – arrival date – departure date – credit card number and expiration date to hold your room) to: pmsmith@ble-t.org.
Please make your reservations by November 14, 2006. Requests after the cut-off date will be honored on a space-and-rate-availability basis. You may not be able to obtain the discounted rate of $98 per night.
The class will start at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, and conclude at noon on Wednesday, December 6.
Registration for the December 2006 workshop is on a first come, first served basis with class size limited to the first 25 who register through the BLET website. For more information, please contact Ken Kroeger of the BLE Education & Training Dept. at (216) 272-0986 or kroeger@ble-t.org.