INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 19 — The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from September 25-29, 2016.
The class will take place at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquarters. Classroom training begins at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, with an orientation and discussion of what to expect during the week ahead. All-day classroom training will start Monday, September 26 and run through Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
During this class Congress will be in session for the last time prior to their recess and the national elections. This would be a good time to come to Washington and assist the BLET in relaying the issues and concerns affecting our organization.
Among other topics, the curriculum will cover:
• Computer skills (principles of letter writing and database management);
• Regulatory affairs (reporting and documenting important issues);
• Political affairs (the anatomy of elections, how a bill becomes law, communications skills and correspondence with politicians);
• Understanding individual State Legislative Board bylaws; and
• Trustee responsibilities.
Upon completion of the classroom training, attendees will participate in a full day of lobbying on Capitol Hill on Thursday, September 29, with a travel day scheduled for Friday, September 30.
Participation in this class is limited to the first 20 who register. Curriculum will be geared toward Division Legislative Representatives and new State Legislative Board Chairmen.
Those who successfully complete the September 25-28 classroom portion will be eligible for a $140 per diem, for classroom days only, from the North American Railway Foundation (www.narfoundation.org). NARF does not pay stipends for the day of lobbying. Depending on the offices you hold, the stipends will be paid directly to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Division, Division President, or State Legislative Board.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit 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. 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.
Attendees must register for the LR Class no later than July 25, 2016 through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/lr.
After registering through the BLET website, class attendees will receive an e-mail containing hotel reservation information. The BLET has acquired a special hotel room block for this class at the rate of $265 per night. Hotel reservations must be made by Friday July 29, 2016. After July 29, the BLET cannot guarantee you will get the rate quoted above. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation costs and any expenses for room and board.
Participants planning to bring family members may contact the BLET National Legislative Office for help in scheduling a tour of the Capitol. If interested, please call (202) 624-8776.
For more information, please contact Jason Wright, Special Representative and Director of the BLET Education and Training Department: office, (216) 241-2630, ext. 247; cell, (216) 296-4447; or email wright@ble-t.org. Registration to attend must be submitted by Monday, July 25, 2016.
The National Division will periodically release new class dates so don’t forget to check the BLET website on the Education and Training Department’s webpage for future dates in the following subjects:
• Local Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• Advanced Local Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• General Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• Secretary-Treasurer Class, Independence, Ohio