CLEVELAND, November 21 — In January 2013, the BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a workshop for all Secretary-Treasurers who file an LM-2 report for their General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) or Division. The workshop will be held in San Diego, Calif., from January 13-17, 2013.
Each year, labor organizations must file a financial report with the U.S. Department of Labor. The filing requirements are determined by the total annual receipts of the union, and the LM-2 is required for units with $250,000 or more in total annual receipts. The upcoming workshop is generally intended for Secretary-Treasurers from most BLET General Committees of Adjustment and larger Divisions and some State Legislative Boards.
For first time LM-2 filers, the class will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 13. For those who have filed an LM-2 before, the class will start on Monday, January 14 at 1:30 p.m. All sessions will conclude at 5 p.m. and the workshop ends on Wednesday, January 16. There will be an optional half-day workshop regarding Microsoft Excel offered on Thursday, January 17. Additionally, those filers who have specific problems or feel they will need some extra one-on-one help will be able to get assistance from Dr. Elaine Reese, the BLET’s Director of Compliance, on January 17.
During the session, GCA Secretary-Treasurers will review LM-2 reporting, membership reporting, and filing reporting requirements, bond requirements, computer applications, and changes for 2013. There will also be a review of 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 will have tips regarding the preparation of LM-2 reports.
Also included in the training will be an overview on the LM-2 form called “Tips, Tricks and Traps.” It will feature examples of problem areas on the LM-2 to help filers avoid mistakes and clear up common misunderstandings. Instructors will guide attendees through the LM-2, item-by-item and schedule-by-schedule, to help them understand and avoid the pitfalls of the LM-2.
A special segment of this workshop will focus on the records that must be kept to comply with the new LM-2 form, including itemization of certain expenses as well as estimates of time spent by officers and employees in five “functional activity” categories.
Other segments will include an overview of the BLET online dues reporting program, a Quick Books refresher, information on the LM-2 and digital signatures, and a session titled “The Seven Deadly Sins of Union Recordkeeping.”
Attendees will work with their actual information and will be working on their own LM-2 report for 2012.
Presenters will include Bill Walpert, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer; Ken Kroeger, BLET Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, BLET Director of Compliance; and Walt Schmidt, BLET Director of Online Services.
The workshop will be held at a union hotel, the Hilton San Diego Airport, 1960 Harbor Island Drive.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $123 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation. The stipends will be paid directly to the General Committee or Division.
The North American Railway Foundation (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 varied non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada over the past 15 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.
Register for the class at www.ble-t.org/gcast.
Once you register for the class you will be sent a confirmation e-mail that will tell you how to sign up for your hotel room. Reservations must be made by December 22, 2012 to guarantee the BLET’s discounted room rate.
The BLET pays the costs of books, equipment, and tuition.
Secretary-Treasurers who attend are responsible for their transportation costs as well as their room and board.
If you have any questions, please contact Ken Kroeger of the BLET Education & Training Dept. at (216) 272-0986 or kroeger@ble-t.org.