CLEVELAND, December 8 — In January 2010, 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 or Division. The workshop will be held January 10-13, 2010 in Phoenix, Ariz.
For those LM-2 filers who have not filed an LM-2 before, the class will start at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday January 10th. For those who have filed an LM-2 before, the class will start on Tuesday, January 12th at 9:00 a.m. Both sessions will conclude at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13th. Those filers that have specific problems or feel they will need some extra one on one help will be able to get this from Dr. Reese on Thursday January 14.
During the four-day session, GCA S-Ts will review LM-2 reporting, membership reporting, and filing reporting requirements, bond requirements, computer applications, and changes for 2010. 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 have tips regarding the preparation of LM-2 reports.
The BLET Education and Training Department is tailoring the workshop to solve specific issues that Secretary-Treasurers encounter.
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 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 2009.
Presenters will include Bill Walpert, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer; Ken Kroeger, BLET Special Rep & Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, BLET Director of Compliance; Bob Broka, BLET Director of Records; and Walt Schmidt, BLET Director of Online Services.
A special BLET room rate has been secured at Wyndham Phoenix Hotel, 50 East Adams Street, which is a union hotel and is where the workshop will take place.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $116 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). The stipends will be paid directly to the General Committee or 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.
Register for the class at https://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 room. Reservations must be made by December 22 to guarantee the BLET 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.