CLEVELAND, November 6 — In January, 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 13-16, 2009, at the School for Workers, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Pyle Center, in Madison, Wisc.
The class will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, and conclude at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 16.
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 2009.
The BLET Education and Training Department is tailoring the workshop to solve specific issues that Secretary-Treasurers encounter.
Those who register for the workshop will be sent a questionnaire in advance regarding problems they have had with the LM-2. The workshop will be geared towards those problem areas and will focus on helping the STs with their exact problems. Instructors will spend less time on things that are not causing problems for them.
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.”
On the last day of class, attendees will work with their actual information and will be working on their own LM-2 report for 2007.
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; Walt Schmidt, BLET Director of Online Services; and John Lund, Ph.D, Professor, School for Workers University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $109 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. To guarantee the BLET rate that the Lowell Center room reservations must be made by the end of the year. Registrants will also be sent a link for the survey to fill out regarding their LM-2 problems.
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. Attendees will stay on campus at the Lowell Center, 610 Langdon St., Madison, WI 53703. Cost of room and board (dinners not included) is $425 per person for a single room and $285 per person for a double room. The fees include four nights”” lodging.
If you have any questions, please contact Ken Kroeger of the BLET Education & Training Dept. at (216) 272-0986 or kroeger@ble-t.org.