CLEVELAND, December 17 — The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct three Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops next year prior to the March 31 deadline for filing Department of Labor reports.
The workshops will take place in Las Vegas (January 24–27, 2010); St. Louis, Mo. (February 21–24) and Jacksonville, Fla. (February 28–March 3).
BLET Secretary-Treasurers are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. Class size is limited to 22 for each workshop.
Ken Kroeger, Coordinator of the Education & Training Department, said veteran Secretary-Treasurers are eligible to attend, but precedence will be given to newly-elected Secretary-Treasurers. He also said that the earlier members sign up for workshops, the better chance they have of getting in the one they want to attend.
Many changes have been implemented regarding the filing of LM reports this year, and these changes will be explained in class.
During the four-day sessions, Secretary-Treasurers will be shown how to use the BLET National Division’s web-based reporting system, which they use monthly for membership reporting and tax compliance.
The workshops will also cover proper record keeping techniques, computer applications, and minute-taking. Secretary-Treasurers 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 also be on hand to answer Secretary-Treasurer questions and to provide tips regarding the preparation of LM reports.
Presenters will include Bill Walpert, National Secretary-Treasurer; Ken Kroeger, BLET Special Rep & Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Bob Broka, Director of Records; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Compliance; and Walt Schmidt, BLET Director of Online Services.
The BLET National pays the costs of books, equipment and tuition, while BLET 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 $116 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation. The stipends will be paid directly to the Secretary-Treasurer of the respective divisions.
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 ten 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 2010 workshops online through the BLET website at: http://www.ble.org/st. When registering, STs will be able to rank the workshops according to the one they would most like to attend.
Again, the workshops will take place in Las Vegas (January 24–27, 2010); St. Louis, Mo. (February 21–24) and Jacksonville, Fla. (February 28–March 3).
Attendees will be given instructions on how to make their hotel reservations in the confirmation e-mail they will receive once they sign up and are accepted for the workshops.
Registration for the 2010 workshops is on a first come, first served basis with class size limited to the first 22 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.org.