FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240

CLEVELAND, November 1 — The BLET’s Education and Training Department is hosting the final Secretary-Treasurer training workshop of the year in Cleveland from December 15-19, 2013.

The expanded workshop will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, with introductions and an orientation session. Full-day classes will be held from December 16 (Monday) through December 18 (Wednesday), with a concluding banquet on Wednesday evening. The workshop will be held at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade (420 Superior Ave.).

All Secretary-Treasurers for Divisions, State Legislative Boards and General Committees of Adjustment are invited to attend. Attendance is on a first come, first served basis and is limited to the first 25 who register. Those who are interested should register as soon as possible. You must register for the workshop through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.

Secretary-Treasurers will be trained in a number of areas, including how to use the BLET National Division’s web-based system for membership reporting. During the three full-day sessions, members will also learn proper record keeping techniques, minute taking, and methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports. The class will also focus on filing Internal Revenue Service federal tax returns.

BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert, who serves as Director of the BLET Education & Training Department, said the Cleveland workshop will help Secretary-Treasurers prepare to properly file their annual Department of Labor (LM) reports, which are due on March 31, 2014. He said changes have been implemented since last year regarding the filing of LM reports, and that these changes will be explained in class.

In addition to NST Walpert, workshop presenters will include; Jason Wright, Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Tax Compliance; Louise Reich, Director of Records; and Walt Schmidt, Director of Online Services.

If you wish to receive additional training with specific tools related to your job as Secretary-Treasurer, such as Excel spreadsheets and registers, then please notify Brother Wright in advance by emailing: wright@ble-t.org. This optional training will take place the morning of Thursday, December 19. As hotel check out is at noon on December 19, the optional training may take place somewhere other than the hotel facility. Please be advised that the optional training is outside the scope of the scheduled workshop and may require additional lodging expenses as the BLET group rate expires the morning of December 19. Please contact Brother Wright to make arrangements and for other details.

The BLET National Division pays the costs of books and equipment, while Secretary-Treasurers who attend are responsible for their transportation costs as well as their room and board. After registering online, workshop attendees will receive an e-mail confirmation that will include hotel registration information.

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $129 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). The stipends will be paid directly to the Division.

The North American Railway Foundation 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.

Again, Secretary-Treasurers must register in advance for the workshop through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.

For more information, please contact Jason Wright of the BLET Education & Training Department at (216) 296-4447 or wright@ble-t.org.