CLEVELAND, October 20 — The BLET’s Education and Training Department is hosting an expanded Secretary-Treasurer Training Class at its new Training Center in Cleveland from December 15-18, 2014.
All Division Secretary-Treasurers, Division Presidents, State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers and General Committee of Adjustment Secretary-Treasurers are invited to attend. Attendance is limited to the first 25 who register and those who are interested should register as soon as possible. You must register for the workshop online through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.
The workshop will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, December 15, with an orientation and introduction session followed by full-day sessions from Tuesday, December 16, through Thursday, December18. Thursday’s class will conclude at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a banquet at 6:30 p.m. Hotel check-out and travel will be on Friday, December 19. The training will take place in the new Training Center at BLET National Division headquarters (1370 Ontario St., Cleveland, Ohio).
Secretary-Treasurers will receive training in a number of areas, including how to use the BLET National Division’s web-based system for membership reporting, OLMS tax compliance tips, Division Trustee reporting, and computer skills (Word, Excel, Search Engines, etc.). During the almost four day session, 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 reports such as CT-1, 941, W-2, W-3, and W-4. It will also focus on essential items such as 990 authorizations, bonding, check registers, banking, and other relates items. S-Ts will also receive training on tools to make their jobs easier. A goal for instructors is to do everything they can to make the Secretary-Treasurer job as easy as it can be.
BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert, Director of the BLET Education & Training Department, said the Cleveland workshop will help Secretary-Treasurers prepare to properly file their annual IRS reports and annual Department of Labor reports. He said some changes have been implemented since last year regarding the filing of LM reports, and that these changes will be explained in class.
Workshop instructors and guest speakers will include: Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President; Bill Walpert, National Secretary-Treasurer; Megan Mead, Special Representative and Liaison for Short Term Disability; Jason Wright: Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Compliance (taxes); Louise Reich, Director of the Record Department; and Walt Schmidt: Director of Online Services.
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 ST of the Division, GCA, or SLB.
The North American Railway Foundation (www.narfoundation.org) 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 16 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.
Everyone must register for the workshop online through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.
After registering online, workshop attendees will receive an e-mail confirmation that will include hotel registration information. 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.
For more information, please contact Jason Wright at (216) 296-4447 or wright@ble-t.org.