INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 18 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a class for Secretary-Treasurers from May 2-6, 2016, at the new Training Center at BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Space in the class will be filled with those Division Secretary-Treasurers who register online on a first come, first served basis. The following officers also are encouraged to attend: Division Presidents, State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers and General Committee of Adjustment Secretary-Treasurers. All will be notified if there is available space to attend the class.
Attendance is limited to the first 30 who register, so those who are interested should register as soon as possible. You must register for this ST Class online through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st.
The class will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 2, with an orientation and introduction session along with two hours of evening classes. Full-day sessions will follow from Tuesday, May 3, through Friday, May 6. Friday’s class will conclude at 4 p.m. and will be followed by an informal banquet at 5:00 p.m. Hotel check-out and travel day will be on Saturday, May 7. The training will take place in the new Training Center at BLET National Division headquarters (7061 East Pleasant Valley Road, Independence, Ohio 44131).
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 five 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, and a focus on essential items such as 990 authorizations, bonding, check registers, banking, and other related items. A goal for our instructors is to do everything they can to make the S-T’s job as easy as it can be.
Class instructors and guest speakers will include: Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President; Stephen J. Bruno, National Secretary-Treasurer; James P. Louis, Vice President and Department Head of Education and Training; Megan Mead, Director of the Compliance Department; Jason Wright: Special Representative and Director of the Education & Training Department; Louise Reich, Director of the Record Department; Walt Schmidt, Director of Online Services; and Matt Kronyak, Special Representative and Director of Mobilization–Eastern Region.
Upon successful completion, attendees will qualify for a $140 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (www.narfoundation.org). Depending on the class, the stipends will be paid directly to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Division, Division President, General Committee of Adjustment, or State Legislative Board.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit 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 20 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.
Attendees must register for this ST Class no later than April 15, 2016 through the BLET website at: www.ble-t.org/st. The class will fill fast as there is already a significant waiting list from the registration process for the previous class.
After registering online, 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 own transportation costs as well as their room and board.
For more information, please contact Jason Wright, Special Representative and Director of the BLET Education and Training Department: office, (216) 241-2630 ext. 247; cell, (216) 296-4447; or email wright@ble-t.org.
The National Division will periodically release new class dates so don’t forget to check the BLET website on the Education and Training Department’s webpage for future dates for the following subjects:
• Legislative Representative Class, Washington, D.C.
• Local Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• Advanced Local Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• General Chairman Class, Independence, Ohio
• Secretary-Treasurer Class, Independence, Ohio