From left: Herbert Harris Jr., Chairman; Kelly Hamrick, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer; Vince Verna, BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative; Dorian Potts, Secretary-Treasurer; and Carlyle Smith, First Vice Chairman.
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Members of the BLET’s District of Columbia State Legislative Board (DCSLB) hosted a 20th anniversary celebration on October 11 at the historic B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Md. The DCSLB is the only BLET legislative board comprised entirely of passenger and commuter locomotive engineers. It represents about 250 members of BLET Division 14 and BLET Division 482 employed at Amtrak, MARC, and Virginia Rail Express (VRE).
The well-attended event included both current and past DCSLB officers, BLET members, leaders of other unions, and community partners from throughout the National Capitol area.
Herbert Harris Jr., a member of BLET Division 482, has served as Chairman of the DCSLB since its inception in 2005. He presented commemorative 20th Anniversary plaques to DCSLB members, with special presentations given to First Vice Chairman Carlyle Smith and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Hamrick for their long service to the BLET and the DCSLB. Harris and Smith are the last remaining founding officers who are still actively serving the DCSLB.
“We are proud of our accomplishments and have worked hard for BLET members,” said Harris. “We have forged strong relationships with fellow labor unions and community partners. As we look to the future, we just wanted to take this moment of fellowship to say thank you.”
The DCSLB also recognized the history of its EPA – Clean Diesel project launched in Washington Terminal / Union Station. Since 2009, the on-going project has successfully repowered five switcher locomotives to Tier 4 GenSet technology. Two additional locomotives are in final phases of completion this year. The past 16 years the project has been funded by grants and support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Amtrak, and the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).
In recognition of the Clean Diesel Project, special plaques were unveiled naming two switcher locomotives in honor of former BLET members, Mark K. Shaw and Thomas “Tommy” Graves.
A photo gallery from the DCSLB 20th anniversary celebration event is available here.