CLEVELAND, January 11 — The BLET Education & Training Department has stopped accepting reservations for its Secretary-Treasurer workshop in Chicago because it is full, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert reported today.
NST Walpert also advised that members should act quickly if they are interested in attending the workshop in Kansas City (March 12–15) because it is more than half full. Many slots are still available for the Denver workshop (April 9–12), he said.
During the four-day sessions, members will learn proper record keeping techniques, computer applications, and recording of minutes. They 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 be on hand to answer Secretary-Treasurer questions and have tips regarding the preparation of LM reports.
Presenters will include Bill Walpert, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer; Ken Kroeger, BLET Special Representative and Coordinator of the Education & Training Department; Dr. Elaine Reese, Director of Compliance; Bob Broka, Director of Records; and Walt Schmidt, BLET Webmaster.
The BLET National Division will pay the costs of books and equipment, while 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 $99 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). The stipends will be paid directly to the Division.
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 non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada over the past 10 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 workshop online through the BLET website at: https://www.ble-t.org/st.
The Kansas City workshop will take place at the Holiday Inn on the Plaza from March 12–15. The Denver workshop will take place at the Four Points Denver Cherry Creek from April 9-12.
Members are responsible for making their reservations at the workshops. They will be given hotel contact information and special room rate information when they receive their confirmation after registering online at: https://www.ble-t.org/st.
Each workshop starts at 7 p.m. on the first day and concludes at noon on the last day.
Registration for the 2007 workshops is on a first-come, first-served basis, with class size limited to the first 30 who register through the BLET website. For more information, please contact Ken Kroeger of the BLET Education & Training Dept. at (216) 272-0986 or kroeger@ble.org.