CLEVELAND, July 13 — Denver, Colorado, will be the host city for members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen attending the 75th annual and final International Western Convention (IWC) from August 16-20, 2015.
Delegates to the Third National Convention in 2014 voted to change the BLET’s regional meeting structure so that there will be only two regional meetings per year beginning in 2016. As a result, the 75th IWC coming up in August will be the final IWC. Arrangements Co-Chairmen James Wilmesher and Cory Runion, along with the members of the IWC Arrangements Committee, are planning a convention filled with educational opportunities and entertaining leisure time activities. Brother Wilmesher is Chairman of the Colorado State Legislative Board while Brother Runion is Chairman of the Wyoming State Legislative Board.
Guests will stay at the Embassy Suites Downtown Denver (1420 Stout St., Denver, CO 80202) and reservations can be made online or by calling (303) 592-1000 or 1-800-HILTONS. Be sure to mention room code “IWC” and reference that you are calling about the “2015 International Western Convention” in order to receive the group rate of $169 per night. Hotel reservations must be made by July 27.
To register for the IWC, please visit the IWC website or the BLET National Division website in order to access registration forms. The deadline for early registration is July 20, 2015. Registration is still available after that date, but the fee increases by $20 per person.
Registration begins on Sunday, August 16, and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 17, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, August 18. If necessary, late registration for workshops and the banquet will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, August 19.
The annual IWC golf tournament will be held at the Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood, Colo. For non-golfers, there is a motorcycle tour through the Rocky Mountains around the Mile High City and also a tour of the Colorado Railroad Museum. Events on August 17 conclude with a welcome reception at the Embassy Suites. Outside of these organized events, the city of Denver offers a multitude of tourist attractions, including: the newly remodeled Denver Union Station; Denver Museum of Nature & Science; Downtown Aquarium; Denver Zoo; Central City & Blackhawk Gambling Casinos; various shopping districts; and the Denver Art Museum, just to name a few.
The IWC formally gets underway with opening ceremonies the morning of Tuesday, August 18. There will be a closed meeting for BLET members and an open meeting hosted by the BLET Auxiliary during the afternoon. Entertainment on August 18 features a Major League Baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and the Washington Nationals.
Workshops for Secretary-Treasurers, Local Chairmen and Legislative Representatives will be held throughout the day on Wednesday, August 19. These workshops will also include an overview of the BLET’s Mobilization network. Also, one-hour classroom meetings will be offered by the BLET Auxiliary, Railroad Retirement Board, OSHA and United Healthcare throughout the day on August 19. These sessions will be open to all attendees and guests to provide information and answer questions. A list of class times and presenters will be available at registration. The 75th annual IWC concludes with a banquet that evening.
The IWC Arrangements Committee has secured free transportation from the Denver International Airport (DIA) to the Embassy Suites for August 16 and August 17 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The “IWC Greeters” or IWC Welcome Committee members will be holding signs featuring the BLET logo and welcoming members to Denver for the IWC. They will be waiting at the exit area where the trains drop off passengers at the main terminal (tent).
For more details, please visit the 2015 IWC website or contact Brother Wilmesher or Brother Runion via email.